What is the penalty for perjury in the Philippines?

Answer

The penalty for perjury was substantially increased by Republic Act No. 11594, which took effect on 29 October 2021. The current penalty under Article 183 is prisión mayor in its minimum period — six years and one day to eight years of imprisonment — a sharp rise from the pre-2021 penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prisión correccional in its minimum period.

If the offender is a public officer or employee, the penalty is imposed in its maximum period, together with a fine and perpetual absolute disqualification from holding public office. Because of the amendment, perjury is no longer a minor offense — a conviction now exposes the accused to a minimum of six years of imprisonment.

Sources & further reading

• Revised Penal Code Art. 183 (as amended by RA 11594)
• Full report: perjury

Cases on this topic

• Masangkay v. People
• People v. Cabero
• People v. Cruz
• Saulo v. People
• Union Bank of the Philippines v. People
• United States v. Cañet
• United States v. Palma
• Vicente v. People

Related questions

• What is perjury under Philippine law?