APRIL 26, 2014

NR # 3448

Solons want carnapping to be declared a non-bailable offense

Lawmakers have asked Congress to declare carnapping as a non-bailable offense to end the prevalence of the crime that has become a business for organized syndicates. Reps. Gloria Macapagal- rroyo !"nd #istrict$ %ampanga& and #iosdado Macapagal rroyo !" nd #istrict$ Camarines 'ur& filed (ouse )ill *+"$ which amends 'ection +, of Republic ct -o. ./*0$ otherwise known as the nti-Carnapping ct of +01". rroyo e2pressed alarm over the rising incidence of carnapping perpetrated by organized crime groups$ which claim not only the motor vehicles but also the lives of the vehicle owners. 34he sense of security one feels inside his or her vehicle is now severely undermined$5 rroyo said. 6orse$ the crime of carnapping is not 7ust an end to itself$ according to the former %resident. 38ftentimes$ carnapped vehicles are used to commit other crimes such as bank robberies$ murder$ kidnapping and even terrorist activities$5 she said. rroyo said while there are e2isting laws penalizing carnapping$ it appears these are not enough to address the prevalence of the crime. 'he cited in particular R ./*0$ which imposes a penalty of imprisonment ranging from not less than +, years and eight months until life imprisonment or even death depending on the circumstances attending the commission of the crime. s such$ the crime of carnapping is considered as only a less serious offense$ which allows the accused or perpetrator to post bail$ rroyo said. 'ection +* rticle 999 of the Constitution provides that 3:a; all persons$ e2cept those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua when evidence of guilt is strong$ shall$ before conviction$ be bailable by sufficient sureties$ or be released on recognizance as may be provided by law.5 34his constitutional right to post bail enables perpetrators to commit carnapping repeatedly since they are entitled to post bail during trial and pendency of the case with the courts$5 rroyo said. 3#ue to this limitation of the law$ it is imperative to impose a stricter penalty to the crime of carnapping and to prevent perpetrators from repeating their heinous and violent acts by declaring the crime as a non-bailable offense$5 rroyo stressed. rroyo<s bill increases the penalty of imprisonment for the crime of carnapping from +, years and eight months and not more than +1 years and eight months to not less than "= years and one day and not more than *= years when the carnapping is committed without violence or intimidation of persons. 6hen carnapping is committed by means of violence against or intimidation of any person or force upon things$ imprisonment shall be increased from +1 years and four months and not more than *= years to *= years and one day and not more than ,= years. 4he penalty of life imprisonment to death shall be imposed when the owner$ driver or occupant of the carnapped motor vehicle is killed in the commission of the carnapping. 4he bill provides that 3any person charged with carnapping as penalized hereof shall be denied bail when evidence of guilt is strong.5 !*=& mrs