By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Robin Padilla has filed a bill seeking to impose heavy penalties on individuals who use fake addresses in subpoenas, aiming to prevent harassment.
Under Senate Bill No. 2890, individuals who deliberately provide false addresses in the issuance of subpoenas may face a jail term of up to two years and a fine of up to P300,000.
“While a preliminary investigation is not properly a trial but merely precursory thereto, it already subjects an accused to an open and public accusation of a crime, with the trouble, expense, anxiety, and moral suffering which a criminal prosecution and risk of incarceration always entails,” the bill stated.
“In order to reinforce the protection of the right of an accused against malicious and oppressive prosecution, and to protect the state from the possibility of initiating a misguided prosecution that may result to a waste of valuable time, effort, and resources, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought,” Padilla added.
The proposed penalties include imprisonment ranging from six months to two years and a fine between P100,000 and P300,000.
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