Carnapping is one of the crimes in the Philippines that the government is still trying to combat considering the fact that there are still many unsolved criminal cases that need extra attention. Law enforcers have now implemented stricter rules with the new anti-carnapping act 2016. Republic Act No. 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016 aims to implement harsher rules and penalties.
Approved by former president Benigno S. Aquino III on July 17, 2016, this law will be keen on identifying violators of the law.
Setion 3. Carnapping; Penalties.- Carnapping is the taking, with the intent to gain, of a motor vehicle belonging to another without the latter's consent, or by means of violence against or intimidation of persons, or by using force upon things.
Any person who is found guilty of carnapping shall, regardless of the value of the motor vehicle taken, be punished by imprisonment for not less than twenty (20) years and one (1) day but not more than thirty (30) years, when the carnapping is committed without violence against or intimidation of persons, or force upon things; and by imprisonment for not less than (30) years and one (1) day but not more than forty (40) years, when the carnapping is committed by means of violence against or intimidation of persons, or force upon things; and the penalty of life imprisonment shall be imposed when the owner, driver, or occupant of teh carnapped motor vehicle is killed or raped in the commission of the carnapping.
Any person charged with carnapping or when the crime of carnapping is committed by criminal groups, gangs or syndicates or by means of violence or intimidation of any person or persons or forced upon things; or when the owner, driver, passenger or occupant of the carnapped vehicle is killed or raped in the course of carnapping shall be denied bail when the evidence of guilt is strong.
Section 4. Concealment of Carnapping - Any person who conceals carnapping shall be punished with imprisonment of six (6) years up to twelve (12) years and a fine equal to the amount of the acquisition cost of the motor vehicle, motor vehicle engine, or any other part involved in the violation; Provided, that if the person violation any provision of this Act is a juridical person, the penalty herein provided shall be imposed on its president, secretary, and/or members of the board of directors or any of its officers and employees who may have directly participated in the violation.
Any public official or employee who directly commits unlawful acts defined in this Act or is guilty of gross negligence of duty or connives with or permits the commission of any of the said unlawful acts shall, in addition to the penalty prescribed in the preceding paragraph, be dismissed from the service, and his/her benefits forfeited and shall be permanently disqualified from holding public office.
