De Lima forms panel to review penal code

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has formed a panel of experts to undertake a comprehensive review of the decades-old Revised Penal Code.

“Many of our systemic justice issues can be traced to our antiquated general penal law passed way back in 1932 when we were under American occupation,” De Lima said in a statement.

The Secretary said the panel, to be known as the Criminal Code Committee (CCC), will study the RPC and suggest revisions “to make it more comprehensive and attuned to modern times.”

“Over the years, there have been dramatic changes in the nature and types of crimes and there is an urgent need to craft a truly organic, Filipino criminal code attuned to our values and norms,” she added.

Legal groups

The CCC will be spearheaded by key justice sector agencies including the Supreme Court, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, Public Attorney’s Office, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, Office of the Solicitor General, Parole and Probation Administration and Land Registration Authority.

Major institutions that are expected to contribute to the review effort include the Integrated Bar of the Philippines , Philippine Judicial Academy, Philippine Judges Association, Philippine Association of Law Schools and the Regional Prosecutors Council, among others.

De Lima said the Senate and House of Representatives’ committees on justice will also be represented in the CCC.

The CCC will also engage resource persons including doctors, psychologists, economists, criminologists and forensic scientists aside from legal luminaries, she added.

The DoJ, however, has yet to name the individuals who will make up the review committee.

According to Justice Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy the review will take a multi-disciplinary approach and will involve various forums, surveys and focus group discussions to harmonize suggested provisions.

All inputs from the CCC will be presented to Congress for the passage of a law revising the RPC.

The first major revision of the old Spanish criminal code was undertaken before World War II by a committee led by Judge Anacleto Diaz, who would later become a Supreme Court justice.

Penal Code revised

The Diaz panel began revising the old code in 1927.

The final draft was the basis of Act No. 3815, which was passed by the Philippine legislature and approved by United States President Herbert Hoover on Dec. 8, 1930. The Revised Penal Code came into effect on Jan. 1, 1932.

Through the decades, the Code has been amended by the passage of other laws dealing with offenses from cattle-rustling and bouncing checks to treason and terrorism.