Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7890)
Republic Act No. 7890 amends Article 286, Section Three, Chapter Two, Title Nine of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, specifically addressing the crime of grave coercions.
Grave coercion is defined as the act where any person, without legal authority, uses violence, threats, or intimidation to prevent another from doing something not prohibited by law or to compel someone to do something against their will, whether right or wrong.
The penalty prescribed is prision correccional and a fine not exceeding Six thousand pesos.
If the coercion is committed in violation of the right of suffrage, or to compel someone to perform any religious act or to prevent such exercise, the penalty next higher in degree than prision correccional and the prescribed fine shall be imposed.
Section 2 repealed Section 261, Paragraphs (d)(1) and (2), Article XXII of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881.
Section 3 repeals all other election laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.
If any part of the Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the rest of the Act or its application to other persons, groups, or circumstances shall remain unaffected and continue to be in force.
The Act took effect upon its approval on February 20, 1995.
Key officials include Edgardo J. Angara (President of the Senate), Jose De Venecia, Jr. (Speaker of the House of Representatives), and President Fidel V. Ramos.
It means that if the coercion affects the right of suffrage or compels religious acts, a more severe penalty than the standard prision correccional is imposed to reflect the greater seriousness of the offense.