P. B. No. 294 / 79 OG No. 41, 5851 (October 10, 1983)

[ BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 242, November 11, 1982 ]

AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH A DENOUNCED PUBLIC OFFICER MAY BRING ACTION AGAINST AN INFORMANT OR WITNESS WHO GAVE FALSE OR MALICIOUS TESTIMONY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION TWO OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NUMBERED SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-NINE, "GRANTING IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION TO GIVERS OF BRIBES AND OTHER GIFTS AND TO THEIR ACCOMPLICES IN BRIBERY AND OTHER GRAFT CASES AGAINST PUBLIC OFFICERS."

Be it enacted by the Batasang Pambansa in session assembled:

SECTION 1. Section two of Presidential Decree Numbered Seven hundred forty-nine, "Granting Immunity from Prosecution to Givers of Bribes and Other Gifts and to their Accomplices in Bribery and Other Graft Cases Against Public Officers," is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 2. The immunity granted hereunder shall not attach should it turn out subsequently that the information and/or testimony is false and malicious or made only for the purpose of harassing, molesting or in any way prejudicing the public officer denounced. In such a case, tie public officer so denounced shall be entitled to any action, civil, administrative or criminal, against said informant or witness: Provided, however, That such action may be commenced only after the dismissal of the case against the denounced public officer after preliminary investigation or after the latter's acquittal by a competent court.

"The prescriptive periods for the various actions under the provisions of this section shall start to run from the time such actions may be commenced as herein provided."

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, November 11, 1982.

Source: Supreme Court E-Library