EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 2315
%<
E-FILED
July 12 2021 m
■ CO
date:
11:20 a.m.
Nf>b X
Introduced by SENATOR RICHARD J. GORDON
AN ACT
INCREASING THE PENALTIES FOR THE FALSIFICATION OF MEDICAL 
CERTIFICATES IN TIMES OF NATIONAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES 
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO TEST RESULTS AND VACCINATION 
CARDS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLE 174 OF ACT NO. 3815 
ALSO KNOWN AS "THE REVISED PENAL CODE", AS AMENDED BY RA
10951"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Despite having the so-called "longest and strictest lockdown" in the world1, the 
Philippines is down on its knees 1 year after, with a surge of COVID-19 cases. As of 
April 3, 2021, the Philippines had the highest single tally of COVID-19 cases without 
backlog of 12,576. As of the same date, the Philippines has 165,615 active cases- the 
highest in the ASEAN.
According to the data as of March 31, 2021, Philippines has 24.2% Positivity 
Rate, which means that of the 33, 800 tested for that day; 1 out of 4 tests turned out 
positive.
The deplorable results in Philippines'fight against COVID-19, which emphasizes 
the T3 strategy (Trace, Treat, Test) brings into fore the need to stop the growing 
proliferation of fake tests results currently being peddled by unscrupulous individuals. 
To effectively manage the pandemic, we need to have an efficient and widely available 
testing strategy that will enable the government to isolate people that have active 
infection whether symptomatic or asymptomatic.
News reports are with various instances of the use and proliferation of COVID- 
19 test results. On July 24, 2020, a printing shop in Caloocan Qty reportedly producing 
fake coronavirus disease (COVID-19) certificates was raided by police Thursday and 
arrested two women. On December 8, 2020, 6 Boracay tourists face raps over fake
1 https;//www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/inside-worlds-longest-strictest- 
coronavirus-lockdown-philippines/


COVID-19 tests. On December 22, 2020, 5 passengers with fake COVID test results 
are caught in Davao airport. In a news report dated January 27, 2021, a doctor and 
clinic in Valenzuela City was complained for allegedly faking the swab test results. The 
clinic is also using the name of a laboratory in Bulacan to release the RT-PCR test that 
was conducted even though it was not.
Article 174 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended already penalizes 
falsification of medical certificates with arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision 
correccional in its minimum period and a fine not to exceed Two hundred thousand 
pesos (P200,000). However, considering the capacity of the proliferation of fake 
COVID-19 tests to undermine the government's efforts to address the on-going 
COVID-19 pandemic, the undersigned deems it necessary to increase the penalty in 
the falsification of medical certificates in times of a declared National Health 
Emergency such as the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
For this purpose, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly being sought.
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. B. No. 2315
E-FILED
July 12 2021 m 
</>
date:
11:20 a.m.
time:
Kft>EX
Introduced by SENATOR RICHARD J. GORDON
AN ACT
INCREASING THE PENALTIES FOR THE FALSIFICATION OF MEDICAL 
CERTIFICATES IN TIMES OF NATIONAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES 
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO TEST RESULTS AND VACCINATION 
CARDS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLE 174 OF ACT NO. 3815 
ALSO KNOWN AS "THE REVISED PENAL CODE", AS AMENDED BY RA
10951"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 SECTION 1. Article 174 of Act No. 3815 is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Art. 174. False medical certificates, false certificates of merits or service, etc. - 
The penalties of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in 
its minimum period and a fine not to exceed Two hundred thousand pesos 
(P200,000) shall be imposed upon;
"1. Any physician or surgeon who, in connection with the practice of his 
profession, shall issue a false certificate; and
"2. Any public officer who shall issue a false certificate of merit of service, 
good conduct or similar circumstances."
'The penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed upon any private person who 
shall falsify a certificate falling within the classes mentioned in the two (2) 
preceding subdivisions."
THE PENALTY OF PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD TO 
PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD AND A FINE NOT TO


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EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P250/000) SHALL BE
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IMPOSED UPON ANY PRIVATE PERSON OR ANY PHYSICIAN OR SURGEON
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WHO SHALL FALSIFY ANY MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, TEST RESULT,
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VACCINATION CARD DURING THE TIME OF A DULY DECLARED NATIONAL
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HEALTH EMERGENCY: PROVIDED, THAT THE FALSIFIED MEDICAL
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CERTIFICATE, TEST RESULT, VACCINATION CARD MUST BEAR IMPORTANCE
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IN THE MITIGATION/RESOLUTION OR EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO
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ADDRESS THE DECLARED NATIONAL HEALTH EMERGENCY SUCH AS BUT NOT
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LIMITED TO MEDICAL TEST RESULTS AND VACCINATION CARDS; PROVIDED
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FURTHER THAT, WHEN COMMITTED BY A GROUP OF THREE OR MORE
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PEOPLE FOR A GAIN, THE PENALTY TO BE IMPOSED SHALL BE PRISION
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CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD AND THE FINE IMPOSED SHALL BE
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ONE MILLION PESOS (P1,000,000).
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SEC.. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
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remain valid and subsisting.
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SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive
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orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules and regulations contrary to
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or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or
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amended accordingly.
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SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
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Approved,