I 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'11 
i1AY -9 ,Lll0:4 7 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2 8 (3 3 
Introduced by Senator Laeson 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
"A lying witness can make as positive an identification as a truthful witness 
can. The lying witness can also say 8S forlhrightly and unequivocally, "He did iff" 
without blinking an eye. ,,1 
In our criminal justice system, the testimony of a witness, especially that of 
an eyewitness, is crucial. The direct and positive identification by a witness is 
given considerable weight by our courts. In the same vein, prosecutors most of 
the time rely on testimonies under oath or sworn affidavits in finding probable 
cause for the purpose of filing an information before the courts. It is therefore a 
fundamental rule that sworn testimonies should be honest and should not leave 
any room for any inconsistency and untruthfulness. 
Testimonies before the court and sworn affidavits are made under the 
sacred oath of truth. However, it is worrying that the sacredness of statements 
made before the courts, and that of sworn affidavits are being disregarded. The 
assertion of falsehood, under oath or affirmation, is becoming prevalent. False 
testimonies and sworn statements are sometimes being used to support 
malicious complaints with the intent of harassing and persecuting innocent 
persons. This pernicious practice is aimed not only to harass innocent persons 
but put them behind bars and make their families suffer. It is noteworthy that 
because of these untruthful and inconsistent statements, we have witnessed how 
some men were robbed of their youth and freedom for a long period of time only 
to be freed later on account that the reason for their incarceration was based on 
a "polluted source". 
The prevalence of untruthful testimonies and statements may not be 
possible if only public officials and employees are responsible enough and in 
their vigilance in their quest for the truth, should uphold the rule of law and not 
their thirst for victory at the expense of another. However, it is distressing that 
sometimes it is the public officials and employees themselves who encourage, 
induce or even force a person to assert falsehood under oath. 
Some public prosecutors, in violation of the code of their profession2, 
instead of making sure that justice is done suppress facts and conceal witnesses 
capable of establishing the innocence of the accused. Sometimes they even offer 
false testimonies and perjured witnesses to support their unfounded charges. 
Thus, the duty to uphold the truth is being set aside in order to further their evil 
designs or that of their bosses or sometimes just to have a closure on a case. 
1 LEJANO versus PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES. G.R. No. 176389. December 14. 2010. 
2 Rule 6.01. Canon 6 of the Code of Professional Responsibility 


( , 
This bill seeks to deter the commission of the crimes of false testimony 
and perjury in solemn affirmation and uphold the sacredness of oath in 
testimonies and sworn statements by increasing the penalty for their commission, 
amending for the purpose Articles 180, 183 and 184 of the Revised Penal Code, 
as amended. Likewise, public official or employees who facilitate or induce 
another person to commit the said crimes shall be likewise be held liable and 
perpetually disqualified from holding a public office or employment. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this measure is earnestly 
requested. 
PANitcit~CSON 
"r;S;nator 


• 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'11 
MAY -9 1110:47 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2803 
Introduced by Senator Laeson 
AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLES 180, 183 AND 184 OF SECTION TWO, 
CHAPTER TWO, TITLE FOUR OF ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SEC. 1. Section 180 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is hereby further 
amended to read as follows: 
"Art. 180. False testimony against a defendant. -
Any person who 
shall give false testimony against the defendant in any 
criminal case shall suffer [: 
1. The penalty of reclusion temporal, if the defendant in said 
case shall have been sentenced to death; 
2. The penalty of prision mayor, if the defendant shall have 
been sentenced to reclusion temporal or reclusion perpetua; 
3. The penalty of prision correccional, if the defendant shall 
have been sentenced to any other afflictive penalty; and 
4. The penalty of arresto mayor, if the defendant shall have 
been sentenced to a correctional penalty or a fine, or shall 
have been acquitted.] THE SAME PENALTY FOR THE 
FELONY THE DEFENDANT IS BEING ACCUSED OF. 
PROVIDED, THAT, IF THE PERSON WHO WILL INDUCE 
OR ORDER THE COMMISSION OF THIS FELONY IS A 
PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, THE PENALTY SHALL 
BE IMPOSED IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD. 
PROVIDED, 
FURTHER, THAT, THE OFFENDER SHALL SUFFER A 
FINE NOT TO EXCEED ONE MILLION PESOS (Php 
1,000,000.00) 
AND 
PERPETUAL 
ABSOLUTE 
DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING ANY APPOINTIVE 
OR ELECTIVE POSITION IN THE GOVERNMENT OR IN 
ANY 
AGENCY, 
ENTITY 
OR 
INSTRUMENTALITY 
THEREOF. 


• 
[In cases provided in subdivisions 3 and 4 of this article the 
offender shall further suffer a fine not to exceed 1,000 
pesos.") 
SEC. 2. Section 183 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further 
amended to read as follows: 
"Art. 183. False testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn 
affirmation. -
The penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum 
period to prision correccional in its minimum 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. 
ANY PERSON WHO SHALL INCRIMINATE OR IMPUTE, 
THROUGH 
FALSE 
TESTIMONY 
OR 
UNTRUTHFUL 
STATEMENTS 
UNDER 
OATH 
OR 
THROUGH 
AN 
AFFIDAVIT, ANY PERSON THE COMMISSION OF A 
CRIME SHALL SUFFER THE SAME PENALTY AS THAT 
BEING IMPOSED TO THE CRIME HE IS IMPUTING. 
PROVIDED, THAT, IF THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR 
THE COMMISSION OF THIS FELONY IS A PUBLIC 
OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, THE PENALTY SHALL BE 
IMPOSED IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD. 
PROVIDED, 
FURTHER, THAT, THE OFFENDER SHALL ALSO SUFFER 
A FINE NOT TO EXCEED ONE MILLION PESOS (Php 
1,000,000.00) 
AND 
PERPETUAL 
ABSOLUTE 
DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING ANY APPOINTIVE 
OR ELECTIVE POSITION IN THE GOVERNMENT OR IN 
ANY 
AGENCY, 
ENTITY 
OR 
INSTRUMENTALITY 
THEREOF. 
SEC. 3. Section 184 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further 
amended to read as follows: 
"Art. 184. Offering false testimony in evidence. -
Any person 
who shall knowingly offer in evidence a false witness or 
testimony in any judicial or official proceeding, shall be 
punished as guilty of false testimony and shall suffer the 
respective penalties provided in this section. IF THE 
PERSON WHO OFFERED THE FALSE TESTIMONY AS 
EVIDENCE IS A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, THE 
PENALTY SHALL BE IMPOSED IN ITS MAXIMUM 
PERIOD. IN ADDITION THERETO, IF THE OFFENDER IS 
A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, HE SHAll ALSO 
SUFFER A FINE NOT TO EXCEED ONE MILLION PESOS 
(Php 
1,000,000.00) 
AND 
PERPETUAL 
ABSOLUTE 
DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING ANY APPOINTIVE 


OR ELECTIVE POSITION IN THE GOVERNMENT OR ANY 
AGENCY, ENTITY OR INSTRUMENTALITY THEREOF. 
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
provisions thereof. 
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders and issuances or 
portion thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,