Text of the provision
Art. 309. Penalties. - Any person guilty of theft shall be punished by: 1. The penalty of prisión mayor in its minimum and medium periods, if the value of the thing stolen is more than One million two hundred thousand pesos (₱1,200,000) but does not exceed Two million two hundred thousand pesos (₱2,200,000); but if the value of the thing stolen exceeds the latter amount, the penalty shall be the maximum period of the one prescribed in this paragraph, and one
(1) year for each additional One million pesos (₱1,000,000), but the total of the penalty which may be imposed shall not exceed twenty (20) years. In such cases, and in connection with the accessory penalties which may be imposed and for the purpose of the other provisions of this Code, the penalty shall be termed prisión mayor or reclusion temporal, as the case may be. 2. The penalty of prisión correccional in its medium and maximum periods, if the value of the thing stolen is more than Six hundred thousand pesos (₱600,000) but does not exceed One million two hundred thousand pesos (₱1,200,000). 3. The penalty of prisión correccional in its minimum and medium periods, if the value of the property stolen is more than Twenty thousand pesos (₱20,000) but does not exceed Six hundred thousand pesos (₱600,000). 4. Arresto mayor in its medium period to prisión correccional in its minimum period, if the value of the property stolen is over Five thousand pesos (₱5,000) but does not exceed Twenty thousand pesos (₱20,000). 5. Arresto mayor to its full extent, if such value is over Five hundred pesos (₱500) but does not exceed Five thousand pesos (₱5,000). 6. Arresto mayor in its minimum and medium periods, if such value does not exceed Five hundred pesos (₱500). 7. Arresto menor or a fine not exceeding Twenty thousand pesos (₱20,000), if the theft is committed under the circumstances enumerated in paragraph 3 of the next preceding article and the value of the thing stolen does not exceed Five hundred pesos (₱500). If such value exceeds said amount, the provisions of any of the five preceding subdivisions shall be made applicable. 8. Arresto menor in its minimum period or a fine of not exceeding Five thousand pesos (₱5,000), when the value of the thing stolen is not over Five hundred pesos (₱500), and the offender shall have acted under the impulse of hunger, poverty, or the difficulty of earning a livelihood for the support of himself or his family.
Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, Act No. 3815, as amended. Reproduced in full from the official enactment and verified against the LawPhil and ChanRobles renderings.
What this article means
The penalty for theft is keyed to the value of the thing stolen: prisión mayor in its minimum and medium periods above One million two hundred thousand pesos (₱1,200,000) up to Two million two hundred thousand pesos (₱2,200,000) — with one year added for each additional One million pesos (₱1,000,000) beyond that but a ceiling of twenty years; prisión correccional in its medium and maximum periods above Six hundred thousand pesos (₱600,000); prisión correccional in its minimum and medium periods above Twenty thousand pesos (₱20,000); arresto mayor in its medium period to prisión correccional in its minimum period above Five thousand pesos (₱5,000); arresto mayor in full above Five hundred pesos (₱500); and arresto mayor in its minimum and medium periods at or below Five hundred pesos (₱500). Special rules give arresto menor or a fine not exceeding Twenty thousand pesos (₱20,000) in the case covered by paragraph 3 of the preceding article, and arresto menor in its minimum period or a fine of not exceeding Five thousand pesos (₱5,000) where the value is not over Five hundred pesos (₱500) and the offender acted under the impulse of hunger or poverty.
Questions about this provision
Related provisions
- Article 302 — Robbery In Uninhabited Or Private Building.
- Article 312 — Usurpation Of Real Property.
Penalty amounts. The text above is the article as amended by Republic Act No. 10951 (2017), which revised the property values and fines throughout this Code. Older reproductions of the Revised Penal Code still print the 1930 amounts — for theft and estafa they show 12,000 and 22,000 pesos where the current figures run to millions. Check which version any source you rely on is giving you.
Cases interpreting this article
- Authorities on this article will be added here as each is verified against primary sources.