SENATOR Cynthia Villar filed a measure that will provide stiffer penalties for theft, robbery and destruction of public school property.

Senate Bill 526 or the proposed Public School Security Act seeks to increase the jail and monetary penalties for those convicted of theft, robbery and destruction of public school property.

Under the measure, any person convicted of the crime of theft or robbery of any school property shall be punished by the penalty next higher in degree than those respectively specified in Revised Penal Code.

Meanwhile, any person who shall burn a public school building shall be convicted of the crime of destructive arson.

Villar said that theft, robbery and destruction of public school property are more than just crimes against public property.

“They certainly constitute brazen assault on our educational institutions and a grievous attack to our country’s educational system,” she said in her explanatory note.

The senator added that since the materials involved are vital components of the educational process, such crimes undermine the education of the children, jeopardize their future and threaten to derail the government’s mission to provide quality education to all Filipinos.