FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 448 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. 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 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 dependant provided that if the defendant has been 
sentenced to death, the penalty or 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. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
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) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 448 
J 0 
,JtJI.. ~-6 Pit 54 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
AMENDING ARTICLE 180 OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE (ACT NO. 3815), 
AS AMENDED) BY INCREASING THE PENALTY PROVIDED THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 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.[: 
1. The penalty of reclusion temporal, if the defendant 
in said case shall have been sentence to death; 
2. The penalty of prision mayor, if the defendant shall 
have been sentenced to reclusion temporal or 
perpetua; 
3. The 
penalty of prision 
correccional, 
if the 
defendant shall have been sentenced to any other 
afflictive penalty; and 
4. The penalty of arresto mayor, if the defendant 
shall have been sentenced to a correctional 
penalty or a fine, or shall have been acquitted. 
In cases provided in subdivision 3 and 4 of this 
article the offender shall further suffer a fine, not to 
exceed 1,000 pesos.] 


SEC. 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. 
SEC. 3. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after (15) days following its 
publication in at least (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,