House bill penalizing stoning of vehicles awaits Senate approval

A House bill seeking to provide stiff penalties for the act of throwing hard objects at a motor vehicle, which damages the vehicle or causes death or bodily harm to its passengers, has already been referred to a Senate committee for appropriate action.

Referred to the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights chaired by Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is House Bill 4865, principally authored by Rep. Rodolfo C. Fariñas (1st District, Ilocos Norte), which penalizes any person who throws stones, rocks, bricks, bottles, pieces of wood or metal or any other hard object of any kind or character that damages, ruins, destroys or wrecks the vehicle or causes death or bodily harm to the vehicle’s passengers.

The House earlier approved the bill on third and final reading and subsequently referred the measure to the Senate for concurrence. It was endorsed and sponsored on the floor by the House Committee on Justice chaired by Rep. Niel C. Tupas, Jr.

The bill provides a penalty of 25 years imprisonment and fine of P100,000 fine, in addition to civil liabilities, if such act results in the death of any person.

If such act results in any physical injury to a person, the penalty shall be five years imprisonment and P15,000 fine, in addition to civil liabilities for medical expenses and rehabilitation.

The least penalty shall be one year imprisonment and P10,000 fine, in addition to the costs of repair of the vehicle.

The prosecution under the measure shall be without prejudice to the prosecution of the offense under other existing laws.

Fariñas, a lawyer and a vice chairman of the Committees on Justice, Dangerous Drugs and Energy, said by penalizing the act of throwing stones and hard objects at vehicles and providing stiffer penalties for the crime, people will be forewarned of the consequences of such crime, thereby serving as a deterrent to future wrongdoers.

“Thus, the wellbeing of the travelers as well as the drivers and owners of the vehicles is ensured,” said Fariñas.

Fariñas said it is a fact that there are unscrupulous people who throw, for whatever reason, hard objects like stones, rocks, bricks, bottles, pieces of wood at motor vehicles, particularly public transport plying main thoroughfares.

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“In the process, accidents result, putting the lives and limbs of passengers in danger and damaging the vehicle itself. This practice has to be abated,” said Fariñas.

Moreover, Fariñas said authorities are at a loss on how to prevent the commission of such act, because at most, the culprits could be dealt with only with the crime of malicious mischief under Article 327 of the Revised Penal Code, punishable by a light penalty.

“Worst, offenders go scot-free and end up making this hazardous act a habitual ‘past-time.’ Hence this proposal,” said Fariñas.

House Bill 4865 is co-authored by Tupas and Reps. Susan A. Yap, Evelina G. Escudero, Regina O. Reyes, Oscar Rodriguez, Silvestre H. Bello III, Nicasio Aliping, Jr., Pablo Nava III, Xavier Jesus Romualdo and Victoria Noel. (30) rbb