A measure has been filed in the House of Representatives proposing the death penalty for carnapping and carjacking.House Bill 5664, which is up for debate at the House Committee on Revision of Laws, seeks to amend Republic Act 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972 to provide stiffer measures for the offense.
The bill’s explanatory note points out that the necessity for the state to put in place a law that will discourage criminal elements from doing the act, noting that for almost 40 years, carnapping in the country has not been considered as a non-bailable offense.
The police has noted that cases of carnapping result in physical injuries, rape, and even death of victims.
Criminals have taken advantage of the current state of our law, the bill’s author, House Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal, stated.
The bill cites Section 13 of Article III of the Constitution, which states that all persons shall, before conviction, be bailable, and the exception is in the case of those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua when evidence of guilt is strong, in invoking stiffer penalties for the crime.
It also proposes that any person who is found guilty of carnapping, irrespective of the value of the motor vehicle, shall be punished by imprisonment of at least 14 years when the carnapping and/ or carjacking is committed without violence against or intimidation of persons, or force upon things.
“We have seen how the current situation has emboldened criminal elements because they can easily post bail using the proceeds from their illegal activity and once out of jail, they simply continue with their modus operandi,” the bill’s note concluded.
By Maricel Cruz
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