Senator Pimentel Calls for Longer Prison Term for Reckless Drivers

Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III wants to impose stiffer penalties on those found guilty of reckless imprudence and negligence.

Pimentel has filed Senate Bill No. 118, which amends Article 365 of Act No. 3815--otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code--and includes longer prison terms on cases involving damage to properties and loss of lives.

"One of the purposes of criminal laws is the protection of members of society from potential wrongdoers," Pimentel said. "These laws are directed against acts or omissions which society does not approve of and therefore serve as deterrents against incidents that may claim lives or cause damage to property."

"It is proposed that Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code be amended to provide our law on reckless imprudence and negligence more teeth by increasing the penalties of imprisonment and fine therein," Pimentel added.

The senator also proposed the imposition of prision correccional in its medium (two years, four months and one day to four years and two months) and maximum (10 years and one day to 12 years) periods.

In cases where negligence and imprudence leads to death, the senator seeks to increase the penalty from the existing two to six-year imprisonment term to a minimum of 10 to 12-year jail sentence to 14 years and eight months.

Pimentel also wants to increase the existing fine for such cases, which currently has a range of PHP200 to PHP40,000 for anyone who commits a light felony.

Pimentel also seeks to disqualify from probation those who found to have intentionally committed reckless imprudence or grave felony that results in fatality.