Manila, June 23 -- A bill filed at the House of Representatives seeks to impose criminal penalties on individuals who pay, coerce or induce another to commit perjury, in a bid to deter witness manipulation and safeguard the integrity of judicial and other proceedings.

House Bill No. 9851, authored by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, defines and penalizes the crime of subornation of perjury as a distinct offense under the Revised Penal Code and holds accountable those who orchestrate false testimony or false affidavits in judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings.

"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 j...