MANILA — A measure filed in the House of Representatives aims to impose criminal liability on individuals who pay, coerce, or induce others to commit perjury, in a move to deter witness manipulation and strengthen the integrity of judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings.

House Bill No. 9851, authored by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, proposes to define and penalize subornation of perjury as a distinct offense under the Revised Penal Code. The bill would hold accountable those who orchestrate false testimony or false affidavits.

“By expressly defining and penalizing subornation of perjury as a separate crime, the State strengthens its ability to deter witness manipulation, protect the integrity of judicial proceedings, and hold accountable those who seek to corrupt the truth-finding process,” Diokno said in a news release on Tuesday.

Under the proposal, any person who “procures, coerces, or otherwise induces another to commit any perjury” will face the same penalties as the individual who gave the false testimony.

“The individual who orchestrates, procures or pressures another to provide false testimony is the principal architect of the deception and poses a direct threat to the administration of justice,” Diokno said.

The bill also provides stiffer penalties when the offender is a public officer or employee, imposing the maximum penalty under the Revised Penal Code. It also seeks to impose perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any appointive or elective government position.

“When a public officer uses the powers or prestige of public office to induce another to testify falsely, the resulting harm extends beyond a particular case and undermines public trust in government institutions,” Diokno said.

“Our justice system can only work when people can testify freely and truthfully. By holding accountable those who pressure others to lie, we are able to restore public trust in our institutions and protect every Filipino’s right to fair justice.”