Ra 7438
Ra 7438
Congress of the Philippines (a) The amount of One hundred fifty pesos (P150.00) if the
Metro Manila suspected person is chargeable with light felonies;
Eighth Congress
(b) The amount of Two hundred fifty pesos (P250.00) if the
Republic Act No. 7438 April 27, 1992 suspected person is chargeable with
AN ACT DEFINING CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PERSON ARRESTED, DETAINED less grave or grave felonies;
OR UNDER CUSTODIAL INVESTIGATION AS WELL AS THE DUTIES OF THE
ARRESTING, DETAINING AND INVESTIGATING OFFICERS, AND (c) The amount of Three hundred fifty pesos (P350.00) if the
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF suspected person is chargeable with a capital offense.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in The fee for the assisting counsel shall be paid by the city or
Congress assembled:: municipality where the custodial investigation is conducted,
provided that if the municipality of city cannot pay such fee, the
Section 1. Statement of Policy. It is the policy of the Senate to value the province comprising such municipality or city shall pay the fee:
dignity of every human being and guarantee full respect for human rights. Provided, That the Municipal or City Treasurer must certify that no
funds are available to pay the fees of assisting counsel before the
Section 2. Rights of Persons Arrested, Detained or Under Custodial province pays said fees.
Investigation; Duties of Public Officers.
In the absence of any lawyer, no custodial investigation shall be conducted and
(a) Any person arrested detained or under custodial investigation the suspected person can only be detained by the investigating officer in
shall at all times be assisted by counsel. accordance with the provisions of Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code.
(b) Any public officer or employee, or anyone acting under his Section 4. Penalty Clause. (a) Any arresting public officer or employee, or
order or his place, who arrests, detains or investigates any person any investigating officer, who fails to inform any person arrested, detained or
for the commission of an offense shall inform the latter, in a under custodial investigation of his right to remain silent and to have
language known to and understood by him, of his rights to remain competent and independent counsel preferably of his own choice, shall suffer a
silent and to have competent and independent counsel, preferably fine of Six thousand pesos (P6,000.00) or a penalty of imprisonment of not less
of his own choice, who shall at all times be allowed to confer than eight (8) years but not more than ten (10) years, or both. The penalty of
privately with the person arrested, detained or under custodial perpetual absolute disqualification shall also be imposed upon the
investigation. If such person cannot afford the services of his own investigating officer who has been previously convicted of a similar offense.
counsel, he must be provided with a competent and independent
counsel by the investigating officer. The same penalties shall be imposed upon a public officer or
employee, or anyone acting upon orders of such investigating
(c) The custodial investigation report shall be reduced to writing by officer or in his place, who fails to provide a competent and
the investigating officer, provided that before such report is signed, independent counsel to a person arrested, detained or under
or thumbmarked if the person arrested or detained does not know custodial investigation for the commission of an offense if the latter
how to read and write, it shall be read and adequately explained to cannot afford the services of his own counsel.
him by his counsel or by the assisting counsel provided by the
investigating officer in the language or dialect known to such (b) Any person who obstructs, prevents or prohibits any lawyer,
arrested or detained person, otherwise, such investigation report any member of the immediate family of a person arrested, detained
shall be null and void and of no effect whatsoever. or under custodial investigation, or any medical doctor or priest or
religious minister chosen by him or by any member of his
(d) Any extrajudicial confession made by a person arrested, immediate family or by his counsel, from visiting and conferring
detained or under custodial investigation shall be in writing and privately with him, or from examining and treating him, or from
signed by such person in the presence of his counsel or in the ministering to his spiritual needs, at any hour of the day or, in
latter's absence, upon a valid waiver, and in the presence of any of urgent cases, of the night shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment
the parents, elder brothers and sisters, his spouse, the municipal of not less than four (4) years nor more than six (6) years, and a
mayor, the municipal judge, district school supervisor, or priest or fine of four thousand pesos (P4,000.00).lawphi1
minister of the gospel as chosen by him; otherwise, such
extrajudicial confession shall be inadmissible as evidence in any The provisions of the above Section notwithstanding, any security officer with
proceeding. custodial responsibility over any detainee or prisoner may undertake such
reasonable measures as may be necessary to secure his safety and prevent his
(e) Any waiver by a person arrested or detained under the escape.
provisions of Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code, or under Section 5. Repealing Clause. Republic Act No. No. 857, as amended, is
custodial investigation, shall be in writing and signed by such hereby repealed. Other laws, presidential decrees, executive orders or rules
person in the presence of his counsel; otherwise the waiver shall be and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
null and void and of no effect. are repealed or modified accordingly.
(f) Any person arrested or detained or under custodial Section 6. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
investigation shall be allowed visits by or conferences with any publication in the Official Gazette or in any daily newspapers of general
member of his immediate family, or any medical doctor or priest or circulation in the Philippines.
religious minister chosen by him or by any member of his
immediate family or by his counsel, or by any national non- Approved: April 27, 1992.
governmental organization duly accredited by the Commission on
Human Rights of by any international non-governmental
organization duly accredited by the Office of the President. The
person's "immediate family" shall include his or her spouse, fianc
or fiance, parent or child, brother or sister, grandparent or
grandchild, uncle or aunt, nephew or niece, and guardian or ward.