Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The proposed changes to the Revised Penal Code are receiving support from concerned officials.
At a Senate hearing on Wednesday, officials from the Supreme Court, Commission on Human Rights, Justice Department, Ombudsman, and Public Attorney’s Office all agreed on the proposed amendments to the 85-year-old law.
Filed by Sen. Franklin Drilon in June 2016, Senate Bill 14 proposes to adjust the amount, value of property, or damage on which a penalty is based on.
The bill will also adjust fines that were unchanged since the law was enacted in 1930.
“Eighty years had inevitably dulled the edge of a once sharp measure,” the bill’s explanatory note read.
Drilon, who chairs of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision Codes, said the penalties will not be lowered – instead, the value of property will be adjusted.
“The ₱250 in 1930 is still the ₱250 today that will expose you to a penalty of six years. Today what is an item of ₱250, why should it bring you a penalty of six years? We will now find out by how much we will raise the ₱250 so it is commensurate to the penalty that is imposed,” he explained.
He added prisoners who might have been wrongly convicted for petty crimes for a long period will benefit from the amendments.
The Public Attorney’s Office said around 50,000 prisoners will benefit from the changes.
Drilon clarified these particular prisoners will like have reduced sentences.
The senator said they will submit the committee report before the end of January.
He added the chamber will try to pass the bill before June 30.
CNN Philippines’ Anna Estanislao contributed to this report.
