Longer jail time, higher penalty for perjury signed into law

To serve as a deterrent against liars under oath and to further protect the integrity of judicial and legislative proceedings, Republic Act No. 115941 (R.A. 115941) increasing the penalties for perjury was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on October 29, 2021.

The new measure amended Article 183 (false testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn affirmation) and Article 184 (offering false testimony in evidence) of the Revised Penal Code.

According to Pros. Fred M. Nojara, perjury is the willful and corrupt assertion of a falsehood under oath or affirmation administered by authority of law on a material matter. In layman's understanding, the crime is committed simply by deliberately lying under oath on a certain material matter.

Before the passage of R.A. 115941, perjury was punished with arresto mayor (ranging from 4 months and 1 day to 6 months) in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period (ranging from 6 months and 1 day to 2 years and 4 months).

When the said law takes effect following 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or at least one newspaper of general circulation, perjury will be punished with prision mayor in its minimum period (ranging from 6 years and 1 day to 8 years) to prision mayor in its medium period (ranging from 8 years and 1 day to 10 years).

If the offenders are public officials or employees, the penalty of imprisonment will be imposed in its maximum period, along with a fine of P1 million and perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any appointive or elective position in the government or any of its agency, entity, or instrumentality.

RA 115941 also amended Article 184 to include the willful act by a witness of providing false testimony in any judicial or official proceeding.

Perjury is now within the jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court and no longer an offense for which a convict may file for an application for probation in lieu of imprisonment.