FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 577 
) 
) 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Many crimes go unpunished because of the failure to report to the proper 
authorities the actual crimes, as well as other important incidents that may 
otherwise lead to the successful apprehension and prosecution of criminals. 
To elicit a positive duty from every individual to actively participate in 
promoting peace and order, this bill proposes to amend Presidential Decree No. 
1829, Penalizing Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal 
Offenders, by including the following acts as obstruction of justice: 
Failing to report stolen or lost firearms to the proper authorities; 
Failing to report carnapped motor vehicles or lost number plates of motor 
vehicles to the proper authorities; 
Having knowledge of or witnessed a crime, concealing and not making 
known such crime to the proper authorities; and 
Failing to give needed testimony in court on a crime. 
To obstruct justice is to deny justice and commit a crime against the law. 
For this and the foregoing reasoils, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
577 
) 
) 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1829, PENALIZING 
OBSTRUCTION OF APPREHENSION AND PROSECUTION 
OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS 
, 
d.. ,,', L ; , .. :', ';; 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1829, Penalizing 
Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal Offenders, is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
"Section 1. The penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period 
UNDER THE REVISED PENAL CODE, or a fine ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 
pesos, or both, shall be imposed upon any person who knowingly or willfully 
obstructs, impedes, frustrates or delays the apprehension of suspects and the 
investigation and prosecution of criminal cases by committing any of the following 
acts: 
(i) Giving of false or fabricated information to mislead or prevent the law 
enforcement agencies from apprehending the offender or from protecting the life 
or property of the victim; or fabricating information from the data gathered in 
confidence by investigating authorities for purposes of background information 
and not for publication and publishing or disseminating the same to mislead the 
investigator or the court[.]; 
(J) FAILING TO REPORT STOLEN OR LOST FIREARMS TO THE 
PROPER AUTHORITIES; 
(K) FAILING TO REPORT CARNAPPED MOTOR VEHICLES OR LOST 
NUMBER PLATES OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES; 
(L) 
HAVING 
KNOWLEDGE 
OF 
OR 
WITNESSED 
A 
CRIME, 
CONCEALING AND NOT MAKING KNOWN SUCH CRIME TO THE PROPER 
AUTHORITIES; AND 
(M) FAILING TO GIVE NEEDED TESTIMONY IN COURT ON A CRIME. 


SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with Sec. 1 of this Act 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any portion of Sec. 1 of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, the remainder not affected thereby shall remain in 
force and effect. 
SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication eITher in the Official Gazette or in a 
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved,