Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES}
Quezon City

17" CONGRI
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2916

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill amends Article 359 of the Revised Penal Code by increasing the penalties on
‘any person who shall perform any act not included and punished in this title, which shall cast
dishonor, discredit, or contempt upon another person. It also included intentional filing of a
false complaint in court or any other agencies of government exercising quasi-judicial or
administrative powers

This is being proposed to protect an individual from another who brings false
accusations at him without fear of prosecution except for a counter-suit. In such cases, such
individual will have to suffer loss of integrity which may never be regained regardless of the
outcome of the countersuit.

Hence, the passage of this bill is immediately sought.

3 Fareed

“~~ EVELINA G. ESCUDERO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

29158

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G. ESCUDERO-

N ACT

INCREASING THE PENALTIES FOR THE CRIME OF SLANDER BY DE! ED AND
INCLUDING THE INTENTIONAL FILING OF A FA COMPLAINT IN COURT

OR WITH ANY GOVERNMENT AGE) SING QUASI-JUDICIAL OR

ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS AS ONE OF ITS FORM, AMENDING FOR THE
ARTICLE 359 OF ACT NO. 3815, OTHERW KNOWN AS THE

PENAL CODE"

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION L. Article 359 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as "The Revised Penal
hereby amended to read as follows:

“Art. 359, Slander by Deed. - The penalty of [arresto mayor in its maximum]
PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MEDIUM period to [prision correccional in its minimum] ITS
MAXIMUM period or a fine [ranging from 200 to 1,000 pesos] OF 100,000 PESOS, OR
BOTH, shall be imposed upon any person who shall perform any act not included and
punished in this title, which shall cast dishonor, discredit, or contempt upon another person [.]
, INCLUDING THE INTENTIONAL FILING OF A FALSE COMPLAINT IN
COURT OR WITH ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY EXERCISING QUASI-
JUDICIAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS. [If said act is not of a serious nature, the
penalty shall be [arresto menor] PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MINIMUM PERIOD or a fine
[not exceeding 200 pesos] OF 50,000 PESOS.

IF DURING THE COURSE OF ANY FORMAL INVESTIGATION OR TRIAL

OF THE CASE, IT IS PROVEN THAT THE ABOVE FALSE COMPLAINT HAS

BEEN OR IS BEING USED BY THE COMPLAINANT TO GAIN ADVANTAGE OR

TO RECEIVE A FAVORABLE DECISION, ACTION OR RESOLUTION ON ANY

MATTER, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY PROVIDED HEREIN SHALL BE
D.”

SEC. 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid by a
competent court, the remainder of this Act or any provision not otherwise affected by such
declaration of invalidity shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and


regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly

SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,