DOJ completes new criminal code

MANILA, Philippines - A draft new Criminal Code of the Philippines has been completed at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

After three years, the DOJ’s code committee has completed Book 2 to   provide a simple, updated and modern criminal law to aid law enforcement and improve the administration of justice.

In a statement yesterday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the code would lead to increased access to justice, especially for the marginalized sectors.

“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.

“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.”

Among the key features of Book 2 are the structure based on central themes with common features; the rationalized penal provisions by categorizing into three major titles: Crimes against Persons, Crimes against Property and Crimes against the State.

It has modernized archaic criminal law provisions by integrating and consolidating several penal laws which refer to the same criminal act.

It has also delisted some outdated penal provisions, including trans-border crimes and made penal provisions generally conduct-based.

 The complete draft of Book 1 and Book 2 can be viewed and downloaded at DOJ’s website, www.doj.gov.ph.