EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
iM icr o( tiK IW crrtar/
20 
FEB 11 
A 9 2 3
SENATE
S.B. No.
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon
AN ACT
AMENDING ARTICLE 183 OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Perjury is committed by any person who, knowingly makes untruthful 
statements and not being included in the provisions of the crimes of false testimony, 
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.1
Article 183 of Act No. 3815 or the Revised Penal Code, as amended, provides 
for the penalty for perjury in solemn affirmation:
Article 183. False testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn 
affirmation. - The penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period 
to prision correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon 
any person, who knowingly makes 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 in this and the 
three preceding articles of this section, shall suffer the respective 
penalties provided therein.
Presently, the penalty provided for perjury is arresto mayor it its maximum 
period to prision correccional in its minimum period which has a range of four (4) 
months and one (1) day to two (2) years and four (4) months.
1 People V. Cruz, G.R. No. L-27978, L-27981-92, February 25, 1982.


With the passage of this bill, the penalty for perjury will be increased to 
prision correccional in its medium period to prision correccional in its maximum 
period, which will be imprisonment from two (2) years four (4) months one (1) day 
to six (6) years.
Perjury is a serious offense as it can derail the basic goal of the justice system 
-  discovering the truth. The increase in the penalty will serve as a deterrent to the 
commission of the crime of perjury. This will help in the better administration of 
justice.
RICHARD J. GORDON
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
(9tttcr o( tift ^frrU rp
• t
20 FEB 11 A9 23
SENATE
S.B. No.
RECEIV. D BY.
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon
AN ACT
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AMENDING ARTICLE 183 OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE
Be it  enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Article 183 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the 
Revised Penal Code, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Article 183. False testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn 
affirmation. - The penalty of [arresto mayor in-its m aximum 
period to p rision- correcciona l- in - its - m inimum period] 
PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN  ITS MEDIUM PERIOD TO 
PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN  ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD shall 
be imposed upon any person, who knowingly makes 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 in this and the 
three preceding articles of this section, shall suffer the respective 
penalties provided therein."
Sec. 2. Repeating Cause. All laws, rules and regulations that may be 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly.
Sec. 3. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of 
general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,