FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
x r  16 pfi .: 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 180 of the Penal Code provides that: 
“Art. 180. False testimony against a defendant. - 
Any person who shall 
1. The penalty of reclusion temporal, if the defendant in said case shall 
have been sentenced to death; 
2. The penalty of prision mayor, if the defendant shall have been 
sentenced to reclusion temporal or reclusion perpetua; 
3. The penalty ofprision correccional, if the defendant shall have been 
sentenced to any other afflictive penalty; and 
4. The penalty of arrest0 mayor, if the defendant shall have been 
sentenced to a correctional penalty or a fine, or shall have been 
acquitted. 
In cases provided in subdivisions 3 and 4 of this article the offender shall 
give false testimony against the defendant in any criminal case shall suffer: 
further suffer a fine not to exceed 1,000 pesos.” 
On the other hand, Article 25 of the same Code provides: 
“Art. 
25. Penalties which may be imposed. -The penalties which may be 
imposed according to this Code, and their different classes, are those included in 
the following: 
Scale 
PRINCIPAL PENALTIES 
Capital punishment: 
Death. 
Afflictive penalties: 
Reclusion perpetua, 
Reclusion temporal, 
Perpetual or temporary absolute 
disqualification, 
Perpetual or temporary special disqualification, 
Prision mayor. 
Correctional penalties: 
Prision correccional, 
Arresto mayor, 
Suspension, 
Destierro. 
Light penalties: 
Arresto menor, 
Public censure.” 


It is noticeable that the basis for the penalties of Article 180 of the Penal Code is the 
penalty to be meted out against the accused who is implicated by the false testimony of the 
violator of Article 180. However, Article 180 covers the penalties of death, reclusion temporal, 
reclusion perpetua, any other afflictive penalty, correctional penalty, fine or acquittal; it fails to 
cover a situation wherein an accused, implicated by the false testimony of the violator of Article 
180, is meted out a light penalty, i.e. arrest0 menor and public censure, pursuant to the 
classification of penalties in Article 25 of the same code. 
The law abhors a vacuum. Hence, this bill aims to remedy that vacuum by amending 
Article 180 of the Penal Code in order to provide a penalty for the cases discussed above.* 
* This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGIiESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
"7 
OC'r 16 PC, 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
AMENDING ARTICLE 180 OF ACT NO. 3815, ALSO KNOWN AS 
THE PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED, TO PROVIDE FOR SITUATIONS WHERE 
THE ACCUSED, IMPLICATED BY THE FALSE TESTIMONY OF THE VIOLATOR OF 
ARTICLE 180, IS METED OUT A LIGHT PENALTY PURSUANT TO THE 
CLASSIFICATION OF PENALTES IN ARTICLE 25 OF THE SAME CODE. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 180 of Act No. 3815, also known as the Penal Code is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
Art. 180. False testimony against a defendant. - Any person who shall 
give false testimony against the defendant in any criminal case shall suffer: 
1. The penalty of reclusion tempord, if the defendant in said case shall 
have been sentenced to death, 
2. The penalty of prision mayor, if the defendant shall have been 
sentenced to reclusion temporal or reclusion perpetua; 
3. The penalty ofprision correccional, if the defendant shall have been 
sentenced to any other afflictive penalty; and 
4. The penalty of arrest0 mayor, if the defendant shall have been 
sentenced to a correctional penalty, LIGHT PENALTY, [or a] fine, or shall have 
been acquitted. 
In cases provided in subdivisions 3 and 4 of this article the offender shall 
further suffer a fine not to exceed 1,000 pesos 
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SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 3. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
jps/9-06-05 
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