PADILLA FILES BILL PENALIZING DELIBERATE USE OF FAKE ADDRESSES IN SUBPOENAS

SENATOR Robin Padilla has filed a bill proposing  heavy penalties against individuals who deliberately provide false addresses and fake information in the issuance of subpoenas. 

In filing Senate Bill No. 2890 or an Act Penalizing the Deliberate Use of False Address in the Issuance of Subpoena on Thursday, Padilla noted that there have been instances when an aggrieved party intentionally provides the court with a fictitious address of a suspect so the prosecutor will think that the suspect is in hiding.

Such a move, he said, deprives the accused of the right to due process to the wrong information given by the complainant.

To prevent harassment due to the use of fake addresses in subpoenas, Padilla has filed a bill imposing heavy penalties on such acts.

“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,” Padilla said in his bill.

“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.,” he added.

Under the bill, any person who deliberately provides a false address in the issuance of a subpoena faces imprisonment from six months to two years; and a fine of P100,000 to P300,000.