Duterte signs law imposing community service on convicts of minor offenses

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law imposing the penalty of having to render community service on convicts of minor offenses instead of sentencing them to a jail term.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11362 on August 8.

The law aims to promote restorative justice and decongest jails by allowing courts to impose community service instead of jail term for minor offenses which are punishable by arresto menor (one day to 30 days) and arresto mayor (one month and one day to six months).

The law provides that community service will consist of any actual physical activity which inculcates civic consciousness and is intended towards the improvement of a public work or promotion of a public service.

However, the privilege of rendering community service shall be availed of only once.

If the defendant violates the terms of the community service, the court will order his re-arrest and the defendant will serve the full term of the penalty, as the case may be, in jail, or in the house of the defendant as provided under the Revised Penal Code.

If the defendant has fully complied with the terms of the community service, the court will order the release of the defendant unless detained for some other offense.

The new law was authored and sponsored by Senator Richard Gordon, whom Duterte recently berated after the lawmaker questioned President's appointments of former military and police officials in his government.

Gordon said he was not offended by Duterte’s tirades against him. —NB, GMA News