THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Penal Code, Article 180 provides: 
Art. 180. False testimony against a defendant. - Any person who shall 
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 ofprision 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. 
In cases provided in subdivisions 3 and 4 of this article the offender shall 
give false testimony against the defendant in any criminal case shall suffer: 
further suffer a fine not to exceed 1,000 pesos. 
On the other hand, the same Code, Article 25 provides: 
Art. 25. Penalties which may be imposed. - The penalties which may be 
imposed according to this Code, and their different classes, are those included in 
the following: 
Scale 
PRWClPAL PENALTIES 
Capital punishment: 
Death. 
Afflictive penalties: 
Reclusion perpetua, 
Reclusion temporal, 
Perpetual or temporary absolute 
disqualification, 
Perpetual or temporary special 
disqualification, 
Prision mayor. 
Correctional penalties: 
Light penalties: 
Prision correccional, 
Arresto mayor, 
Suspension, 
Destierro. 
Arresto menor, 
Public censure. 


It is noticeable that the basis for the penalties of Article 1'80 of the Penal Code is the 
penalty to be meted out against the accused who is implicated by the false testimony of the 
violator of Article 180. However, Article 180 covers the penalties of death, reclusion temporal, 
reclusion perpetua, any other afflictive penalty, correctional penalty, fine or acquittal; it fails to 
cover a situation where an accused, implicated by the false testimony of the violator of Article 
180, is meted out a light penalty, i.e. arrest0 menor and public censure, pursuant to the 
classification of penalties in Article 25 of the same code. 
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The law abhors a vacuum. Hence, this bill aims to remedy that vacuum by amending 
Article 180 of the Penal Code in order to provide a penalty for the cases discussed above. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUl3LIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
) 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
AMENDING ARTICLE 180 OF ACT NO. 3815, ALSO 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: 
SECTION 1. Article 180 of Act No. 3815, also known as the Revised Penal Code is 
hereby 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 arrest0 mayor, if the defendant shall have been 
sentenced to a correctional penalty, LIGHT PENALTY, fine, or shalt 
have been acquitted. 
In cases provided in subdivisions 3 and 4 of this article the offender shall 
further suffer a fine not to exceed 1,000 pesos. 
SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 


SECTION 3. Efectctivi& Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,