EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1991
3:20 p.m.
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTIONS 129,130,131,132 AND 133 OF COMMONWEALTH 
ACT NO. 141, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC LAND 
ACT, BY INCREASING THE PENALTIES IMPOSED AGAINST THOSE WHO 
VIOLATE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS THEREOF
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Public Land Act was enacted as the enabling law for the release of certain lands 
of the public domain, the conversion of the same to alienable and disposable lands 
and all other matters concerning public lands. It provides specifically for the 
requirements, limitations, rules and regulations, which must be strictly and faithfully 
followed not only by the applicants but by the public officers and employees and 
government agencies in charge of implementing the rules and regulations for the said 
conversion. Any fraud, deceit, or gross and inexcusable negligence by these persons 
must be strongly discouraged for the same Is detrimental to the State. Thus, this bill 
seeks to Increase the penalties imposed upon these persons and make the said 
penalties commensurate to the gravity of the injuries and losses suffered by the State 
by commission of any of the prohibited acts provided under the same Act.
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1991
FILED
DATE
INDEX
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Uto" M. Lapid
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTIONS 129, 130, 131, 132 AND 133 OF COMMONWEALTH 
ACT NO. 141, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC LAND 
ACT, BY INCREASING THE PENALTIES IMPOSED AGAINST THOSE WHO 
VIOLATE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS THEREOF
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Section 129 of Public Land Act, Is hereby amended to read as
2 
follows:
3 
"Any person, who presents or causes to be presented, or cooperates
4 
in the presentation of, any false application, declaration, or evidence, or
5 
makes or causes to be made or cooperates In the making of a false affidavit
6 
in support of any petition, claim, or objection respecting lands of the public
7 
domain, shall be deemed guilty of perjury and punished accordingly[.];
8 
PROVIDED, THAT IF THE SAID ACTS ARE COMMITTED BY ANY
9 
PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, THE SAME SHALL SUFFER THE
10 
ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION TO
11 
HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE."
12
13 
SECTION 2. Section 130 of Public Land Act, is hereby amended to read as
14 
follows:
15 
"Any person who voluntarily and maliciously prevents or hinders or
16 
attempts to prevent or hinder the presentation of any application for public


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land under this Act, or who in any manner attempts to execute or executes
2 
acts intended to dissuade or discourage, or aid to dissuade or discharge, the
3 
acquisition of public lands, shall be deemed guilty of coercion and to be
4 
punished accordingly[.]; PROVIDED, THAT IF THE SAID ACTS ARE
5 
COMMITTED BY ANY PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, THE SAME
6 
SHALL SUFFER THE ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF PERMANENT
7 
DISQUALIFICATION TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE."
8
9 
SECTION 3. Section 131 of Public Land Act, is hereby amended to read as
10 
follows:
11 
"Any person who sells forms issued and distributed gratuitously
12 
under this Act or who, being an officer charged with distributing them,
13 
refuses or fails, without sufficient reason, to furnish the same, shall be
14 
punished for each offense by a fine of [not more than one hundred pesos]
15 
NOT LESS THAN THIRTY THOUSAND PESOS (P30,000.00) BUT NOT
16 
MORE THAN SIXTY THOUSAND PESOS (P60,000.00) or by
17 
Imprisonment for [not more than three months] NOT LESS THAN ONE (1)
18 
YEAR BUT NOT MORE THAN THREE (3) YEARS, or both, in the discretion
19 
of the court[.]; PROVIDED, THAT IF THE SAID ACTS ARE COMMITTED
20 
BY ANY PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, THE SAME SHALL SUFFER
21 
THE ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION
22 
TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE."
23
24 
SECTION 4. Section 132 of Public Land Act, is hereby amended to read as
25 
follows:
26 
"Any person, corporation, association or partnership not qualified or
27 
no longer authorized to apply for public land under the provisions of this Act
28 
who files or induces or knowingly permits another person, corporation,
29 
association or partnership to file an application in his or its behalf or for his
30 
or its interest, benefit or advantage, shall be punished by a fine of not less
31 
than [two hundred or more than five thousand pesos] FORTY THOUSAND
32 
PESOS (P40,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED


1 
THOUSAND PESOS (P100/000.00)/ or by imprisonment for [not iess than
2 
two months nor more than five years] NOT LESS THAN SIX (6) YEARS
3 
BUT NOT MORE THAN TWELVE (12) YEARS, or both, in the discretion
4 
of the court, and the canceliation of the application[.]; PROVIDED, THAT
5 
IF THE SAID ACTS ARE COMMITTED BY ANY PUBLIC OFFICER OR
6 
EMPLOYEE, THE SAME SHALL SUFFER THE ADDITIONAL PENALTY
7 
OF PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE;
8 
PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT THE LAND SUBJECT OF SUCH ACTS
9 
SHALL REVERT TO THE STATE WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS FROM
10 
ITS DISCOVERY."
11
12 
SECTION 5. Section 133 of Pubiic Land Act, is hereby amended to read as
13 
foliows:
14 
"Any person who, without having the qualifications required by this
15 
Act, shall by deceit or fraud acquire or attempt to acquire lands of the public
16 
domain or other real property, or any right, title, or interest, or property right
17 
of any class to the same, and any person aiding and abetting him therein or
18 
serving as a means or tool therefor, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a
19 
fine of [not more than five thousand pesos] NOT LESS THAN FORTY
20 
THOUSAND PESOS (P40,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN ONE
21 
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00), or by imprisonment for
22 
[not more than five years] NOT LESS THAN SIX (6) YEARS BUT NOT
23 
MORE THAN TWELVE (12) YEARS, or both, in the discretion of the
24 
court[.]; PROVIDED, THAT IF THE SAID ACTS ARE COMMITTED BY
25 
ANY PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, THE SAME SHALL SUFFER THE
26 
ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION TO
27 
HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE: PROVIDED FUTHER, THAT THE LAND
28 
SUBJECT OF SUCH ACTS SHALL REVERT TO THE STATE WITHIN
29 
THREE (3) MONTHS FROM nS DISCOVERY."
30
31 
SECnON 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive
32 
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are


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2
3
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5
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7
8
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, 
the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 6. Effectivlty Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
Its publication In the Official Gazette or In at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approvedf