HB1565 - AN ACT AMENDING ARTICLE 365 OF ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED

The Revised Penal Code, under Article 365, punishes acts committed through criminal negligence or imprudence-offenses that may not stem from malicious intent but often leave behind consequences just as devastating. These are the cases of lives lost in road crashes, of patients who never wake up from what should have been routine procedures, of workers buried under collapsed scaffolding, or families grieving over a loved one's death in what is labeled an "accident." We have seen these stories unfold too many times, and yet, the law has remained slow in catching up with the weight of these tragedies. While justice recognizes the distinction between intentional wrongdoing and reckless disregard, the reality is that the pain endured by victims is no less real simply because the harm was unintended. A life taken by negligence is still a life lost. A family broken by reckless acts still faces the same anguish, the same questions, and often, the same lack of closure. Our laws must evolve to reflect not just the intent behind an act, but also its impact. Increasing the penalties for quasi-offenses is not about punishing honest mistakes-it is about drawing a firm line against inexcusable negligence that could have been prevented with due diligence. It is about compelling drivers, doctors, engineers, employers, and all professionals in high-stakes environments to act with the highest regard for human life. It is about sending a message that accountability must exist not only where there is intent to harm, but also where there is a failure to care. For further reading: https://docs.congress.hrep.online/legisdocs/basic_20/HB01565.pdf https://www.congress.gov.ph/house-members/view/?member=L031&name=DIMAGUILA%2C+WALFREDO+%22ARMAN%22+R.%2C+JR.&page=0

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