Republic of the Philippines.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3831

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B. REVILLA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is highly important to uphold the trust of our citizens in the integrity of public
officials and officers. Once this trust is tarnished or diminished, allegiances falter and
the victim that truly suffers in the end is society itself. When people are disillusioned with
their leaders, there is unrest. Everything that follows is viewed with scepticism and the
people as a whole become uncooperative and unproductive. This is why it is vital for us
government officials to value and uphold our integrity and honour. We must always
make sure that all decisions and actions are centered towards the good of all.

There are however, some individuals and groups who aim to disrupt the peace
and tarnish trust by filing false and trumped up complaints towards elected officials and
officers of the government. Some are driven by personal vendetta towards the official
and uses the claims to harass, while some are motivated by political rivalry with the aim
of discrediting or even removing an opponent from office.

These baseless lawsuits and complaints are a nuisance not only to the falsely
accused, but to the system as well. They are a waste of time and money to the judicial
system. This bill sees to punish and penalize those malicious enough to use the system
to file false complaints for their own gain. | urge my colleagues to join me and work with

me for the swift passage of this measure.
REP. ZB B. REVILLA

2nd District of Cavite


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNO. 8831

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B. REVILLA

AN ACT
AMENDING ARTICLE 183 OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, DECLARING THE
FILING OF FALSE COMPLAINTS AGAINST PUBLIC OFFICERS AS AN
AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES OF PERJURY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

Section 1, Article 183 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is 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 prission
correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon any person who,
knowingly make 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 made in this and the
three preceding articles of this section, shall suffer the respective penalties
provided therein

A PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY FILES A FALSE COMPLAINT
AGAINST A PUBLIC OFFICER OF A GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR ANY
OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES INCLUDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS
SHALL SUFFER THE PENALTY OF PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MINIMUM
TO ITS MEDIUM PERIOD AND PAY A FINE OF FIFTY THOUSAND
PESOS (P50, 000.00) OR BOTH AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT.

IF DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION OR TRIAL
IT IS PROVEN THAT THE FALSE COMPLAINT WAS USED BY THE
ACCUSER AS A LEVERAGE AGAINST THE PUBLIC OFFICER IN
ORDER TO GAIN ADVANTAGE IN A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT OR TO
RECEIVE A FAVORABLE DECISION OR RESOLUTION IN AN ONGOING
DISPUTE, CONTROVERSY OR MATTER WHERE THE LATTER IS THE
GOVERNING AUTHORITY, THE FORMER SHALL SUFFER A PENALTY
OF PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MINIMUM TO ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD AND
PAY A FINE OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100, 000.00) OR
BOTH AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT.


Section 2. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

“Pubic Officer’ — refers to any person whose duties, not being of a clerical or
manual nature, involves the exercise of discretion in the performance of the
functions of the government. When used with reference to a person having
authority to do a particular act or perform a particular function in the exercise of
government power, “officers” includes any government employee, agent or body
having authority to do the act or exercise that function.

“Govemment’ refers to the corporate governmental entity through which the
functions of the government are exercised throughout the Philippines, including,
save as the contrary appears from the context, the various arms through which
political authority is made effective in the Philippines, whether pertaining to the
autonomous regions, the provincial, city, municipal or barangay subdivisions or
other forms of local government.

“Complaint” — shall refer to a sworn statement in writing executed by any person

for the purpose of charging a public officer with a fabricated or untruthful or false
offense.

Section 3. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is

declared void or unconstitutional, the remaining portions or provisions hereof shall not.
be affected by such declaration.

Section 4, Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,

other executive issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed and modified accordingly.

Section 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,