A 
, 
THfRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 180 ' of the Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815, as amended) 
provides for 
the 
penalty against any person who shall give false testimony 
against the defendant in any criminal case. It may be noted that the present 
penalty for false testimony against the defendant in criminal case depends upon 
the sentence imposed on the person against the false testimony was given. For 
instance, if a witness testifies falsely against the accused charged with homicide, 
and such accused is convicted and sentenced to reclusion temporal and the 
witness was later on found to be lying and was in turn 
prosecuted and 
convicted, the penalty imposable to such "false" or lying witness is only prision 
mayor. 
This is grossly unfair to the accused falsely convicted as a result of a 
witness' false testimony. 
The author submits that such witness should suffer also the same penalty 
suffered or imposed upon the defendant provided that if the defendant has been 
sentenced to death, the penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon 
such lying witness. If the defendant is acquitted, he should suffer the penalty 
imposable upon the 
defendant if the latter is convicted. This bill seeks to 
amend article 180 of the Revised Penal Code (Act 'No. 3815, as amended) by 
specifically providing for aforementioned increase in penalty. 
In the light of the foregoing considerations, passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
ClTO ESTRADA 


i 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
~~ 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
AMENDING ARTICLE 180 OF THE REVISED PPENAL CODE (ACT N0.3815, 
AS AMENDED) BY INCREASING THE PENALTY PROVIDED THEREFOR AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted 
by the 
Senate of the Philippines and the House of 
Represenfafives in Congress assembled: 
Section I. Article 180 of the Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815, as 
amended) is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"ART. 180. False testimony against a defendant. - Any person who 
shall give false testimony against the defendant in any criminal case shall 
suffer THE SAME PENALTY SUFFERED OR IMPOSED UPON THE 
DEFENDANT; PROVIDED, THAT THE PENALTY OF RECLUSION PERPETUA 
SHALL BE IMPOSED IF THE DEFENDANT HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 
DEATH. IF THE DEFENDANT IS ACQUITTED, HE SHALL SUFFER THE 
PENALTY IMPOSABLE UPON THE DEFENDANT IF THE LATTER IS 
CONVICTED. [ : 
I. The penalty of reclusion temporal, if the defendant in said case 
shall have been sentenced to death; 
The penalty of prision mayor, if the defendant shall have been 
sentenced to reclusion temporal or perpetua; 
The penalty of prision correccional, if the defendant shall have 
been sentenced to any other afflictive penalty; and 
4. 
The 
penalty of arrest0 mayor, if the defendant shall have 
been sentenced to a correctional penalty or a fine, or shall have 
been acquitted. 
2. 
3. 


In cases provided in subdivisions 3 and 4 of this article the offender shall further 
suffer a fine, not to exceed 1,000 pesos. ] 
Section 2. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules and 
regulations, executive or administrative orders, and other presidential issuance 
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
Section 3. 
Effecfivify. - This Act shall take effect after (15) days following 
its publication in at least (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.