Eciate TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) Offee of the Rectictarg REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 SEP -9 P3:54 SENATE RECEIVED BY Senate Bill No. 1359 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3019, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT EXPLANATORY NOTE Sections 1, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution provides that public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives. Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act was enacted in 1960 to penalize corrupt practices among public officials and defend the integrity of public service. While it was a landmark legislation, the passage of time, the evolving schemes of corruption, its scale, complexity, and deeply embedded nature have rendered its penalties and procedural limitations inadequate and outdated. This bill seeks to increase the penalties for unlawful acts or omissions enumerated in Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of R.A. No. 3019, as amended, from imprisonment of not less than 6 years and I month nor more than 15 years to 12 years and 1 day but not more than 20 years.
By increasing the penalties, we are sending a clear message that betrayal of public trust has severe consequences. In view of the foregoing, the passage of the measure is earnestly sought. ERWIN T. TULFO
Schate Offter of the Sacerarg TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 SEP -9 P3:54 RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 1359 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3019, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 9 (a) of Republic Act No. 3019, known as
the "Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act" ', as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows: "Section. 9. Penalties for violations.— (a) Any public officer or private person committing any of the unlawful acts or omissions enumerated in Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment for not less than [six years and one month nor more than fifteen years| TWELVE (12) YEARS AND ONE (1) DAY BUT NOT MORE THAN TWENTY (20) YEARS, perpetual disqualification from public office, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the Government of any prohibited interest and unexplained wealth manifestly out of proportion to his salary and other lawful income. XXX
SEC. 2. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of
this Act be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions and parts hereof, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC.3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances,
rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,