20-year sentence, P3M fine for military, uniformed personnel giving false testimonies sought

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robinhood Padilla on Tuesday filed Senate Bill 2265, or the proposed Truthful Congressional Inquiry Act, which will impose up to a 20-year prison sentence and a fine of up to P3 million on military and uniformed personnel (MUP) giving false testimonies during inquiries conducted by Congress.

Padilla said he saw the need to propose the legislation after a number of police officers were held in contempt at the Senate for refusing to tell the truth during the public order and dangerous drugs panel’s probe into the alleged cover-up of the multi-billion shabu bust involving the police force.  

He pointed out that the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines already penalizes perjury and false testimony. 

A public official or government employee guilty of perjury may be slapped with a punishment of eight years and one day to 12 years in prison, a fine of P1 million, and perpetual disqualification from holding any position in government.

But, Padilla said, “The current penalties are not commensurate with the consequences of receiving false testimonies from government personnel during Congressional proceedings in addressing and protecting the public interest.” 

The senator said he wants to add more teeth to the penalties for MUP committing perjury before Congress.  

“It is an attempt to further safeguard the truth and increase the deterrent for making false statements, particularly within institutions central to the maintenance of peace, order, and national security,” Padilla said.

Under the bill, 20 years in jail and a fine of up to P3 million will be meted to MUP falsely testifying – while under oath – in proceedings of the Senate or the House of Representatives.  

MUP under the measure’s ambit are members of the following organizations: 

• Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Philippine National Police
• Philippine Coast Guard
• Bureau of Fire Protection
• Bureau of Jail Management and Penology
• Bureau of Corrections
• National Mapping and Resource Information Agency
• National Bureau of Investigation
• Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
• Bureau of Immigration
• Bureau of Internal Revenue
• Bureau of Customs

Several senators had earlier raised concerns over the seemingly lax implementation of existing laws against perjury. 

They sounded calls to toughen the law penalizing perjury and to amend the Senate rules to make stricter the chamber’s treatment of witnesses acting with malice and lying in violation of the Revised Penal Code. 

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