BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 85 - AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE OF ANY OFFENDER OR ACCUSED WHO HAS UNDERGONE
PREVENTIVE IMPRISONMENT EQUAL TO OR MORE THAN THE POSSIBLE MAXIMUM
IMPRISONMENT TO WHICH HE MAY BE SENTENCED BY AMENDING THE REVISED PENAL
CODE |
Section 1.Article twenty-nine of Public Act Numbered Thirty-eight hundred and
fifteen, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, as amended by
Republic Act Numbered Sixty-one hundred and twenty-seven, is further
amended to read as follows: "Art. 29 Period
of preventive imprisonment deducted from term of imprisonment. –
Offenders or accused who have undergone preventive imprisonment shall
be credited in the service of their sentence consisting of deprivation
of liberty, with the full time during which they have undergone
preventive imprisonment, if the detention prisoner agrees voluntarily
in writing to abide by the same disciplinary rules imposed upon
convicted prisoners except in the following cases: "1. When they are recidivists, or have been convicted previously twice or more times of any crime; and "2. When upon
being summoned for the execution of their sentence they have failed to
surrender voluntarily. "If the detention prisoner does not agree to abide by the same disciplinary rules imposed upon convicted prisoners, he shall be credited in the service of his sentence with four-fifths of the time during which he has undergone preventive imprisonment. "Whenever an accused has undergone preventive imprisonment for a period equal to or more than the possible maximum imprisonment of the offense charged to which he may be sentenced and his case is not yet terminated, he shall be released immediately without prejudice to the continuation of the trial thereof or the proceeding on appeal, if the same is under review unless he is detained by virtue of an arrest, search and seizure order (ASSO). In case the maximum penalty to which the accused may be sentenced is destierro, he shall be released after thirty (30) days of preventive imprisonment." Sec. 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. Approved: September 20, 1980. |