EuniceMaeThereseD.PiladorLl.

B1A
LegalWriting

Inthe1987Constitution,ArticleIII,Sec.1,itisstatedthatNopersonshallbedeprivedoflife,
libertyorpropertywithoutdueprocessoflaw,norshallanypersonbedeniedtheequal
protectionoflaws.Onaccountofthisprovision,RepublicAct.9346(AnActProhibitingthe
ImpositionofDeathPenaltyinthePhilippines)wasmade,thusdeathpenaltywasabolished.
Correspondingly,ArticleIIofthe1987Constitution,Sec.12articulatesthatTheState
recognizesthesanctityoffamilylifeandshallprotectandstrengthenthefamilyasabasic
autonomoussocialinstitution.Itshallequallyprotectthelifeoftheunbornfromconception.The
naturalandprimaryrightanddutyoftheparentsintherearingoftheyouthforcivicefficiency
andthedevelopmentofmoralcharactershallreceivethesupportoftheGovernment,thebasis
forthebanofabortioninthePhilippines,whichiscriminalizedinArticles256,258and259of
theRevisedPenalCode.ThoughhowstrongtheoppositionofthePhilippinegovernmentagainst
deathpenaltyandtheprotectionoflivesoftheinnocent,underArticle247oftheRevisedPenal
Code,itisstilllegaltokill.

Article247oftheRevisedPenalCodeprovidesthat:
Deathorphysicalinjuriesinflictedunderexceptionalcircumstances.Anylegallymarried
personwhohavingsurprisedhisspouseintheactofcommittingsexualintercoursewithanother
person,shallkillanyofthemorbothofthemintheactorimmediatelythereafter,orshallinflict
uponthemanyseriousphysicalinjury,shallsufferthepenaltyofdestierro.
Ifheshallinflictuponthemphysicalinjuriesofanyotherkind,heshallbeexemptfrom
punishment.
Theserulesshallbeapplicable,underthesamecircumstances,toparentswithrespecttotheir
daughtersundereighteenyearsofage,andtheirseducer,whilethedaughtersarelivingwiththeir
parents.
Anypersonwhoshallpromoteorfacilitatetheprostitutionofhiswifeordaughter,orshall
otherwisehaveconsentedtotheinfidelityoftheotherspouseshallnotbeentitledtothebenefits
ofthisarticle.
Underthisprovision,anypersonwhofindshisspouseinbedhavingcarnalknowledgewith
anotherpersonandkillshisspouseandtheotherperson,hewillbepunishedwithdestierroor
banishment,andifheinflictsseriousphysicalinjury,hewillbeexemptfromanycriminal
liability.Italsoappliesonfatherswithdaughtersofminorages,livingwiththem.Article247
depictsnotapunishment,butanexemption,arighttokill.Thejustificationofthisprovisionis

that,overwhelmingoutrageandtheneedtovindicateoneshonorfromtherationaleofwhy
killingisallowedunderthesecircumstances.
Article247oftheRPCshouldbeamendedoreither,repealed.Itpracticallypenalizesdeathon
womenorgirlswhoiscaughtintheactofcommittingsexualintercourse.TheConstitution
protectsourrightstolive,butthislawinsteadgivesalicensetokill.Withtheemphasison
womenanddaughters,itdanglesonbeingdiscriminatory,unjustandsomewhatlingersonthe
borderofgenderinequality.RepublicActNo.9710ortheMagnaCartaofWomenprovidesthat
thegovernmentshalltakeallappropriatemeasurestoeliminatediscriminationagainstwomenin
allmattersrelatingtomarriageandfamilyrelations.Further,theprovisiononequaltreatment
beforethelawmandatestheStatetotakestepstoreviewandamendand/orrepealexistinglaws
thatarediscriminatorytowomen.

References:
1987ConstitutionofthePhilippines
RevisedPenalCode
http://www.pcw.gov.ph/wpla/repealingarticle247revisedpenalcode
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/203125/news/nation/solonseekstoamendlawonkilli
ngspousecaughthavingsex

AMENDINGARTICLE247OFTHEREVISEDPENALCODEBYINCREASINGTHE
PENALTIESFORDEATHORPHYSICALINJURIESINFLICTEDUNDEREXCEPTIONAL
CIRCUMSTANCES
WHEREAS, reports received of late indicate an upsurge of killing of women and daughters
committedunderexceptionalcircumstances
WHEREAS, if not checked at once, these criminal acts would erode the women's confidencein
gender equality by being legally killed underexceptionalcircumstancesandbeingdeprivedof
life
WHEREAS, it is vitally necessary to penalize death or physical injuries inflicted under
exceptionalcircumstancescasesbyincreasingtheexistingpenaltiesprovidedtherefor
Section 1. Any legally married person who having surprised his spouseintheactofcommitting
sexual intercourse with another person, shall kill any of them or both of them in the act or
immediately thereafter, or shall inflict upon them any serious physical injury, shall suffer the
penalty of reclusion perpetua. If heshallinflictuponthemphysicalinjuriesofanyotherkind,he
shallsufferthepenaltyofprisioncorrecional.
Sec.2.Thisdecreeshalltakeeffectimmediately.