Lapid revives bill seeking life in jail vs illegal discharge of guns

Senator Lito Lapid. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –  Senator Lito Lapid renewed his  call on Thursday for the  immediate  passage of  his bill that seeks up to life imprisonment against those found guilty of illegal discharge of firearms.

At present, the penalty as provided for in Section 254 of the Revised Penal  Code is only six months.

Lapid sought to increase this penalty by filing Senate  Bill 3114 in January 2012.

Under the bill, any person who will shoot any firearm without  lawful authority will suffer the penalty of “prision correctional in its maximum period,”  which is six years imprisonment.

“If the shooting shall result to the death of a victim, the penalty of reclusion perpetual shall be imposed,”  the bill said.

If the person shooting is a member of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines or any law enforcement agency authorized by law to bear arms, the penalty  of reclusion temporal  in its maximum period of  20 years will be imposed against the person.

In a statement on Thursday, Lapid also pointed out that the  present law only covered incidents of shooting, which is directed at a person.

“Lalabas, hindi pa saklaw ng kasalukuyang batas itong pagpapaputok ng baril sa ere at maaring patawan pa ng parusang mas mababa,” he said.

“Kapag napasa ang panukala ko, siguradong mag iisip na ang mga may baril bago sila magpapatok sa ere dahil siguradong mapaparusahan sila at ng mas matagal pa na pagkakulong,” Lapid added.