Padilla bill wants 20-year jail time, P3M fine for uniformed personnel found lying to Congress

Senator Robin Padilla has filed a bill seeking to impose a 20-year imprisonment against law enforcement personnel found lying in congressional inquiries.

The 20-year jail time will cover offenders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), National Mapping and Resource Information Agency (NAMRIA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), other law enforcement agencies, Bureau of Immigration (BI), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Senate Bill 2265 or the proposed Truthful Congressional Inquiry Act also proposes to slap 10 years of imprisonment to any government personnel who knowingly makes untruthful statement or produce fabricated evidence in Congress pertaining to crimes including rape (RA 7659); Title 7 (crimes committed by public officers) of Act No. 3815; and violations of the Government Procurement Act; National Internal Revenue Code; Tariff and Customs Code; Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016; Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; Revised Corporation Code; Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001; Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002; Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020; Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012; and Omnibus Election Code.

A fine of P3 million and perpetual disqualification from any government post shall also be imposed in both cases.

Padilla was pushing for the bill after several cops allegedly involved in the controversial P6.7 billion shabu haul in Manila last year refused to divulge the truth during a Senate public order and dangerous drugs investigation.

During the Senate session last Monday, several senators voiced out the need for stiffer penalties against perjury, citing the recantation of testimonies in the cases of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and former senator Leila de Lima.—AOL, GMA Integrated News