The House of Representatives has set for third reading approval a bill that would increase the equivalent amount of subsidiary imprisonment of convicts from P8 to the prevailing daily minimum wage when the penalty was imposed.

The measure is among several bills seeking amendments to certain provisions of the Revised Penal Code that were endorsed by the Committee on Revision of Laws for immediate approval by Congress.

Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, committee chairman, said House Bill 6946 has been approved on second reading by the chamber.

“Hopefully, the measure will be okayed for third and final reading tonight,” said Aggabao during an interview yesterday.

Co-authored by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodrigugez, HB 6946 will amend Article 39 of the RPC providing for subsidiary penalty, said Aggabao.

A subsidiary penalty is allowed in case the offender may not be able to pay the fine imposed by the court.

Under this RPC provision, a convict who has no property to pay for fines imposed by the court can be subjected to a “subsidiary personal liability” which will compute each day of imprisonment at P8.

HB 6946 sets the subsidiary imprisonment of one day as equivalent to the prevailing daily minimum wage of a laborer in the National Capital Region.

The current daily minimum wage in NCR is P325.

If the principal penalty imposed is prision correccional or arresto and fine and fine, the offender will remain under detention until the fine has been met. However, the subsidiary imprisonment will not exceed one third of the term of the sentence and will not continue for more than one year.