Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 379)
Republic Act No. 379 amends Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, specifically addressing the crime of usurpation of authority or official functions.
Any person who knowingly and falsely represents himself as an officer, agent, or representative of any Philippine government or foreign government department or agency, or who performs acts under the pretense of such official position without lawful entitlement.
The penalty is imprisonment under prision correctional in its minimum and medium periods.
It means falsely representing oneself as an official or performing acts reserved to officers or agents of any Philippine or foreign government without lawful authority to do so.
Yes, knowingly and falsely representing oneself as an officer or agent is punishable, regardless of actual performance of acts.
No, the law covers usurpation of authority from any Philippine government agency or any foreign government or its agencies.
Officers, agents, or representatives of any department or agency of the Philippine or foreign government are covered.
This Act took effect immediately upon its approval on June 14, 1949.
Prision correctional is a penalty of imprisonment in the Philippine penal system, ranging typically from 6 months and 1 day to 6 years; the law specifies the minimum and medium periods thereof.
Yes, the performance of acts must pertain to any person in authority or public officer's functions without lawful entitlement to be punishable.