FILE PHOTO: President Rodrigo Duterte. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure increasing the penalty for perjury or the act of making untruthful statements under oath.
Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11594, a copy of which was released to the media on Thursday, making perjury punishable with prision mayor in its minimum period of 6 years and 1 day to 8 years and medium period of 8 years and 1 day to 10 years.
And if the offender is a public officer or employee, the law says he or she may face imprisonment in its maximum period of 12 years, be fined an amount not exceeding P1 million, and be perpetually and absolutely disqualified from holding any appointive or elective position in government.
The previous penalty for perjury was arresto mayor in its maximum period of four months and one day to six months and prision correccional in its minimum period of six months and one day to two years and four months.
According to the new law, perjury is committed by an individual who “knowingly” makes untruthful statements under oath or “make an affidavit, upon any material matter before a competent person authorized to administer an oath in cases in which the law so requires.”