Increase Penalties for Perjury, Revised Penal Code

Section 1 amends Article 183 of Act No. 3815 (the Revised Penal Code) by revising the penalty structure for false testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn affirmation.
Section 2 amends Article 184 of the Revised Penal Code by revising the rule on offering false testimony in evidence.
The amendments operate directly on the provisions of the Revised Penal Code governing perjury-related offenses.

Republic Act No. 11594 increases the penalties for perjury by amending Articles 183 and 184 of the Revised Penal Code.

Article 183 (as amended) covers any person who, knowingly making untruthful statements, testifies under oath or executes an affidavit on a material matter before a competent person authorized to administer an oath in cases where the law so requires.
Article 183 (as amended) also covers perjury committed in solemn affirmation made in lieu of an oath, where the offender commits any of the falsehoods mentioned in that section and the three preceding articles of Article 183’s covered falsehood scheme.
Article 184 (as amended) covers any person who willfully and knowingly offers in evidence a false witness or testimony in any judicial or official proceeding.

Under Article 183 (as amended), the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period is imposed when a person knowingly makes untruthful statements and testifies under oath or makes an affidavit on a material matter in cases where the law requires oath-taking.
Under Article 183 (as amended), if the offender commits in solemn affirmation any of the falsehoods mentioned in Article 183 and the three preceding articles of that section’s falsehood scheme, the offender suffers the respective penalties provided therein.
Under the first proviso in Article 183 (as amended), if the person responsible for the commission of the felony is a public officer or employee, the penalty is imposed in its maximum period.
Under the final proviso in Article 183 (as amended), the offender also suffers:
- a fine not to exceed One million pesos (P1,000,000.00); and
- perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any appointive or elective position in the government or in any agency, entity, or instrumentality thereof.

Under Article 184 (as amended), a person who willfully and knowingly offers in evidence a false witness or testimony in any judicial or official proceeding is punished as guilty of false testimony.
Under Article 184 (as amended), the offender suffers the respective penalties provided in this section for false testimony.

Section 3 provides that if any provision of Republic Act No. 11594 is declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions remain valid and effective.
Section 4 provides that all laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with Republic Act No. 11594 are repealed or amended accordingly.

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 on October 29, 2021.