Falcification By Private Individual - Pamemeke Ng Result At Certification

Parusa sa mamemeke ng COVID-19 test results

Dear Jc Legal Law,

Mayroong computer shop ang aming kapitbahay. Nagtataka ako dahil kahit GCQ noon sa aming lugar ay marami pa rin silang customer. Napag-alaman ko na karamihan pala sa kanilang customer ay nagpapagawa ng mga pekeng COVID-19 test results sa halagang P100. Ini-edit diumano nila ang sample ng negative test result gamit ang computer at sila na rin ang pumipirma rito. Ano ba ang maaaring ikaso sa kanila? – Daria

Dear Daria,

Ang inyong kapitbahay at kanyang empleyado sa computer shop ay maaaring kasuhan ng Falsification of Documents sa ilalim ng Article 172 na may kaugnayan sa Article 171 ng Revised Penal Code of the Philippines at paglabag sa Section 9 ng Republic Act No. 11332 (R.A. No. 11332), o Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases, viz:

“Article 172. Falsification by private individual and use of falsified documents. - The penalty of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods and a fine of not more than P5,000 pesos shall be imposed upon:
1. Any private individual who shall commit any of the falsifications enumerated in the next preceding article in any public or official document or letter of exchange or any other kind of commercial document; and
xxx”
“Article 171. Falsification by public officer, employee or notary or ecclesiastic minister. - The penalty of prision mayor and a fine not to exceed P5,000 shall be imposed upon any public officer, employee, or notary who, taking advantage of his official position, shall falsify a document by committing any of the following acts:
1. Counterfeiting or imitating any handwriting, signature or rubric;
2. Causing it to appear that persons have participated in any act or proceeding when they did not in fact so participate;
xxx”
“Section 9. Prohibited Acts. -The following shall be prohibited under this Act:
xxx
(b) Tampering of records or intentionally providing misinformation;”

Base sa inyong kuwento, malinaw na sila ay maaaring maging liable sa krimeng Falsification of Documents sapagkat bukod sa pinalalabas nilang sumailalim sa COVID-19 test ang tao, pinapalsipika pa nila ang pirma ng taong kunwari ay nag-conduct ng nasabing test. Dagdag pa rito ay maaari rin silang maging liable sa ilalim ng R.A. No. 11332 sapagkat malinaw na sa pagpapalsipika nila ng test result, ang intensiyon nila ay ang magbigay ng maling impormasyon. Maaari ring ipasara ang kanilang computer shop dahil sa kanilang paglabag sa mga nabanggit na batas.

P209D