FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Many crimes go unpunished because of the failure to report to the proper authorities 
the actual crimes, as well as other important incidents that may otherwise lead to the 
successful apprehension and prosecution of criminals. 
To elicit a positive duty from every individual to actively participate in promoting 
peace and order, this bill proposes to amend Presidential Decree No. 1829, Penalizing 
Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal Offenders, by including the 
following acts as obstruction of justice: 
Failing to report stolen or lost firearms to the proper authorities; 
Failing to report carnapped motor vehicles or lost number plates of motor vehicles to 
the proper authorities; 
Having knowledge of or witnessed a crime, concealing and not making known such 
crime to the proper authorities; and 
Failing to give needed testimony in court on a crime. 
To obstruct justice is to deny justice and commit a crime against the law. For this 
and the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
& 
RICHARD J. GORDON 
Senator p6 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
AN ACT AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1829, PENALIZING OBSTRUCTION 
OF APPREHENSION AND PROSECUTION OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1829, Penalizing Obstruction oi 
Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal Offenders, is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"Section 1. The penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period 
UNDER THE REVISED PENAL CODE, or a fine ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 
pesos, or both, shall be imposed upon any person who knowingly or willfully 
obstructs, impedes, frustrates or delays the apprehension of suspects and the 
investigation and prosecution of criminal cases by committing any of the 
following acts: 
. . .  
(i) Giving of false or fabricated information to mislead or prevent the 
law enforcement agencies from apprehending the offender or from protecting 
the life or property of the victim; or fabricating information from the data 
gathered in confidence by investigating authorities for purposes of 
background information and not for publication and publishing or 
disseminating the same to mislead the investigator or the court[.]; 
PROPER AUTHORITIES; 
(J) FAILING TO REPORT STOLEN OR LOST FIREARMS TO THE 
(K) FAILING TO REPORT CARNAPPED MOTOR VEHICLES OR 
LOST NUMBER PLATES OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO THE PROPER 
AUTHORITIES; 


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(L) HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF OR WITNESSED A CRIME, 
CONCEALING AND NOT MAKING KNOWN SUCH CRIME TO THE 
PROPER AUTHORITIES; AND 
(M) FAILING TO GIVE NEEDED TESTIMONY IN COURT ON A 
CRIME. 
Sec. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with Sec. 1 of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
Sec. 3. Separability Clause. - If any portion of Sec. 1 of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
Sec. 4. 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,