Pirmado na ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang batas na nagpapataw ng mas mabigat parusa sa mga nagsisinungaling under oath at nagbibigay ng maling testimonya bilang ebidensya.
Ang Republic Act No. (RA) 115941 na nilagdaan ng Pangulo nitong OKtubre 29, ay nag-aamyenda sa Article 183 ng RA 3815 o ang Revised Penal Code (RPC) na nagpaparusa sa pagsisinungaling.
Sa ilalim ng naturang batas, mahaharap ang sinumang nagsisinungaling ng pagkakakulong mula anim na taon hanggang 10 taon.
“The penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period to prision mayor in its medium period shall be imposed upon any person who, knowingly making untruthful statements and not being included in the provisions of the next preceding articles, shall testify 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,” ayon sa naturang batas.
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Dati, makukulong lamang ng mula apat na buwan hanggang dalawang taon ang sinumang mapapatunayang nagkasala sa kaso.
Sa mga opisyal o empleyado ng gobyerno na may kasong pagsisinungaling, makukulong ang mga ito ng mahabang taon na may multang₱1 milyon, bukod pa ang habambuhay na pagbabawal na magtrabaho sa pamahalaan.
“…if the person responsible for the commission of this felony is a public officer or employee, the penalty shall be imposed in its maximum period: Provided finally, That the offender shall also suffer a fine not to exceed One million pesos (PHP1,000,000) and perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any appointive or elective position in the government or in any agency, entity, or instrumentality,” the law read.
RA 115941 also amended Article 184 to include the "willingness" of a witness to provide false testimony in any judicial or official proceeding.
“Any person who shall willfully and knowingly offer in evidence a false witness or testimony in any judicial or official proceeding shall be punished as guilty of false testimony and shall suffer the respective penalties provided in this section,” ang bahagi pa ng batas.
PNA
