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.