Dear Atty. Joji,

I recently went to a friend's birthday party and had a few shots. Since I was drunk, I didn't risk the danger of drunk driving because I am scared of what would happen. My friend, on the other hand, drove off despite having alcohol in his body. May I ask what might be the sanctions and consequences of drunk driving? Thank you, Attorney.

Cheska

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Dear Cheska,

Your friend has committed a violation of Republic Act 10586, otherwise known as the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013. The said law, particularly Section 5 thereof provides that driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol is an unlawful act. The said provision is quoted below:

"Section 5. Punishable Act. — It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and/or other similar substances."

Moreover, the possible penalties that may be imposed to a drunk driver can be gleaned from Section 12 of the aforementioned law, to wit:

"Section 12. Penalties. — A driver found to have been driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and/or other similar substances, as provided for under Section 5 of this Act, shall be penalized as follows:"

"(a) If the violation of Section 5 did not result in physical injuries or homicide, the penalty of three (3) months imprisonment, and a fine ranging from Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) to Eighty thousand pesos (P80,000) shall be imposed;"

"(b) If the violation of Section 5 resulted in physical injuries, the penalty provided in Article 263 of the Revised Penal Code or the penalty provided in the next preceding subparagraph, whichever is higher, and a fine ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000) shall be imposed;"

"(c) If the violation of Section 5 resulted in homicide, the penalty provided in Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code and a fine ranging from Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000) shall be imposed; and (d) The nonprofessional driver's license of any person found to have violated Section 5 of this Act shall also be confiscated and suspended for a period of twelve (12) months for the first conviction and perpetually revoked for the second conviction. The professional driver's license of any person found to have violated Section 5 of this Act shall also be confiscated and perpetually revoked for the first conviction. The perpetual revocation of a driver's license shall disqualify the person from being granted any kind of driver's license thereafter."

The prosecution for any violation of this Act shall be without prejudice to criminal prosecution for violation of the Revised Penal Code, Republic Act 9165 and other special laws and existing local ordinances, whenever applicable."

Furthermore, it bears stressing that the penalties imposed by the said law are without prejudice to criminal prosecution of RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), special laws and other existing local ordinances, whenever applicable.

Hope this helps.

Atty. Joji Alonso