Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BItt NO. 7668
Introduced by Hon. VICENTE "CHING" S. E. VELOSO IIT

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The crime of providing false testimony, commonty referred to as “perjury”, Is
punished under Articles 180-183 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as “the Revised
Penal Code”. Under these sections, there are three (3) forms of fatse testimonies: (1),
false testimony for and against the defendant in 3 criminal case (Articles 180 and
181); (2) false testimony in a civil case (Article 182); and (3) false testimony in other
cases (Artide 183).

The penalty of fines for providing false testimony under Articles 180-182 were,
already increased by Republic Act No. 10951, entitied “An Act Adjusting the Amount
of the Value of Property and Damage on Which 0 Penalty |s Based ond the Fines
Imposed Under the Revised Penal Code, Amending for the Purpose Act No, 3815,
Otherwise Known as “The Revised Penat Code”, as Amended”, which was passed by
the Committee on Justice in the 17" Congress. However, the penalty for providing
false testimony in other cases under Art. 183 was not increased by the said Act since
the original Article does not impose a fine as a penalty. He: gba.

Under this proposed measure, the penalty for providing false testimony under
‘oath of through an affidavit, or through solemn affirmation made in lieu of an oath,
shall be Increased from “arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision carreccional
in its minimurn period” to prtsion mayor in its minimum period (6 years and 3

{2.10 years). it aiso provides that ifthe offender is a public ‘or employee, the
penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification and a fine not to exceed One million
pesos (P1,000,000.00) shail also be imposed on the perjuring public officer of
employee.

Increasing the penalties for pequry should provide 9 sufficient deterrent
against false testimonies not only in civil and criminal cases in court, but also in all
‘other instances, including legislative inquiries and hearings, where a person is
required to testify or subscribe under oath or through solemn affirmation,

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is eamnestiy sought.

HON. VICENTE “CHING” S. £. VELOSO, III
37 District, Leyte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.__ 7668
Introduced by Hon. VICENTE “CHING” S. E. VELOSO IIT

AN ACT
AMENDING ARTICLES 183 AND 184 OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE

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

SECTION 1. Article 183 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the
Revised Penal Code, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“ARTICLE 183. False Testimony in Other Cases and Perjury in
Solemn Affirmation. — The penalty of [arresto mayor in its
maximum period to prisién correccional in its minimum period]
PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MINIMUM PERIOD TO PRISION
MAYOR IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD shall be imposed upon any
person who, knowingly making untruthful statements and not
being included in the provisions of the next preceding articles,
shall testify under oath, or make an affidavit, upon any material
matter before a competent person authorized to administer an
oath in cases in which the law so requires.

Any person who, in case of a solemn affirmation made in lieu
of an oath, shall commit any of the falsehoods mentioned in this
and the three preceding articles of this section, shall suffer the
respective penalties provided therein.

PROVIDED, THAT, IF THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE COMMISSION OF THIS FELONY IS A PUBLIC OFFICER
OR EMPLOYEE, THE PENALTY SHALL BE IMPOSED IN ITS
MAXIMUM PERIOD: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT, THE
OFFENDER SHALL ALSO SUFFER A FINE NOT TO EXCEED
ONE MILLION PESOS (P1,000,000.00) AND PERPETUAL
ABSOLUTE DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING ANY
APPOINTIVE OR ELECIVE POSITION IN THE
GOVERNMENT OR IN ANY AGENCY, ENTITY OR
INSTRUMENTALITY THEREOF.”

SEC. 2. Article 184 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to
read as follows:

“ART. 184. Offering false testimony in evidence. — Any
person who shall WILFULLY AND knowingly offer in evidence a


false witness or testimony in any judicial or official proceeding,
shall be punished as guilty of false testimony and shall suffer
the respective penalties provided in this section.

SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions thereof.

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules and regulations that may be
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,