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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
7 911. -2 
!\I! 5 6  
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 3 90 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815, as amended) may be 
(a) 
By knowingly and falsely representing oneself to be an officer, 
agent or representative of any department or agency of the 
Philippine Government or of any foreign government. 
By performing any act pertaining to any person in authority or 
public officer of the Philippine Government or of foreign 
government or any agency thereof, under pretense of official 
position, and without being lawfully entitled to do so. 
committed in two ways: 
(b) 
Our poor and uneducated countrymen are the usual victims of the violation 
of this particular penal provision. It is common that private individuals pretend to 
be police officers in perpetrating serious crimes like kidnapping or serious illegal 
detention to avoid resistance from their victims. Worse, many also complain of 
actual officials who are performing acts pertaining to another person in authority or 
officer of the government under pretense of official position even if he is not 
lawfully entitled to do so. 
Such falsities, misrepresentations andlor usurpation of authority as defined 
in the aforementioned Revised Penal Code provision, should be treated more 
seriously by providing a heavier penalty. Presently, the penalty imposed is prision 
correccional in its minimum and medium periods. This is equivalent to 
imprisonment of six months and one day to two years and four months up to four 
years and two months. 
The author submits that the penalty imposed is not commensurate to the 
kind of offense committed and the damage that may be incurred by the victim, 
especially if the perpetrator is a public official. 
This bill seeks to amend Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, as 
amended by increasing the penalty provided therein to prision mayor in its 
minimum and medium periods. Should the offender be a public official, the penalty 
to be imposed shall be prision mayor in its maximum period. In the light of the 
foregoing considerations, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
J I ~ O Y ~ J E R C I T O  
ESTRADA 
u e n a t o r  


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 3 9 0 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
AMENDING ARTICLE 177 OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE (ACT NO. 3815, 
AS AMENDED) BY INCREASING THE PENALTY PROVIDED THEREIN, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code (Act. No. 3815, as 
“ART. 177 of authority or official functions. Any person who shall 
knowingly and falsely represent himself to be an officer, agent or 
representative of any department or agency of the Philippine Government 
or of any foreign government, or who, under pretense of official position, 
shall perform any act pertaining to any person in authority or public officer 
of the Philippine Government or of any foreign government, or any agency 
thereof, without being lawfully entitled to do so, shall suffer the penalty of 
[prision correcfional] PRlSlON MAYOR in its minimum and medium 
periods; PROVIDED, THAT IF THE OFFENDER IS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, 
THE PENALTY TO BE IMPOSED SHALL BE IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD.” 
amended) is hereby amended to read as follows: 
SEC 2. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules and 
regulations, executive or administrative orders, and other presidential issuance 
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC 3. 
fffectivity. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,