Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 3425

Introduced by Hon. Giorgidi B, Aggabao

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Graft and corruption is a world-wide malaise that affects the development of
countries, It is considered as a stumbling block in uplifting the lives of the people
proving the causal link between graft and corruption and underdevelopment. The
international community through the United Nations, in addressing the growing
malady adopted the United Nations Conventions Against Graft and Corruption
(UNCAC) to which the Philippines is a signatory.

In the Philippines, graft and corruption has become pervasive that it developed
into a total systemic affliction. Recently, we were dumbfounded by the grand larceny
of public funds for private pecuniary gain and benefit. It is bleeding the coffers of the
government and the innocent victim is no less than the Filipino people. Violations of
anti-graft and corruption laws are considered to be one of the most difficult crimes to
investigate and prosecute. It thrives in secrecy and the uncovering of new information
to build up the case relatively takes considerable amount of time. Records show that
those accused of violating the Anti-Graft Laws are often made liable for their crimes
only upon its discovery either after their term or tenure in public or even after the
change in government administration. By the time an Information in the graft court is to
be filed, the crime is about to prescribe or has already prescribed.

Thus, not only in compliance with the provisions of the UNCAC but also,
considering the transformational leadership we are all aspiring for, there is an urgent
need to increase the prescriptive period for filing of graft cases from fifteen (15) years to
thirty (30) years by amending Section 11 of Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as
the “Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”. This will prevent perpetrators from
escaping criminal liability by the mere technicality of prescription.


This bill was originally filed during the 14th Congress by Rep. Rufus B.
Rodriguez. In the 15th Congress, he re-filed the same bill and a similar bill was also
filed by Rep. Susan A. Yap. It was approved by the Committee on Revision of Laws on
both Congresses under Committee Report No. 1681 and 931, respectively.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly requested.

GIORGIDI RgasA0


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNO,_ 38425 __

Introduced by Hon. Giorgidi B. Aggabao

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 11 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3019,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES
ACT” BY INCREASING THE PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD FOR ITS VIOLATION
FROM FIFTEEN (15) YEARS TO THIRTY (30) YEARS

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

SECTION 1, Section 11 of Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as the “Anti-Graft
and Corrupt Practices Act’, is hereby amended to read as follows:
SEC. 11. Prescription of offenses. ~ All offenses punishable under this

Act shall prescribe in [fifteen] THIRTY years.

SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and their
implementing rules, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 3. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.