Lawmaker Proposes Tougher Penalties for Law Enforcers Involved in Heinous Crimes
MANILA – A significant legislative proposal aimed at imposing sterner penalties on law enforcement officers and other authorities complicit in heinous crimes was introduced in the House of Representatives. House Bill 7972, advocated by Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Brian Raymund Yamsuan on Tuesday, suggests increasing the maximum prison sentence from 12 to 20 years for those in authority found guilty of aiding in the concealment of evidence related to drug trafficking and other severe offenses.
According to Philippines News Agency, law enforcers and individuals in positions of authority who destroy or hide crucial evidence to facilitate the commission of heinous crimes would face heightened criminal accountability. Yamsuan emphasized the inherent duty of these officials to uphold public order and combat crime, arguing that their involvement in such criminal activities undermines their role as protectors of society. He added, “When they turn out to be the problem themselves by acting as accessories to the commission of heinous crimes, they become hoodlums in uniform who deserve to be severely punished under the law.”
The proposed legislation specifies that accessories to heinous crimes would incur a penalty one degree lower than that prescribed for the primary offense, marking a significant departure from the current legal framework which imposes penalties two degrees lower for accessories. Under the existing Penal Code, accessories to crimes are subjected to a considerably lighter sentence, ranging from 6 to 12 years in prison.
Yamsuan’s initiative reflects a broader effort to address the involvement of law enforcement and authority figures in heinous crimes, which include a wide array of offenses such as drug trafficking, treason, piracy, bribery, murder, kidnapping, robbery, arson, and rape. These crimes currently attract the highest penalty of reclusion perpetua, or imprisonment for 20 to 40 years, highlighting the lawmaker’s push for more severe repercussions for those who facilitate these offenses from within the ranks of law enforcement.