Soon, there may be no more jail time for minor offenses.

The House of Representatives has unanimously agreed to impose community service as a penalty for minor offenses in lieu of imprisonment before it adjourned on Thursday.

House Bill 335, which seeks to impose community service as a penalty for lesser crimes such as alarm and scandal, slight physical injuries, and theft, was passed on its third and final reading.

The bill, authored by Pangasinan 6th district Representative Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, seeks to amend a section of the Revised Penal Code which imposes imprisonment on lesser crimes.

The law provides a minimum penalty of one day imprisonment and a maximum of 30 days for lesser crimes, otherwise known as aresto menor.



Under the proposed bill, offenders will be required to render community service wherever the supposed crime was committed, under terms determined by the court and the supervision of either the respective community's barangay captain or a probation officer.

Offenders will also be required to undergo rehabilitative counseling.

However, the community service option can only be availed once and when found in violation of the terms established for the community service, the court may order the arrest and imprisonment of the offender.

Agabas said her proposal can help decongest overcrowded jails and penitentiaries in the country.



A similar bill was filed and approved on third and final reading by the House during the 16th Congress.

Other authors of the bill are Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu, Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano and Ramon Rocamora, representative of the lone district of Siquijor.