REPUBLICACTNO.

10158
ANACTDECRIMINALIZINGVAGRANCY,AMENDINGFORTHISPURPOSEARTICLE202OF
ACTNO.3815,ASAMENDED,OTHERWISEKNOWNASTHEREVISEDPENALCODE
BeitenactedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesofthePhilippines
inCongressassembled:
Section1.Article202oftheRevisedPenalCodeishereby,amendedtoread
asfollows:
Article 202. Prostitutes; Penalty. For the purposes of this
article, women who, for money or profit, habitually indulge in
sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be
prostitutes.
Anyperson found guiltyof any of the offenses covered by this
articleshallbepunishedbyarrestomenororafinenotexceeding
200 pesos, and in case of recidivism, by arresto mayor in its
mediumperiodtoprisioncorrectionalinitsminimumperiodora
finerangingfrom200to2,000pesos,orboth,inthediscretion
ofthecourt.chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
Sec.2.EffectonPendingCases.Allpendingcasesundertheprovisions
ofArticle202oftheRevisedPenalCodeonVagrancypriortoitsamendment
bythisActshallbedismisseduponeffectivityofthisAct.
Sec. 3. Immediate Release of Convicted Persons. All persons serving
sentence for violation of the provisions of Article 202 of the Revised
Penal Code on Vagrancy prior to its amendment by this Act shall be
immediatelyreleaseduponeffectivityofthisAct:Provided,Thattheyare
notservingsentenceordetainedforanyotheroffenseorfelony.
Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, rules and regulations and other issuances, or any part thereof,
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.
Sec.5.EffectivityClause.ThisActshalltakeeffectfifteen(15)days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)
newspapersofgeneralcirculation.
Approved:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
(Sgd.)JUANPONCEENRILE
PresidentoftheSenate

(Sgd.)FELICIANOBELMONTEJR.
SpeakeroftheHouseof
Representatives
ThisActwhichisaconsolidationofSenateBillNo.2726andHouseBill
No.4936wasfinallypassedbytheSenateandtheHouseofRepresentatives
onMarch14,2011andJanuary30,2012,respectively.
(Sgd.)EMMALIRIOREYES
SecretaryofSenate

(Sgd.)MARILYNB.BARUAYAP
SecretaryGeneral
HouseofRepresentatives

Approved:March27,2012
(Sgd.)BENIGNOS.AQUINOIII
PresidentofthePhilippines