Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 2030)
The primary purpose of Act No. 2030 is to amend certain provisions of the Penal Code to impose severer penalties for the crimes of robbery and theft when the property stolen involves large cattle.
Articles 503 (paragraph 5), 508, 512, and 520 of the Penal Code were amended by Act No. 2030.
Large cattle, as defined by Act No. 2030, include carabaos, horses, mules, asses, and all members of the bovine family.
The penalty for theft of large cattle under amended Article 503, paragraph 5 is from presidio correctional in its maximum degree to presidio mayor in its medium degree.
Articles 508 and 512 provide that when the thing stolen is any kind of large cattle, the guilty persons shall be punished with the penalty of presidio correctional in its maximum degree to presidio mayor in its minimum degree.
Article 520 was amended by adding that if the thing stolen was any kind of large cattle, this shall be considered under the law's scope, implying more severe penalties or consideration.
These penalties indicate the gradation of imprisonment terms in the Philippine penal system, where presidio correctional is of lesser severity compared to presidio mayor, and the degrees indicate the specific length or severity of imprisonment within each category.
The legislature deemed it necessary likely due to the economic and social importance of large cattle, thus providing stronger deterrence against such crimes.
The Act took effect upon its passage in accordance with section one of Act Numbered 1945 of the Philippine Legislature.
No, the Act specifically imposes severer penalties only in cases involving theft or robbery of large cattle; other theft and robbery cases follow the previously existing penalties.