SIXTiiiiNTH CONGRiiSS OF THii RiiPUElLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No, 1296 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Honor, integrity and credibility are difficult to establish, prove, and maintain. 
People even put their very lives at stake just to ensure that these hard-eamed 
attributes are respected. 
While the Revised Penal Code provides for penalties for the crime of slander by 
deed, these penalties are not anymore sufficient deterrent to address the crime; 
hence, this bill. Further, this proposed legislation expands the acts and intents 
covered by slander, by deed. 
This bill was submitted by the Committees on Justice and Human Rights, and 
Civil Service and Government Reorganization during the Fifteenth Congress. 
However, it was overtaken by events and it was not enacted into law. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
GOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPU8LIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
) 
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AU6 15 1\8:42 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1296 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
AMENDING ARTICLE 359 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: 
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SECTION 1. Article 359 of Act No. 3615, as amended, is further amended to 
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read as follows" 
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"Art. 359. Slander by Oeed.- The penalty of [arresto mayor in its 
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maximum] PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MEDIUM period to fprision 
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correccional in its minimum] ITS MAXIMUM period or a fine 
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[ranging from 200 to 1,000 pesos] OF 100,000 PESOS, OR BOTH, 
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shall be imposed upon any person who shall perform any act not 
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included and punished in this title, which shall cast dishonor, 
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discredit, or contempt upon another person [.], SUCH AS, BUT 
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NOT LIMITED TO, THE INTENTIONAL FILING OF A FALSE 
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COMPLAINT IN COURT OR IN ANY OTHER AGENCIES OF 
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GOVERNMENT 
EXERCISING 
QUASI-JUDICIAL 
OR 
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ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS, If said act is not of a serious nature, 
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the penalty shall be [alT9sto mayolj PRISION MAYOR IN ITS 
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MINIMUM PERIOD or a fine [not exceeding 200 pesos] OF 50,000 
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PESOS. 
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"IF DURING THE COURSE OF ANY FORMAL INVESTIGATION 
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OR TRIAL OF THE CASE IT IS PROVEN THAT THE ABOVE 
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FALSE COMPLAINT HAS BEEN OR IS BEING USED BY THE 
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COMPLAINANT AS A LEVERAGE AGAINST ANY PERSON IN 
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ORDER TO GAIN ADVANTAGE OR TO RECEIVE A FAVORABLE 
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DECISION, ACTION OR RESOLUTION ON ANY MATTER, THE 
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MAXIMUM PENAL TV PROVIDED HEREIN SHALL BE IMPOSED." 
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SEC. 2. Separability Clause. -If' iiU1Y provision of this Act is declared invalid by a 
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competent court, the remainder of this Act or any provision not otherwise affected 
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by such declaration of invalidity shalf remain in force and effect. 
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SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
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other executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are 
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contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
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modified or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
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Approved, 
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