President Aquino signs 2 new laws
President Benigno Aquino III has signed two new laws. President has signed into law Republic Act 10592, which allows local jails to reduce a convicted felon’s time jail because of good behavior, and Republic Act 10591, it provides stricter guidelines on securing a gun license and sets limits to the number of firearms a person may own.
RA 10592 amends Articles 29, 94, 97, 98, and 99 of the Revised Penal Code and allows the local jail to deduct the following number of days from a convict’s sentence:
During the first two years of imprisonment, the prisoner shall be allowed a deduction of 20 days for each month of good behavior during detention;
In the third to the 5th year, inclusive, of his imprisonment, he shall be allowed a deduction of twenty-three days for each month of good behavior during detention;
During the following years until the 10th year, inclusive, of his imprisonment, the prisoner shall be allowed a deduction of 25 days for each month of good behavior during detention;
And in the 11th and successive years of his imprisonment, he shall be allowed a deduction of 30 days for each month of good behavior during detention; and
At any time during the period of imprisonment, he shall be allowed another deduction of 15 days, in addition to numbers one to four for each month of study, teaching or mentoring service time rendered.
The law states that an appeal by the accused shall not deprive him of entitlement to the allowances for good conduct.
RA 10592 was signed on May 29 and its implementing rules and regulations will be promulgated by the Departments of Justice and Interior and Local Government within 60 days thereafter.
Also on Saturday, the Palace announced that the President has signed Republic Act 10591, which specifies guidelines in the issuance of gun licenses to individuals.
For the most part, the new law outlines requirements that are already being implemented by the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office, but it also added some new provisions, like the one on five types of licenses that may be issued.
Under Republic Act 10591, one must be a Filipino citizen, at least 21 years old and should be employed, and has no criminal record to own a gun.
One should also indicate in writing why he or she needs a firearm and should pass a gun safety seminar.