(Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Police officers and other persons of authority should be meted with heavier penalties in the event that they are proven to have a part in covering up heinous crimes. 

Such is embodied in Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte's House Bill (HB) No.7972, which seeks tougher action against these so-called “hoodlums in uniform”. 

The measure seeks to amend Article 19 of the Penal Code by imposing a higher jail term of reclusion temporal or 12 to 20 years on persons of authority who are found guilty of facilitating or ordering the destruction or concealment of vital evidence in heinous offenses such as drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping, and rape.   

Villafuerte said the primary task of persons of authority is to maintain public order as well as to protect and secure life and property. 

“However, there are instances when the persons in authority themselves facilitated or ordered the destruction or concealment of vital evidence used in heinous crimes,” he noted. 

HB No.7972 intends to prescribe a higher penalty for persons in authority who directly caused or ordered the destruction or concealment of vital evidence for heinous crimes. 

It seeks to add the following paragraph to Article 19 of the Penal Code: "Where the offense is a heinous crime under existing laws and is committed by persons in authority, they shall suffer the penalty of one degree lower than that prescribed by law for the consummated felony.” 

At present, the Penal Code imposes a jail sentence of 20 to 40 years on those found guilty of committing heinous crimes. 

As for accessories to heinous crimes, they are slapped with a penalty two degrees lower than that prescribed by law against the principal offenders, or a prison sentence of just six to 12 years. 

Included among heinous crimes under Republic Act (RA) No.7659 are the offenses of importation, distribution, manufacture and possession of illegal drugs; treason; rape; qualified bribery; murder, parricide and infanticide; piracy and mutiny on the high seas in Philippine waters; destructive arson; kidnapping and serious illegal detention; and robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons. 

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, a former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) assistant secretary, co-authored HB No.7972.