Amending R.A. No. 3815, Revised Penal Code (Grant of Allowances for Good Conduct)

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE wine cit REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 JUL 29 P2:51 SENATE Senate Bill No. _ 767 RECE!T.. Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT FURTHER AMENDING ARTICLE 99 OF THE ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE REVISED PENAL CODE", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Article 99 of Act No. 3815 otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 10592, currently empowers the Director of the Bureau of Corrections, the Chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and/or the Warden of a provincial, district, municipal, or city jail to grant allowance for good conduct. This incentivizes persons deprived of liberty (PDL) to adhere to prison rules and participate in rehabilitative programs. It also helps decongest the country's severely overcrowded jails. It is noteworthy that under Republic Act No. 10592 which amends Article 99 of Act No. 3815, the allowances, once granted, remain to be irrevocable. The proposed amendment seeks to clarify and strengthen Article 99 by providing two exceptions in the irrevocable allowances. Under this bill, allowances, though granted, shall be revoked when the PDL, during the time of detention or imprisonment, have violated prison rules, or have committed crimes and/or offenses. This amendment not only promotes a system where PDLs are assured that genuine efforts of good behavior will be recognized and protected, but also makes it clear that privileges can be withdrawn

when PDLs fail to abide by institutional rules or revert to wrongful behavior while under lawful custody. By ensuring clarity, accountability, and fairness, this measure upholds the goals of justice and rehabilitation that the penal system seeks to achieve. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ERWIN T. TULFO

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) JUL 29 P2:52 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEI SENATE Senate Bill No. 767 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT FURTHER AMENDING ARTICLE 99 OF THE ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE REVISED PENAL CODE", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Article 99 of the Act No. 3815, as amended,

2 otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, is hereby further amended to read as follows: "ART. 99. Who grants time allowances. - Whenever lawfully justified, the Director of the Bureau of Corrections, the Chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and/or the Warden of a provincial, district, municipal or city jail shall grant allowances for good conduct. Such allowances once granted shall not be revoked UNLESS THE PERSON DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY, DURING THE TIME OF DETENTION OR IMPRISONMENT, HAS VIOLATED PRISON RULES OR HAS COMMITTED CRIMES AND/OR OFFENSES."

SEC. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30)

days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this

1 Act. Failure to promulgate the rules and regulations shall not prevent 2 the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity.

SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of

5 this Act be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions 6 and parts hereof, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, 7 shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances,

rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this 11 Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,