Grace Poe-sponsored measure: Harsher anti-carnapping bill lapses into law

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Mary Grace Natividad Sonora Poe Llamanzares

A bill increasing the penalty for carjacking and makes it a non-bailable offense  that former President Benigno Aquino III failed to sign before stepping down from office has lapsed into law, Senator Grace Poe said Wednesday.

The Constitution gives a president 30 days to either sign or veto a measure ratified by Congress, failing which it automatically becomes a law.

In the case of the anti-carnapping bill, Poe said “the new administration has allowed the legislative measure -- which has been designated Republic Act (RA) No. 10883 -- to lapse into law.”

“It is our hope that this new and comprehensive anti-carnapping law imposing much stiffer penalties, alongside strict implementation by our law enforcers, will hinder the commission of this crime and give vehicle owners peace of mind,” said Poe, who is former chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs in the 16th Congress and sponsored the measure in the chamber.

The “New Anti Carnapping Law of the Philippines” will take affect 15 days after its publication. It repeals RA 6539, or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972.

The new law increases the penalty for carjacking to a jail term of 20 to 30 years from the previous 14 years and eight months to 17 years and four months. If the crime is accompanied by violence, intimidation or use of force, the penalty is increased to between 30 years and one day to 40 years, and if the owner, driver or passenger of the stolen vehicle is killed or raped, the sentence becomes life imprisonment.

On the other hand, anyone who helps conceal the crime stands to earn a jail term of six to 12 years plus a fine equal to the acquisition cost of the vehicle, engine or any other parts involved in the violation.

Public officials found guilty of the crime face dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from public office.

Aside from its punitive provisions, the measure requires those asking for the original registration of a vehicle to seek clearance from the Philippine National Police and the Land Transportation Office. It also mandates the LTO to keep a permanent registry of motor vehicles, motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis of all motor vehicles stating the type, make, serial numbers as well as the names and addresses of the vehicles’ present and previous owners.

The new law makes the tampering of serial numbers and transfer of vehicle plates without approval from the LTO criminal acts. It also criminalizes the sale of parts from a stolen vehicle and the transfer of identity of parts from a totally wrecked vehicle.