Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

RON
EIVED “A

A Rebting
S

REC

16" CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__1733

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill amends Article 359 of the Revised Penal Code by increasing the
penalties on any person who shall perform any act not included and punished in this title,
which shall cast dishonor, discredit, or contempt upon another person. It also included
intentional filing of a false complaint in court or any other agencies of government
exercising quasi-judicial or administrative powers.

This is being proposed to protect an individual from another who brings false
accusations at him without fear of prosecution except for a counter-suit. In such cases,
such individual will have to suffer loss of integrity which may never be regained
regardless of the outcome of the countersuit.

Hence, the passage of this bill is immediately sought.

Ledtied
_~ EVELINA G. ESCUDERO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

16" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNO. 1733

Introduced by REP. EVELINA 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 to

read as follows:

“Art. 359. Slander by Deed. - ‘The penalty of [arresto mayor in its maximum]
PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MEDIUM period to [prision correccional in its minimum]
ITS MAXIMUM period or a fine [ranging from 200 to 1,000 pesos] OF 100,000
PESOS, OR BOTH, shall be imposed upon any person who shall perform any act not
included and punished in this title, which shall cast dishonor, discredit, or contempt upon
another person [.] , SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE INTENTIONAL
FILING OF A FALSE COMPLAINT IN COURT OR IN ANY OTHER
AGENCIES OF GOVERNMENT EXERCISING QUASI-JUDICIAL OR
ADMINISTRATIVE POWE! act is not of a serious nature, the penalty shall
be [arresto menor] PRISION MAYOR IN 1TS MINIMUM PERIOD or a fine [not
exceeding 200 pesos] OF 50,000 PESOS.

IF DURING THE COURSE OF ANY FORMAL INVESTIGATION OR
TRIAL OF THE CASE IT IS PROVEN THAT THE ABOVE FALSE
COMPLAINT HAS BEEN OR IS BEING USED BY THE COMPLAINANT AS A
LEVERAGE AGAINST ANY PERSON IN ORDER TO GAIN ADVANTAGE OR
TO RECEIVE A FAVORABLE DECISION, ACTION OR RESOLUTION ON
ANY MATTER, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY PROVIDED HEREIN SHALL BE
IMPOSED.”



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SEC. 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid by a

competent court, the remainder of this Act or any provision not otherwise affected by

such declaration of invalidity shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, other
executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended

accordingly.

SEC. 4, Effectivity Clause. - 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,

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