Republic of the Philippines
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

0155

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SECTION 181, 182, AND 183
OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
AN ACT REVISING THE PENAL CODE AND OTHER PENAL LAWS
(Act No. 3815)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Lying under oath is commonplace these days. We see it every day all over, yet people
get away with it.

It is about time we a new set of teeth into this law, and stop this trend.

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

ARNOLFO A. TEVES, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 0155

Introduced by Rep. ARNOLFO A. TEVES, JR.

AN ACT PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 181, 182, AND 183
OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT
REVISING
THE PENAL CODE AND OTHER PENAL LAWS (Act No. 3815)

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

SECTION 1. Section 181 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as "An Act
Revising the Penal Code and Other Penal Laws” is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“False testimony favorable to the defendants, — Any person who shall give
false testimony in favor of the defendant in a criminal case, shall suffer the
penalties of prision correccional in its maximum period to prision mayor in
its minimum period a fine not to exceed 100,000 pesos, if the prosecution is
for a felony punishable by an afflictive penalty, and the penalty of prision
correccional medium in any other case.”

SEC. 2. Section 182 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“False testimony in civil cases. — Any person found guilty of false
testimony in a civil case shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its
maximum period and a fine not to exceed 100,000 pesos, if the amount in
controversy shall exceed 5,000 pesos, and the penalty of prision correccional
in its minimum period to prision correccional in its medium period and a
fine not to exceed 50,000 pesos, if the amount in controversy shall not exceed
said amount or cannot be estimated.”


SEC. 3. Section 183 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“Art. 183. False testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn affirmation. —
The penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period to reclusion temporal in
its medium period shall be imposed upon any person, who knowingly makes
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.”

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. ~ Should any provision of this Act be
declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall continue to be valid and
subsisting.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Transitory Provision; Applicability to Pending Cases. ~ For
cases pending before the courts upon the effectivity of this Act where trial has
already started, the courts hearing such cases shall not lose jurisdiction over the
same by virtue of this Act.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (I5) days following
the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2)

newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.