REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1959

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN IIL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There have been reports of unethical lobbying practices in Congress and unlawful
consideration allegedly being offered to lawmakers for either the passage or defeat of
legislative measures in both Houses and their Committees. For that reason, addressing this
issue and the negative image it imparts to the public is seriously needed. Such reports,
whether with or without basis, creates the impression that our country's lawmakers are "for
sale" and that the legislative measures being advanced or deterred in Congress are mostly
coming at certain prices.

Republic Act No. 1827 otherwise known as "An Act to Regulate Lobbying in the Congress of
the Philippines and in the Commission on Appointments" was enacted on June 22, 1957 and
sought to prohibit corrupt or undesirable methods of lobbying, to promote a high standard of
ethics in the practice of lobbying, to prevent harassing unfair and unethical lobbying
practices, and to provide for the licensing of lobbyists and the suspension or revocation of
such licenses.

This bill, which seeks to amend R.A. No. 1827, essentially proposes to increase the penalties
for those persons who practice unethical lobbying and use corrupt means to influence
legislation and confirmation of appointment. It is envisioned that such measure shall curb
corruption and undue influence in the passage and/or defeat of legislation, and also to deter
unethical lobbying in the confirmation of appointments,

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _1959

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN Il

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 2 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1827 SO AS TO IMPOSE
HIGHER PENALTIES FOR THOSE ENGAGED IN UNFAIR AND UNETHICAL
LOBBYING PRACTICES

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

SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 1827 (RA 1827) is hereby amended to
read as follows:

"Sec. 2. Corrupt means to influence legislation; disclosure of interest. -
Any person who shall, directly or indirectly, give or agree or offer to give any
money or property or valuable thing or any security therefor to any person, for
the service of such person or of any other person in procuring the passage or
defeat of any measure before the Congress of the Philippines or before either
House or any committee thereof, upon the contingency or condition of the
passage or defeat of such measure, or who shall receive, directly or indirectly,
or agree to receive any such money, property, thing of value or security
therefor for such service, upon any such contingency or condition, or who,
having a pecuniary or other interest, or acting as the agent or attorney of any
Person in procuring or attempting to procure the passage or defeat of any
measure before the Congress of the Philippines or before either House or any
committee thereof, shall attempt in any manner to influence any member of
said Congress for or against such measure, without first making known to such
member the real and true interest he has in such measure, either personally or
as such agent or attorney, shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than
[two] SIX years [or] AND by fine not exceeding [five thousand] ONE
MILLION pesos [or both such imprisonment and fine]. FURTHER, IF
SUCH PERSON IS HOLDING ANY ELECTIVE OR APPOINTIVE
PUBLIC OFFICE, HE SHALL BE SUBJECTED TO THE PENALTY
OF PERPETUAL DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING ANY
PUBLIC OFFICE.

SEC. 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 1827 (RA 1827) is hereby amended to read as
follows:


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"Sec. 3. Corrupt or secret means to influence confirmation of
appointment, - Any person who shall, directly or indirectly, give or agree or
offer to give any money or property or valuable thing or any security therefor
to any person, for the service of such person or of any other person in
procuring the confirmation or rejection or by-passing of any appointment
before the Commission on Appointments or before any committee thereof,
upon the contingency or condition of the confirmation or rejection or by-
passing of such appointment, or who shall receive, directly or indirectly, or
agree to receive any such money, property, thing of value or security therefor
for such service, upon any such contingency or condition, or who, having an
appointment in his favor pending before the Commission on Appointments 9r
before any committee thereof, shall through secret or clandestine methods
attempt in any manner to influence any member of such Commission to vote
for confirmation of such appointment, shall be punished by imprisonment of
not more than [two] SIX years [or]AND by fine not exceeding [five thousand)
ONE MILLION pesos [or 2 both such imprisonment and fine]. FURTHER,
IF SUCH PERSON IS HOLDING ANY ELECTIVE OR APPOINTIVE
PUBLIC OFFICE, HE SHALL BE SUBJECTED TO THE PENALTY
OF PERPETUAL DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING ANY
PUBLIC OFFICE.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

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

Approved,