NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2265
ol tl)C i: s-
23 HAY 30 P2;16
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
DEFINING UNTRUTHFUL STATEMENT AND FABRICATED EVIDENCE BEFORE 
CONGRESS IN THE CONDUCT OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE AND OVERSIGHT 
FUNCTIONS COMMITTED BY MILITARY AND UNIFORMED PERSONNEL AND 
OTHER GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL AND PROVIDING PENALTIES 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The principle that public office is a public trust signifies that public officials hold 
this power in trust to benefit the people and never the interests of a few. Hence, they 
shall hold themselves accountable and act with the utmost integrity at all times. This 
weighs heavily on our military and uniformed personnel who have sworn to serve and 
protect our people and defend the State.
No one could argue that our government institutions rely on factual and 
accurate information in order to act In the best interest of our people when It comes 
to the enforcement of our laws. In the case of Congress, for example, it goes without 
saying that presenting misleading and inaccurate information or testimony before 
these bodies impedes the process of fact-finding and policy-making. More importantly, 
this undermines public trust in our military and uniformed personnel, who are expected 
to protect the nation and its citizens from threats.
While the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines currently criminalizes perjury 
and false testimony, the current penalties are not commensurate with the 
consequences of receiving false testimonies from government personnel during 
Congressional proceedings in addressing and protecting the public interest.


Thus, this amendment seeks to introduce a higher penalty for military and 
uniformed personnel who commit perjury in any congressional proceeding. It is an 
attempt to further safeguard the truth and increase the deterrent for making false 
statements, particularly within institutions central to the maintenance of peace, order, 
and national security.
Given the great role of these agencies in enforcing the law, it is of utmost 
Importance that their personnel maintain the highest degree of honesty and integrity.
In light of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this bill is earnestly 
sought.
OBINH
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
SENATE
O O r* 2T“
ddbl)
ot t!}C
23 tlRY 30 P2--16
UV.CEF.’2B^if5:
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
DEFINING UNTRUTHFUL STATEMENT AND FABRICATED EVIDENCE BEFORE 
CONGRESS IN THE CONDUCT OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE AND OVERSIGHT 
FUNCTIONS COMMITTED BY MILITARY AND UNIFORMED PERSONNEL AND 
OTHER GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Truthful Congressional
2 
Inquiry Act"
3 
Sec. 2. Untruthful Statement in Congress. — A penalty of ten (10) years
4 
imprisonment shall be imposed to any personnel of the government who shall
5 
knowingly makes untruthful statement or produce fabricated evidence in any
6 
proceeding in Congress, in the exercise 
of its legislative or oversight functions,
7 
pertaining to material facts which the Congress 
seeks to inquire that involves the
8 
commission of any of the crimes enumerated or defined and punished under:
9 
(a) Republic Act No. 7659;
10 
(b) Title 7 (Crimes Committed by Public Officers) of Act No. 3815 (Revised
11 
Penal Code);
12 
(c) Secs. 65 (a)(5) and (b)(4) of Republic Act No. 9184 (Government
13 
Procurement Act);
14 
(d) Republic Act No. 8524 (National Internal Revenue Code), as amended;
15 
(e) Republic Act No. 1937 (Tariff and Customs Code), as amended;
16 
(f) 
Republic Act No. 10845 (Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016);
1


1 
(g) Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act);
2 
(h) Sec. 166 of Republic Act No. 11232 (Revised Corporation Code);
3 
(i) Republic Act No. 9160 (Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001), as
4 
amended;
5 
(j) Republic Act No. 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), as amended;
6 
(k) Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (RA 9208), as amended;
7 
(I) Republic Act No. 11479 (Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020);
8 
(m) Republic Act No. 10168 (The Terrorism Financing Prevention and
9 
Suppression Act of 2012); and
10 
(n) Batas Pambansa Big. 881 (Omnibus Election Code), as amended.
11 
Provided, That\he penalty shall be twenty (20) years imprisonment shall be
12 
imposed if the offender is a personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
13 
Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection,
14 
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Corrections, National Mapping
15 
and Resource Information Agency, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drugs
16 
Enforcement Agency, other law enforcement agencies. Bureau of Immigration and
17 
Deportation, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Bureau of Customs.
18 
In both cases, a fine not to exceed Three Million Pesos (PFIP3,000,000.00) and
19 
perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any appointive or elective position in
20 
any government agency, entity, or instrumentality shall be Imposed; the offender shall
21 
also not be eligible for executive clemency unless the latter served one-half of the
22 
penalty actually imposed by the court.
23 
Sec. 3. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
24 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
25 
remain valid and subsisting.
26 
Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
27 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
28 
amended, or modified accordingly.
29 
Sec. 5. Effectivity Clause. —This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
30 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
31 
circulation.
Approved,