REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. _'709'7

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘There have been reports of unethical lobbying practices in Congress and unlawful consideration
allegedly being offered to lawmakers for either the passage or defeat of legislative measures in
both Houses and their Committees. For that reason, addressing this issue and the negative image
it imparts to the public is seriously needed. Such reports, whether with or without basis, creates
the impression that our country's lawmakers are "for sale” and that the legislative measures being

advanced or deterred in Congress are mostly coming at certain prices.

Republic Act No. 1827 otherwise known as "An Act to Regulate Lobbying in the Congress of
1957 and
sought to prohibit corrupt or undesirable methods of lobbying, to promote a high standard of

the Philippines and in the Commission on Appointments” was enacted on June 2

ethics in the practice of lobbying, to prevent harassing unfair and unethical lobbying practices,
and to provide for the licensing of lobbyists and the suspension or revocation of such licenses.

This bill, which seeks to amend R.A. No. 1827, essentially proposes to increase the penalties for
those persons who practice unethical lobbying and use corrupt means to influence legislation and
confirmation of appointment. It is envisioned that such measure shall curb corruption and undue
influence in the passage and/or defeat of legislation, and also to deter unethical lobbying in the

confirmation of appointments.

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

‘Representative
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7097

House Bill

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO.

AN ACT
ECTION 2 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1827 SO AS TO IMPOSE HIGHER
FOR THOSE ENGAGED IN UNFAIR AND UNETHICAL LOBBYING

PRACTICES,

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

SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 1827 (RA 1827) is hereby amended to read
as follows:

“See. 2. Corrupt means to influence legislation; disclosure of interest. - Any
person who shall, directly or indirectly, give or agree or offer to give any mone’
or property or valuable thing or any security therefor to any person, for the serv
of such person or of any other person in procuring the passage or defeat of any
measure before the Congress of the Philippines or before either House or any
commitice thereof, upon the contingency or condition of the passage or defeat of
such measure, or who shall receive, directly or indirectly, or agree to receive any
such money, property, thing of value or security therefor for such service, upon
any such contingency or condition, or who, having a pecuniary or other interest,
or acting as the agent or attorney of any person in procuring or attempting to
procure the passage or defeat of any measure before the Congress of the
Philippines or before either House or any committee thereof, shall attempt in any
manner to influence any member of said Congress for or against such measure,
without first making known to such member the real and true interest he has in
such measure, either personally or as such agent or attorney, shall be punished by
imprisonment of not more than [two] SIX years [or] AND by fine not exceeding
[five thousand] ONE MILLION pesos [or both such imprisonment and fine].
FURTHER, IF SUCH PERSON IS HOLDING ANY ELECTIVE OR
APPOINTIVE PUBLIC OFFICE, HE SHALL BE SUBJECTED TO THE
PENALTY OF PERPETUAL DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING
ANY PUBLIC OFFICE.

SEC. 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 1827 (RA 1827) is hereby amended to read as
follows:

"Sec. 3. Corrupt or secret means to influence confirmation of appointment.
- Any person who shall, directly or indirectly, give or agree or offer to give any
money or property or valuable thing or any security therefor to any person, for the
service of such person or of any other person in procuring the confirmation or
rejection or by-passing of any appointment before the Commission on
Appointments or before any committee thereof, upon the contingency or
condition of the confirmation or rejection or by-passing of such appointment, or
who shall receive, directly or indirectly, or agree to receive any such money,
property, thing of value or security therefor for such service, upon any such
contingency or condition, or who, having an appointment in his favor pending



before the Commission on Appointments 9r before any committee thereof, shall
through secret or clandestine methods attempt in any manner to influence any
member of such Commission to vote for confirmation of such appointment, shall
be punished by imprisonment of not more than [two] SIX years [or] AND by fine
not exceeding [five thousand) ONE MILLION pesos [or 2 both such
imprisonment and fine]. FURTHER, IF SUCH PERSON IS HOLDING ANY
ELECTIVE OR APPOINTIVE PUBLIC OFFICE, HE SHALL BE
SUBJECTED TO THE PENALTY OF PERPETUAL
DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING ANY PUBLIC OFFICE.

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

other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,