Recent Amendments and Legislation on the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines

Republic Act No. 10158

An Act Decriminalizing Vagrancy, Amending for this purpose Article 202 of Act No. 3815, otherwise
knows as the RPC
Article 202 of the RPC is amended as follows:
Article 202. Prostitutes; Penalty. For the purposes of this article, women who, for money or
profit, habitually indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be
prostitutes.
Any person found guilty of any of the offenses covered by this article shall be punished by arresto
menor or a fine not exceeding 200 pesos, and in case of recidivism, by arresto mayor in its medium
period to prision correctional in its minimum period or a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 pesos, or
both, in the discretion of the court.
See, however, Republic Act No. 10364, otherwise known as Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of
2012, expanding Republic Act No. 9208. The PDF of RA 10364 is attached in the mail.
Republic Act No. 10591
An Act providing for a Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and Providing Penalties for
Violations Thereof
In Section 29 of the RA, the use of a loose firearm in the commission of a crime, shall be considered an
aggravating circumstance. The section provides:
SEC. 29. Use of Loose Firearm in the Commission of a Crime. The use of a loose firearm, when
inherent in the commission of a crime punishable under the Revised Penal Code or other special
laws, shall be considered as an aggravating circumstance: Provided, That if the crime committed
with the use of a loose firearm is penalized by the law with a maximum penalty which is lower
than that prescribed in the preceding section for illegal possession of firearm, the penalty for
illegal possession of firearm shall be imposed in lieu of the penalty for the crime
charged:Provided, further, That if the crime committed with the use of a loose firearm is penalized
by the law with a maximum penalty which is equal to that imposed under the preceding section
for illegal possession of firearms, the penalty of prision mayorin its minimum period shall be
imposed in addition to the penalty for the crime punishable under the Revised Penal Code or other
special laws of which he/she is found guilty.
If the violation of this Act is in furtherance of, or incident to, or in connection with the crime of
rebellion of insurrection, or attempted coup d etat, such violation shall be absorbed as an
element of the crime of rebellion or insurrection, or attempted coup d etat.
If the crime is committed by the person without using the loose firearm, the violation of this Act
shall be considered as a distinct and separate offense.

Republic Act No. 10592

An Act Amending Articles 29, 94, 97, 98, and 99 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the
RPC
This RA made changes to the following provisions:
(1) Article 29 regarding period of preventive imprisonment deducted from term of imprisonment
(2) Article 94 on partial extinction of criminal liability
(3) Article 97 on allowance for good conduct
(4) Article 98 on special time allowance for loyalty
(5) Article 99 on who grants time allowances
Republic Act No. 10655
An Act Repealing the Crime of Premature Marriage under Article 351 of Act No. 3815, otherwise
known as the RPC
This RA repealed Article 351 of the RPC punishing the crime of premature marriage committed by a
woman.