: 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
I, 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
10 
JUL 22 A9 :23 
SENATE 
S. No. 1863 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE' 
The Penal Code, AIiicles 171 and 172 severely punish any person who falsifies a 
document. Despite these provisions, falsification of titles of land remains unabated. These 
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prohibited acts make a mockery of the stability and reliability of the certificates of title under the 
Torrens System. 
This bill seeks to curb the practice of fabrication of Torrens Title by imposing stiffer 
penalties upon any person who shall falsify these documents. 
This bill is a product of the public hearings conducted by the Committee on 
Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws during the 10th Congress.' 
• This bill was re-filed during the Thilteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
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'. 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 1863 
"'''.' . 
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!" 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
1 0 JUl 22 A 9 :23 
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AMENDING ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PENAL 
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CODE, ARTICLES 171 AND 172, IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR THE 
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FALSIFICATION OF TORRENS CERTIFICATES OF TITLE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 171 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Penal 
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Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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"Art. 171. Falsification by public officer, employee or notary or 
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ecclesiastic minister. The penalty of prision mayor and a fine not to exceed Five 
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Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) shall be imposed upon any public officer, employee, 
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or notary who, taking advantage of his official position, shall falsify a document 
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by committing any of the following acts: 
xxx xxx xxx 
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The same penalty shaH be imposed upon any ecclesiastical minister who 
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shall commit any of the offenses enumerated in the preceding paragraphs or this 
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article, with respect to any record or document of such character that its 
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falsification may affect the civil status ofpersons. 
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THE PENALTY OF RECLUSION TEMPORAL IN ITS MAXIMUM 
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PERIOD AND A FINE OF FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (PS,OOO.OO) SHALL 
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BE IMPOSED UPON ANY PUBLIC OFFICER WI 0 SHALL FALSIFY A 
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TORRENS CERTIFICATE OF TITLE BY COMMITTING ANY OF THE 
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ACTS ENUMERATED ABOVE OR BY CAUSING THE SPURIOUS 
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MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME." 
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SECTION 2. Article 172 of Act No. 3815 as amended, otherwise known as the Revised 
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Penal Code, is hereby amended to read as -follows: 
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"Art. 172. Falsification by Private Individuals and Use of Falsified' 
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Documents. - The penalty of prision correcional and its medium and maximum 
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periods and a fine of not more than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) shall be 
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imposed upon: 
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(1) Any private individual who shall commit any of the falsifications 
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enumerated in the next preceding article in any public or official document or 
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letter of exchange or any other kind of commercial document. PROVIDED, 
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THAT, THE PENALTY OF PRISION MAYOR AND A FINE OF 
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TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P25,OOO.OO) SHALL BE IMPOSED 
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IF 
SAID 
PRIVATE 
INDIVIDUAL 
FALSIFIES 
A 
TORRENS 
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CERTIFICATE OF TITLE OR CONSPIRES WITH THE PUBLIC 
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OFFICER 
MENTIONED 
IN 
THE 
IMMEDIATELY 
PRECEDING 
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ARTICLE IN THE FALSIFICATION OF THE SAME; and 
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(2) Any person who, to the damage of a third party, or with the intent to 
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cause such damage, shall in any private document commit any of the acts of 
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falsification enumerated in the next preceding article. Any person who shall 
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knowingly introduce any evidence in any judicial proceeding or to the damage of 
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another who, with the il!'tent to cause such damage, shall use any of the false 
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documents embraced in the next preceding article, or in any of the foregoing 
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subdivision of this article, shall be punished by the penalty next lower in degree." 
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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