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On August 15, 2022, Marco committed illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm. Under the Revised Penal Code then in force, the penalty for illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm ranged from 6 to 12 years of imprisonment. On May 7, 2024, the Legislature enacted a new law reducing the penalty for illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm to 2 to 5 years and expressly provided that the law shall have retroactive effect to offenses committed before its effectivity. Marco was convicted on January 10, 2025 and was sentenced to 9 years under the old law. He files a motion for reconsideration arguing that the new law should apply to his case. (a) Identify the controlling doctrine on retroactive effect of penal laws. (b) Distinguish retroactive application of a lenient law from general retroactivity. (c) Apply to the facts: Should Marco benefit from the new law? Why or why not.