What is the penalty for theft in the Philippines?

Answer

Penalties for theft are graduated by the value of the property stolen, as updated by Republic Act No. 10951 (2017). For example, theft of property worth more than ₱20,000 but not more than ₱600,000 is punished by prisión correccional in its medium and maximum periods; higher values draw heavier penalties up to prisión mayor or reclusion temporal, while very small values draw arresto menor or a fine (Article 309).

Because RA 10951 raised the peso thresholds, the older value brackets no longer apply. Qualified theft (Article 310) is punished two degrees higher than these amounts. The linked article sets out the full brackets.

Sources & further reading

• RPC Art. 309 — penalties
• RPC Art. 310 — qualified theft
• Full report: theft & qualified theft

Cases on this topic

• Analyn Bondame v. People
• Arlene Homol y Romorosa v. People
• Edwin del Rosario v. People
• El Pueblo de Filipinas v. Jose de la Cruz
• Fernando Pante y Rangasa v. People
• Jain v. People
• Janice Reside y Tan v. People
• Jomar Ablaza y Caparas v. People

Related questions

• What is theft under Philippine law?
• What is qualified theft, and how is it different from theft?
• What is the difference between theft and estafa?
• What is the difference between theft and robbery?