Harsher anti-car theft bill lapses into law, Grace Poe says

A measure imposing a jail term of up to 40 years on convicted car thieves has lapsed into law 30 days after it was submitted to Malacañang for then President Benigno Aquino III's signature, Senator Grace Poe said on Wednesday.

Under the Constitution, the Chief Executive has 30 days to sign or veto a piece of legislation passed by Congress, otherwise it will automatically become a law.

Republic Act No. 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Law of the Philippines lapsed into law on July 17 and will take effect 15 days after publication in newspapers. It will repeal the old anti-car theft measure, RA No. 6539, which was passed in 1972.

“It is our hope that this new and comprehensive anti-carnapping law imposing much stiffer penalties, alongside strict implementation by our law enforcers, will hinder the commission of this crime and give vehicle owners peace of mind,” Poe said.

Poe sponsored the measure on the Senate floor as the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs in the 16th Congress.

The new law provides a longer jail term of 20 to 30 years for those convicted of car theft. The old law only provided for jail terms of 14 years and eight months to 17 years and four months.

Under RA 10883, persons found guilty of using violence, intimidation or force in the car theft will be imprisoned for 30 years and one day to 40 years.

If the owner, driver, or occupant of the vehicle was killed or raped, the person found guilty by the court would be sentenced to life imprisonment.

Meanwhile, anyone proven guilty of concealing the crime would be imprisoned from six to 12 years and fined with the acquisition cost of the motor vehicle, engine, or any other part involved in the crime.

Public officials who may be found guilty of car theft will also face dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from public office.

Other features

The new measure requires those requesting for the original registration of a vehicle to apply for clearance from the Philippine National Police and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The LTO is also mandated to keep a registry of motor vehicles, engines, engine blocks, and chassis of all vehicles in the country.

The records must state the type, make, serial numbers of these items as well as the the names and addresses of the present and previous owners of the vehicles.

The tampering of serial numbers and the transfer of vehicle plates without approval from the LTO are also considered as crimes under the measure.

The measure also penalizes the selling of spare parts from a stolen vehicle and the identity transfer of parts of a vehicle declared a total wreck.

Fewer car theft incidents

Last year, the Philippine National Police reported a 70-percent decrease in the number of car thefts in the country.

The PNP reported “an average of eight carnapping incidents from August 24 to September 27, 2015 which made a 70% decrease from an average of 39 incidents before Oplan Lambat-Sibat started on June 2014.”

The PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) said the most significant decrease in car theft incidents was recorded in Quezon City.
Only one such incident was reported from September 21-27 last year, compared to 15 cases of in June 2014.

Advice to car owners

Meanwhile, the PNP also listed tips for car owners to protect them from car thieves:

(1) Park your car in safe, secure, and well-lit areas.
(2) Install a security alarm and other safety devices in your car.
(3) Lock car windows and doors at all times.

—NB, GMA News