REPUBLIC ACT NO.

10158
AN ACT DECRIMINALIZING VAGRANCY, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLE 202 OF ACT NO.
3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE NOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Article ! of the Revised Penal Code is hereby" amended to read as follo#s:
$Article !. Prostitutes% Penalty. & 'or the purposes of this article" #omen #ho" for money or profit" habitually
indulge in se(ual intercourse or lascivious conduct" are deemed to be prostitutes.
$Any person found guilty of any of the offenses covered by this article shall be punished by arresto menor or a
fine not e(ceeding !! pesos" and in case of recidivism" by arresto mayor in its medium period to prision
correctional in its minimum period or a fine ranging from !! to "!!! pesos" or both" in the discretion of the
court.)chanroblesvirtualla#library
Sec. . *ffect on Pending Cases. & All pending cases under the provisions of Article ! of the Revised Penal
Code on +agrancy prior to its amendment by this Act shall be dismissed upon effectivity of this Act.
Sec. ,. -mmediate Release of Convicted Persons. & All persons serving sentence for violation of the provisions
of Article ! of the Revised Penal Code on +agrancy prior to its amendment by this Act shall be immediately
released upon effectivity of this Act: Provided" .hat they are not serving sentence or detained for any other
offense or felony.
Sec. /. Repealing Clause. & All la#s" presidential decrees" e(ecutive orders" rules and regulations and other
issuances" or any part thereof" inconsistent #ith this Act are hereby repealed" modified or amended accordingly.
Sec. 0. *ffectivity Clause. & .his Act shall ta1e effect fifteen 2103 days after its publication in the 4fficial 5a6ette
or in at least t#o 23 ne#spapers of general circulation.
Approved:chanroblesvirtualla#library
2Sgd.3 78A9 P49C* *9R-:*
President of the Senate 2Sgd.3 '*:-C-A94 B*:;49.* 7R.
Spea1er of the House of Representatives
.his Act #hich is a consolidation of Senate Bill 9o. <= and House Bill 9o. />,= #as finally passed by the
Senate and the House of Representatives on ;arch 1/" !11 and 7anuary ,!" !1" respectively.
2Sgd.3 *;;A :-R-4?R*@*S
Secretary of Senate
2Sgd.3 ;AR-:@9 B. BAR8A?@AP
Secretary 5eneral
House of Representatives
Approved: ;arch <" !1
2Sgd.3 B*9-594 S. AA8-94 ---
President of the Philippines