Escudero seeks stiffer penalty vs reckless drivers

MANILA, Philippines—From four years, a senator wants to raise to 20 years of imprisonment the maximum penalty against erring drivers of public transportations.

The proposal was contained in Senate Bill No. 2095 filed by Senator Francis Escudero, which increases the current criminal liability of negligent drivers under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code.

Escudero said the penalties provided under Article 365 might no longer work with the way public transports, especially buses, have lightly treated their obligation under existing laws.

From the existing penalty of arresto mayor to prision correcional in its medium period, or from one month to four years and two months, the bill proposes to penalize criminal negligence by common carriers with imprisonment ranging from four months and one day to six months to 12 years, in case of injury and depending on the extent of the offense.

In case of death, Escudero said the penalty should range from 12 years to 20 years of imprisonment.

“Recent road tragedies show how drivers have become reckless and irresponsible in the conduct of their duties. They seem to disregard the statutory policy to bring their passengers safely as far as human care and foresight can provide, using utmost diligence and caution,” the senator said in a statement.

The passage of the bill, Esudero said, would provide a “preventive policy” to address recklessness and impudence which have been one of the leading causes of deaths among Filipinos. (report from Maila Ager, Inquirer.net)