New criminal code draft completed

DOJ Sec. Leila De Lima. Photo courtesy of UNTV

MANILA – The Department of Justice has completed the newest draft of the Criminal Code of the Philippines.

After three years of revising the code’s Book 2 to provide a modern and updated version of the criminal law, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima announced yesterday, the completion of the draft.

“We responded to the call of the President to undertake a codification project and for the first time in our history, we have a draft criminal code developed by justice stakeholders that is reflective of our societal norms,” she said.

De Lima also added that the new draft would increase the access to justice of the Filipinos, specially the marginalized sectors.

Under the new draft, the penal provisions were rationalized and categorized into three major titles including Crimes against Persons, Crimes against Property and Crimes against the State.

Several penal laws referring to the same act were also integrated and consolidated in the new draft.

Outdated penal provisions including trans-border crimes were delisted and conduct-based provisions were made.

The completed revised draft will now be endorsed to the lawmakers for its passage.

“We shall now endorse the final product to both houses of Congress for their consideration to realize its passage as the new Criminal Code of the Philippines on or before 2016.”