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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
1 
S.B. BILL NO. 
Introduced by Senator ALFRED0 S. LIM 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Perjury is one of the many crimes punishable under the penal code that has been 
taken too lightly by everyone. 
You see. and hear every now and then of persons who retract their previous 
testimonies or sworn statements as effortlessly and conveniently without fear nor 
conscience that such turnaround not only destroys the sacrosanct nature of the oath he 
had taken but is creating much confusion and puzzle to those affected by his verbal orbit. 
For as long as we do not provide heavier penalties for those who unscrupulously 
change their sworn statements 'as easily as they change clothes, our justice system will 
definitely fail. 
Under the law, perjury is !punishable by arrest0 mayor maximum to prision 
correccional minimum, that is, imprisonment from six (6) month to two (2) years and 
two (2) months. With that low penalty, a would-be perjurer does not worry that even if 
convicted for such lies, the most that he could get in jail term is two (2) years. And, he 
surely could avail of the benefit of a probation. 
So, he would not think twice of making a sworn charge against another, even if 
baseless, for money or other consideration as well as to change his prior sworn statements 
conveniently for similar considerations. 
It is high time, therefore, that we increase the penalty for perjury by two (2) 
degrees, that is, prision mayor in its minimum and medium periods or an imprisonment 
of from six (6) years to ten (10) years. 
Likewise, under the bill, an act of inducing one to commit perjury or the so called 
subornation of perjury shall be criminalized and punished in the same manner as a 
perjurer. 
More often than not, the inducer of a perjurer plays a great role in convincing or 
encouraging him to retract a previous statement or to fabricate a charge against another 
even if factually untrue. 
It is urged that to institute an effective justice system, people must be made to 
recognize the sanctity and solemnity of an oath and make them feel that honesty is 
precious than material wealth. 
A 
Sinator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
Ph 
'04 JUL -5. P2 152 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
lippines in Congress assembled: 
Section 1. This Act shall be known as the Anti-Perjury Act of 2004. 
Section 2. The penalty for perjury in solemn affirmation punishable under 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES j 
First Regular Session 
) 
c,: 
~~~~~~V~~ BY: 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by 'Senator ALFRED0 S. LIM 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
AN ACT 
INGREASINO THE PENALTY FOR THE CRIME OF 
PERJURY PUNISHABLE UNDER ARTICLE 183 OF 
THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES. 
Section 3. Art. 182 is thus amended to read as follows: 
Art. 182. False testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn 
affirmation. - The penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period to 
prision mayor in its medium period shall be imposed upon any 
person who, knowingly making untruthful statements and not being 
included in the provisions of the next preceding articles, shall testify 
under aath, or make an affidavit, upon any material matter before a 
competent person authorized to administer an oath in cases in 
which the law so requires. 


- 2 -  
Any person who, in case of solemn affirmation made in lieu of 
an oath, shall commit any of the falsehoods mentioned in this and 
the three preceding articles of this section, shall suffer the 
respective penalties provided therein. 
Section 4. Subornation of Pegury. - Any person who procures or induces 
another to swear falsely or execute a statement under oath for the purpose of 
charging or accusing another person with a crime or offense and the person 
suborned testifies under the circumstances rendering him guilty of perjury shall 
be liable for subornation of perjury punishable with prisfon mayor in its minimum 
period to pfision mayor in its medium period. 
Section 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved, 
Senator