11/8/2017 R.A.

7438

TodayisWednesday,November08,2017

Custom Search

RepublicofthePhilippines
CongressofthePhilippines
MetroManila

EighthCongress

RepublicActNo.7438April27,1992

ANACTDEFININGCERTAINRIGHTSOFPERSONARRESTED,DETAINEDORUNDERCUSTODIAL
INVESTIGATIONASWELLASTHEDUTIESOFTHEARRESTING,DETAININGANDINVESTIGATING
OFFICERS,ANDPROVIDINGPENALTIESFORVIOLATIONSTHEREOF

BeitenactedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesofthePhilippinesinCongressassembled::

Section 1. Statement of Policy. It is the policy of the Senate to value the dignity of every human being and
guaranteefullrespectforhumanrights.

Section2.RightsofPersonsArrested,DetainedorUnderCustodialInvestigationDutiesofPublicOfficers.

(a)Anypersonarresteddetainedorundercustodialinvestigationshallatalltimesbeassistedbycounsel.

(b) Any public officer or employee, or anyone acting under his order or his place, who arrests, detains or
investigatesanypersonforthecommissionofanoffenseshallinformthelatter,inalanguageknowntoand
understoodbyhim,ofhisrightstoremainsilentandtohavecompetentandindependentcounsel,preferably
ofhisownchoice,whoshallatalltimesbeallowedtoconferprivatelywiththepersonarrested,detainedor
under custodial investigation. If such person cannot afford the services of his own counsel, he must be
providedwithacompetentandindependentcounselbytheinvestigatingofficer. lawphi1

(c) The custodial investigation report shall be reduced to writing by the investigating officer, provided that
beforesuchreportissigned,orthumbmarkedifthepersonarrestedordetaineddoesnotknowhowtoread
and write, it shall be read and adequately explained to him by his counsel or by the assisting counsel
provided by the investigating officer in the language or dialect known to such arrested or detained person,
otherwise,suchinvestigationreportshallbenullandvoidandofnoeffectwhatsoever.

(d)Anyextrajudicialconfessionmadebyapersonarrested,detainedorundercustodialinvestigationshallbe
inwritingandsignedbysuchpersoninthepresenceofhiscounselorinthelatter'sabsence,uponavalid
waiver,andinthepresenceofanyoftheparents,elderbrothersandsisters,hisspouse,themunicipalmayor,
themunicipaljudge,districtschoolsupervisor,orpriestorministerofthegospelaschosenbyhimotherwise,
suchextrajudicialconfessionshallbeinadmissibleasevidenceinanyproceeding.

(e) Any waiver by a person arrested or detained under the provisions of Article 125 of the Revised Penal
Code,orundercustodialinvestigation,shallbeinwritingandsignedbysuchpersoninthepresenceofhis
counselotherwisethewaivershallbenullandvoidandofnoeffect.

(f)Anypersonarrestedordetainedorundercustodialinvestigationshallbeallowedvisitsbyorconferences
withanymemberofhisimmediatefamily,oranymedicaldoctororpriestorreligiousministerchosenbyhim
or by any member of his immediate family or by his counsel, or by any national nongovernmental
organizationdulyaccreditedbytheCommissiononHumanRightsofbyanyinternationalnongovernmental
organizationdulyaccreditedbytheOfficeofthePresident.Theperson's"immediatefamily"shallincludehis
orherspouse,fiancorfiance,parentorchild,brotherorsister,grandparentorgrandchild,uncleoraunt,
nepheworniece,andguardianorward.

AsusedinthisAct,"custodialinvestigation"shallincludethepracticeofissuingan"invitation"toapersonwhois
investigatedinconnectionwithanoffenseheissuspectedtohavecommitted,withoutprejudicetotheliabilityofthe
"inviting"officerforanyviolationoflaw.

http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1992/ra_7438_1992.html 1/2
11/8/2017 R.A. 7438
Section3.AssistingCounsel.Assistingcounselisanylawyer,exceptthosedirectlyaffectedbythecase,those
chargedwithconductingpreliminaryinvestigationorthosechargedwiththeprosecutionofcrimes.

Theassistingcounselotherthanthegovernmentlawyersshallbeentitledtothefollowingfees

(a) The amount of One hundred fifty pesos (P150.00) if the suspected person is chargeable with light
felonies lawphi1alf

(b)TheamountofTwohundredfiftypesos(P250.00)ifthesuspectedpersonischargeablewithlessgraveor
gravefelonies

(c)TheamountofThreehundredfiftypesos(P350.00)ifthesuspectedpersonischargeablewithacapital
offense.

Thefeefortheassistingcounselshallbepaidbythecityormunicipalitywherethecustodialinvestigationis
conducted, provided that if the municipality of city cannot pay such fee, the province comprising such
municipalityorcityshallpaythefee:Provided,ThattheMunicipalorCityTreasurermustcertifythatnofunds
areavailabletopaythefeesofassistingcounselbeforetheprovincepayssaidfees.

Intheabsenceofanylawyer,nocustodialinvestigationshallbeconductedandthesuspectedpersoncanonlybe
detainedbytheinvestigatingofficerinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofArticle125oftheRevisedPenalCode.

Section4.PenaltyClause.(a)Anyarrestingpublicofficeroremployee,oranyinvestigatingofficer,whofailsto
inform any person arrested, detained or under custodial investigation of his right to remain silent and to have
competent and independent counsel preferably of his own choice, shall suffer a fine of Six thousand pesos
(P6,000.00)orapenaltyofimprisonmentofnotlessthaneight(8)yearsbutnotmorethanten(10)years,orboth.
Thepenaltyofperpetualabsolutedisqualificationshallalsobeimposedupontheinvestigatingofficerwhohasbeen
previouslyconvictedofasimilaroffense.

Thesamepenaltiesshallbeimposeduponapublicofficeroremployee,oranyoneactinguponordersofsuch
investigating officer or in his place, who fails to provide a competent and independent counsel to a person
arrested,detainedorundercustodialinvestigationforthecommissionofanoffenseifthelattercannotafford
theservicesofhisowncounsel.

(b) Any person who obstructs, prevents or prohibits any lawyer, any member of the immediate family of a
personarrested,detainedorundercustodialinvestigation,oranymedicaldoctororpriestorreligiousminister
chosen by him or by any member of his immediate family or by his counsel, from visiting and conferring
privatelywithhim,orfromexaminingandtreatinghim,orfromministeringtohisspiritualneeds,atanyhour
ofthedayor,inurgentcases,ofthenightshallsufferthepenaltyofimprisonmentofnotlessthanfour(4)
yearsnormorethansix(6)years,andafineoffourthousandpesos(P4,000.00). lawphi1

The provisions of the above Section notwithstanding, any security officer with custodial responsibility over any
detainee or prisoner may undertake such reasonable measures as may be necessary to secure his safety and
preventhisescape.

Section 5. Repealing Clause. Republic Act No. No. 857, as amended, is hereby repealed. Other laws,
presidentialdecrees,executiveordersorrulesandregulations,orpartsthereofinconsistentwiththeprovisionsof
thisActarerepealedormodifiedaccordingly.

Section6.Effectivity.ThisActshalltakeeffectfifteen(15)daysfollowingitspublicationintheOfficialGazetteor
inanydailynewspapersofgeneralcirculationinthePhilippines.

Approved:April27,1992. lawphi1

TheLawphilProjectArellanoLawFoundation

http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1992/ra_7438_1992.html 2/2