Del Mar wants stiffer penalty for theft, robbery

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City North District Rep. Rachel Del Mar is pushing for more teeth on the Revised Penal Code particularly on the penalty for theft and robbery.

Del Mar said it is about time that snatchers of portable telecommunication devices like mobile phones face a stiffer penalty. Under the law, the punishment for robbery ranges from six months to 30 years if the court convicts.

Under House Bill 373, Del Mar said it would be “high time that a law be passed to neutralize, if not eradicate the rampant snatching, robbery and theft involving the portable communication gadgets in the streets is a common occurrence.”

“As a matter of fact, many victims have died as a result of these crimes. There is no doubt that the use of the portable telecommunications devices is an indispensable tool to accelerate the economic development of the country,” Del Mar said as she pushed for the immediate approval of her proposed measure.

Portable telecommunication devices include cellular phones, personal digital assistants, portable computers, two-way very high frequency (VHF) or ultra high frequency (UHF) radios and other portable communication equipment utilized to transmit messages, documents, photo, images, videos or information through air, radio or satellite frequencies

If the bill will passed and approved, any person convicted of the crime of theft and robbery of a portable telecommunication device as defined under Chapters One and Three of Title Ten of the Revised Penal Code shall be punished by the penalty higher in degree than provided by the present law.

“The additional penalty specified shall no longer be made applicable if the imposable penalty is in its maximum period,” Del Mar said.

Under the bill, it also provides that any person charged for the said crimes shall not be allowed to avail of the provisions on plea-bargaining and the privilege granted by the Probation Law. (THE FREEMAN)