What is reclusion perpetua?

Answer

Reclusion perpetua is one of the gravest penalties under the Revised Penal Code, classified as an afflictive penalty (Article 25). In practice it carries imprisonment of twenty years and one day to forty years, after which the convict may become eligible for pardon. Although the scale lists "death" above it, the death penalty may no longer be imposed (Republic Act No. 9346), so reclusion perpetua is the most severe penalty actually imposed for the gravest crimes.

Reclusion perpetua is an indivisible penalty — under Article 63 it is applied regardless of ordinary mitigating or aggravating circumstances — and it carries accessory penalties such as perpetual absolute disqualification.

Sources & further reading

• RPC Art. 25 — penalties
• RPC Art. 63 — indivisible penalties
• Full report: penalties under the RPC

Cases on this topic

• Felomino v. People
• Lacanilao v. CA
• Maclang v. De Lima
• People v. Amit
• People v. Benito
• People v. Beth Temporada
• People v. Dimalanta
• People v. Ducosin

Related questions

• What are the penalties under the Revised Penal Code?
• How do mitigating and aggravating circumstances affect the penalty?
• What is subsidiary imprisonment?
• What is the Indeterminate Sentence Law?