Government forms panel to review Revised Penal Code

MANILA, Philippines -  Congress will be asked to replace the 79-year-old Revised Penal Code (RPC) with a completely new criminal code.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said a criminal code committee (CCC) comprised of a multi-sectoral group of legal experts is set to start reviewing the RPC this week in preparation for drafting a bill to be submitted to Congress.

“Dramatic changes in the nature and types of crime (are the main reason for the) urgent need to craft a truly organic, Filipino criminal code attuned to our values and norms,” she said.

“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 spearheading the RPC’s review are the Department of Justice, Supreme Court, Philippine National Police, Office of the Solicitor General and Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.

DOJ attached agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, Public Attorney’s Office, Parole and Probation Administration and Land Registration Authority will be part of the review, she added.

De Lima said the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Philippine Judicial Academy, Philippine Judges Association, Philippine Association of Law Schools and the Regional Prosecutors Council will also contribute to the review committee.

The committees on justice of the Senate and House of Representative are also represented in the committee, she added.

De Lima said the CCC will also engage doctors, psychologists, economists, criminologists and forensic scientists as resource persons in consideration of other fields relevant to the RPC.

The project would be a multi-disciplinary approach and will involve stakeholders through forums, surveys and focus group discussions to harmonize provisions of the proposed criminal code, she added.

It is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation, De Lima said.

Passed on Dec. 8, 1930, the RPC replaced the Spanish Penal Code, which was in force in the Philippines from 1886 to Dec. 31, 1931.

The RPC took effect on Jan. 1, 1932.