FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First I~egulllr Session 
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SENATE 
S. B. No. 2117 
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Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
To date, there are no means with which to protect public officials from 
individuals bringing malicious accusations at them, yet the Revised Penal Code 
provides aggravated criminal liability for any public officer found taking 
advantage of his position. There should be a counter-balance to this law, 
otherwise anyone can just falsely accuse a public official of a crime without fear 
of prosecution except for a counter-suit. Moreover and in such cases, the 
defendant, being a public officer, will have to suffer loss of integrity (which he 
may never regain regardless of the outcome of the case). More importantly, the 
public official may be hindered from doing his duties competently. 
In the end it is the public who ultimately suffers. ·It is a waste of the 
government's time and money to investigate these false accusations only to 
dismiss them later on. This bill punishes false accusers of government officials so 
that it may serve as a deterrent to the former, who may use the complaint to 
disparage and embarrass the later. 
I-Ience, the passage of this bill is immediately sought. 
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 


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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. 13. No.2117 
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Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT AMENDING ARTICLE 359 OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 359 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is further amended 
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to read as follows: 
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"Art. 359. Slander by deed. - The penalty of [arresto mayor in its 
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maximum] PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MINIMUM period to 
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[prision correccional in its minimum] ITS MAXIMUM period or a 
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fine [ranging from 200 to 1,000 pesos] OF 100,000 PESOS, OR 
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BOTH, shall be imposed upon any person who shall perform any 
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act not included and punished in this title, which shall cast 
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dishonor, discredit, or contempt upon another person, SUCH AS, 
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BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE INTENTIONAL FILING OF A 
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FALSE COMPLAINT IN COURT OR IN 
ANY OTHER 
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AGENCIES 
OF 
GOVERNMENT 
EXERCISING 
QUASI-
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JUDICIAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS. If said act is not of 
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a serious nature, the penalty shall be [arresto menor] PRISION 
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MAYOR IN ITS MINIMUM TO ITS MEDIUM PERIOD or a fine 
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[not exceeding 200 pesos] OF 50,000 PESOS. 
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IF DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVES;TIGA TION 
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OR TRIAL IT IS PROVEN THAT THE ABOVE FALSE 
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COMPLAINT HAS BEEN OR IS BEING USED BY THE 
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COMPLAINANT AS A LEVERAGE AGAINST ANY PERSON 
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IN ORDER TO GAIN ADVANTAGE OR TO RECEIVE A 
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FAVORABLE DECISION, ACTION OR RESOLUTION ON ANY 
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MATTER, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY PROVIDED HEREIN 
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SHALL BE IMPOSED." 
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SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
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invalid by a competent court, the remainder of this Act or any provision not 
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affected by such declaration of invalidity shall remain in force and effect. 


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SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
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orders, other executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof are 
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hereby repealed amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC 6. Effectivity - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
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Approved,