Republic Act No. 10158 (RA 10158) — An Act Decriminalizing Vagrancy, Amending for This Purpose Article 202 of Act No. 3815, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Revised Penal Code
SECTION 1. Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code is hereby, amended to read as follows:
“Article 202. Prostitutes; Penalty. – For the purposes of this article, women who, for money or profit, habitually indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be prostitutes.
“Any person found guilty of any of the offenses covered by this article shall be punished by arresto menor or a fine not exceeding 200 pesos, and in case of recidivism, by arresto mayor in its medium period to prision correctional in its minimum period or a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 pesos, or both, in the discretion of the court.”
Effect on Pending Cases.
SEC. 2. Effect on Pending Cases. – All pending cases under the provisions of Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code on Vagrancy prior to its amendment by this Act shall be dismissed upon effectivity of this Act.
Immediate Release of Convicted Persons.
SEC. 3. Immediate Release of Convicted Persons. – All persons serving sentence for violation of the provisions of Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code on Vagrancy prior to its amendment by this Act shall be immediately released upon effectivity of this Act: Provided, That they are not serving sentence or detained for any other offense or felony.
Repealing Clause.
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations and other issuances, or any part thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
Effectivity Clause.
SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
(Sgd.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.
(Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE
Speaker of the House
of Representatives
President of the Senate
This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2726 and House Bill No. 4936 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on March 14, 2011 and January 30, 2012, respectively.
(Sgd.) MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP
(Sgd.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES
Secretary General
House of Representatives
Secretary of the Senate
Approved: MARCH 27, 2012
(Sgd.) BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III
President of the Philippines
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
