Parusang community service kapalit ng pagkakakulong

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | May 1, 2025

Dear Chief Acosta,

May reklamong slight physical injuries laban sa aking anak. Kung mahahatulan, maaari bang community service na lamang ang ipataw na parusa sa kanya sa halip na pagkakakulong? — Felipe

---

Dear Felipe,

Patakaran ng Estado na itaguyod ang restorative justice at hindi sumikip o mapuno ang mga kulungan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapahintulot sa korte sa pagpapasya nito na magpataw ng community service bilang kapalit ng pagkakakulong para sa mga pagkakasala na pinarurusahan ng arresto menor at arresto mayor.  Kung kaya, nakasaad sa Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11362 o “Community Service Act” ang mga sumusunod na probisyon:

“Section 3. Community Service. - Article 88a of the Act No. 3815 is hereby inserted to read as follows:

“ART. 88a. Community Service. -- The court in the discretion may, in lieu of service in jail, require that the penalties of arresto menor and arresto mayor may be served by the defendant by rendering community service in the place where the crime was committed, under such terms as the court shall determine, taking into consideration the gravity of offense and the circumstances of the case, which shall be under the supervision of a probation officer: Provided, That the court will prepare an order imposing the community service, specifying the number of hours to be worked and the period within which to complete the service. The order is then referred to the assigned probation officer who shall have responsibility of the defendant.

The defendant shall likewise be required to undergo rehabilitative counseling under the social welfare and development office of the city or municipality concerned with the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). In requiring community service, the court shall consider the welfare of the society and the reasonable probability that the person sentenced shall not violate the law while rendering a public service.

Community service shall consist of any actual physical activity which inculcates civic consciousness, and is intended towards the improvement of a public work or promotion of a public service.

If the defendant violates the terms of the community service, the court shall order his/her re-arrest and the defendant shall serve the full term of the penalty, as the case may be, in jail, or in the house of the defendant as provided under Article 88. However, if the defendant has fully complied with the terms of the community service, the court shall order the release of the defendant unless detained for some other offenses.

The privilege of rendering community service in lieu of service in jail shall be availed of only once.”

Kaugnay nito, sa kasong Teddy Peña y Romero vs. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 261807, ika-14 ng Agosto 2024, sa panulat ni Honorable Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, pinasyahan ng ating Korte Suprema na nasa loob ng pagpapasya (discretion) ng korte ang pagpataw ng parusang community service – hindi ito ibinibigay bilang karapatan ng nagkasala:

“It must be emphasized, however, that the imposition of the penalty of community service is still within the discretion of the court and should not be taken as an unbridled license to commit minor offenses. It is merely a privilege since the offender cannot choose it over imprisonment as a matter of right. Further, in requiring community service, the court shall consider the welfare of the society and the reasonable probability that the person sentenced shall not violate the law while rendering the service. With the enactment of Republic Act No. 11362, apart from the law’s objective to improve public work participation and promote public service, it is expected that the State’s policy to promote restorative justice and to decongest jails will be achieved.”

Sang-ayon din dito, hindi dapat ito ituring bilang lisensya upang makagawa ng mga maliliit na pagkakasala. Sa katunayan, ang pribilehiyong ito ay maaari lamang maipagkaloob ng isang beses. Gayundin, sa pag-aatas ng community service, isinasaalang-alang ng hukuman ang kapakanan ng lipunan, at ang makatwirang posibilidad na ang taong sentensiyahan ay hindi lalabag sa batas habang nagbibigay ng serbisyo. 

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay. 

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.