THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Penal Code, Articles 171 and 1.72 severely punish k y  person who falsifies a document. 
Despite these provisions, falsification of titles of land remains unabated. These prohibited acts make a 
mockery of the stability and reliability of the certificates of title under the Torrens System. 
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This bill seeks to curb the practice of fabrication of Torrens Title by imposing sti fer penalties 
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upon any person who shall falsify these documents. 
This bill is a product of the public hearings conducted by the Committee on Constitutional 
Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws during the 10th Congress. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
'94 b,U:, 
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Lntroduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO IMPOSE STIFFER PENALTIES FOR THE FALSIFICATION OF TORRENS CERTIFICATES 
OF TITLE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLES 171 AND 172 OF ACT NO. 3815, AS 
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 171 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised 
Penal Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Art. 171. Falsification by public officer, employee or notary or 
minister. The penalty of prision mayor and a fine not to exceed Five Thousand esos 
(P5,OOO.OO) shall be imposed upon any public officer, employee, or notary who, t %,# ing 
advantage o f h is o fficial p osition, shall falsify a document by c omitting any of the 
following acts: 
xxx 
xxx 
xxx 
The same penalty shall be imposed upon any ecclesiastical minister who shall 
commit any of the offenses enumerated in the preceding paragraphs of this article, with 
respect to any record or document of such character that its falsification may affect the 
civil status of persons. 
THE PENALTY OF RECLUSION TEMPORAL IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD 
AM, A FINE OF FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,OOO.OO) SHALL BE IMPOSED 
UPON ANY PUBLIC OFFICER WHO SHALL FALSIFY A TORRENS 
CERTIFICATE 
OF 
TITLE 
BY 
COMMITTING ANY 
OF 
THE 
ACTS 
ENUMERATED AE@VE 
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OR BY CAUSING THE SPURIOUS MANUFACTURE OF 
THE SAME. 
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SECTION 2. Article 172 of Act No. 3815 as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal 
Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Art. 172. Falsification by Private Individuals and Use of Falsified Documents. 
- The penalty ofprision correcional and its medium and maximum periods and a fine 
of not more than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,OOO.OO) shall be imposed upon: 
(1) Any private individual who shall commit any of the falsifications 
enumerated in the next preceding article in any public or official document or letter of 
exchange or any other kind of commercial document. PROVIDED, THAT, THE 
PENALTY OF PRISION MAYOR AND A FINE OF TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND 
PESOS (P25,OOO.OO) SHALL BE IMPOSED LF SAID PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL 
FALSIFIES A T O W N S  
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CERTIFICATE OF TITLE OR CONSPIRES WITH THE 
PUBLIC OFFICER MENTIONED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING ARTICLE 
IN THE FALSIFICATION OF THE SAME: and 
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(2) Any person who, to the damage of a third party, or with the intent to cause 
such damage, shall in any private document commit any of the acts of falsification 
enumerated in the next preceding article. 
Any person who shall knowingly introduce any evidence in any ju icial 
proceeding or to the damage of another who, with the intent to cause such damage, shall 
use any of the false documents embraced in the next preceding article, or in any of the 
foregoing subdivision of this article, shall be punished by the penalty next lower in 
degree. 
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with, the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
/781 IPS 
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