Legal basis and amendments made
- Republic Act No. 11594 amends Articles 183 and 184 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as “The Revised Penal Code.”
- Section 1 amends Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code.
- Section 2 amends Article 184 of the Revised Penal Code.
- Republic Act No. 11594 increases penalties for perjury by prescribing a maximum-period rule and additional sanctions for qualifying public officers or employees.
Core offense: false testimony (Article 183)
- Article 183 imposes the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period on any person who, knowingly making untruthful statements, testifies under oath or executes an affidavit on any material matter before a competent person authorized to administer an oath in cases where the law requires it.
- Article 183 applies to a person who is not included in the provisions of the next preceding articles.
- Article 183 provides that if a person commits any of the falsehoods mentioned in this section and the three preceding articles, in the case of a solemn affirmation made in lieu of an oath, the person suffers the respective penalties provided in those provisions.
- Article 183 commands that if the person responsible is a public officer or employee, the penalty shall be imposed in its maximum period.
- Article 183 further requires that the offender shall also suffer a fine not to exceed One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) and perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any appointive or elective position in government or any agency, entity, or instrumentality thereof.
Core offense: offering false testimony (Article 184)
- Article 184 penalizes any person who shall willfully and knowingly offer in evidence a false witness or false testimony in any judicial or official proceeding.
- Article 184 provides that the offender is punished as guilty of false testimony.
- Article 184 mandates that the offender shall suffer the respective penalties provided in this section.
Insolvency, separability, and repealing clause
- Section 3 provides separability: if any provision of Republic Act No. 11594 is declared unconstitutional, the other provisions remain valid and effective.
- Section 4 repeals or amends any laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with Republic Act No. 11594.
Legislative passage and approval
- Republic Act No. 11594 was passed by the Senate on August 23, 2021 and by the House of Representatives on August 31, 2021.
- Republic Act No. 11594 was approved by Rodrigo Roa Duterte on October 29, 2021.