What is the definition of a public officer under the Anti-Graft Act?

A public officer is any elective or appointive official or employee, permanent or temporary, who receives any compensation from the government, even if nominal.

What actions are considered corrupt practices under the law?

Corrupt practices include influencing another officer to break rules, receiving gifts related to government contracts, causing undue injury or giving unwarranted benefits, entering disadvantageous contracts for the government, and divulging confidential information, among others listed in Section 3.

Can a relative of a public official ask for gifts from contractors?

No. Family members or close personal relations of a public official are prohibited from requesting or receiving gifts, presents, or monetary advantages from anyone who has business with the government where the official must intervene.

What are the filing requirements for a public officer’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN)?

The officer must file a true, sworn statement of assets, liabilities, income, expenses, and taxes within 30 days after taking office, annually each January, and also upon termination, resignation, or expiration of the term.

What penalties does a public officer face if convicted of graft?

The offender can be sentenced to one to ten years in prison, permanently disqualified from holding public office, and have any ill-gotten wealth confiscated or forfeited to the government.

Is a public officer allowed to resign while under investigation for graft?

No. The law forbids any public officer from resigning or retiring while an investigation or prosecution for an offense under this Act is pending.

Are small tokens of gratitude exempt from the anti-graft provisions?

Yes. Unsolicited gifts of small or insignificant value given as a mere token of gratitude or friendship are excluded from the prohibitions of the Act.

RA 3019 - Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (1960)

Philippine lawLegal status not independently verified

In brief

AI summary. Verify against the source below.

The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act criminalizes a range of corrupt acts by public officers and private individuals who aid them, requires officials to disclose their wealth, and sets penalties including imprisonment and disqualification. It also outlines exceptions for small unsolicited gifts and provides rules on suspension and dismissal.

Who it affects: The law applies to all public officers, their relatives, and any private person who interacts with government officials in the performance of official duties.

Key provisions

Definition of public officer. A public officer includes any elected or appointed official or employee who receives any compensation from the government, whether permanent or temporary. [Sec. 2(b)]
Influencing another officer to violate rules. It is illegal for a public officer to persuade, induce, or influence another officer to break rules or commit an offense related to official duties, or to do so himself. [Sec. 3(a)]
Receiving gifts or benefits tied to government contracts. A public officer may not request or receive any gift, present, share, percentage, or other benefit for himself or another person in connection with a government contract or transaction that he must handle. [Sec. 3(b)]
Causing undue injury or giving unwarranted advantage. A public officer who causes unnecessary harm to any party, including the government, or gives a private party an unwarranted benefit through partiality, bad faith, or gross negligence, commits a corrupt practice. [Sec. 3(e)]
Entering disadvantageous contracts for the government. Entering into any contract or transaction on behalf of the government that is manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government is prohibited, regardless of whether the officer profits. [Sec. 3(g)]
Divulging confidential information. A public officer must not disclose valuable confidential information obtained through his position to unauthorized persons or release it before the authorized date. [Sec. 3(k)]
Prohibition on relatives seeking gifts. Family members or close personal relations of a public official may not request or receive gifts, presents, or monetary advantages from anyone who has business with the government where the official must intervene. [Sec. 4(a)]
Statement of assets and liabilities filing. Every public officer must file a sworn statement of assets, liabilities, income, expenses, and taxes within 30 days after taking office and annually each January, as well as upon leaving office. [Sec. 7]
Penalties for graft offenses. Anyone who commits the prohibited acts faces imprisonment of one to ten years, perpetual disqualification from public office, and forfeiture of any ill-gotten wealth. [Sec. 9(a)]
Suspension and loss of benefits during prosecution. A public officer with a pending criminal case under this Act is suspended from office; if convicted, he loses all retirement and gratuity benefits. [Sec. 13]
Exception for small unsolicited gifts. Unsolicited gifts of small or insignificant value given as a token of gratitude or friendship are excluded from the Act’s prohibitions. [Sec. 14]

Common questions

What is the definition of a public officer under the Anti-Graft Act?: A public officer is any elective or appointive official or employee, permanent or temporary, who receives any compensation from the government, even if nominal. [Sec. 2(b)]
What actions are considered corrupt practices under the law?: Corrupt practices include influencing another officer to break rules, receiving gifts related to government contracts, causing undue injury or giving unwarranted benefits, entering disadvantageous contracts for the government, and divulging confidential information, among others listed in Section 3. [Sec. 3]
Can a relative of a public official ask for gifts from contractors?: No. Family members or close personal relations of a public official are prohibited from requesting or receiving gifts, presents, or monetary advantages from anyone who has business with the government where the official must intervene. [Sec. 4(a)]
What are the filing requirements for a public officer’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN)?: The officer must file a true, sworn statement of assets, liabilities, income, expenses, and taxes within 30 days after taking office, annually each January, and also upon termination, resignation, or expiration of the term. [Sec. 7]
What penalties does a public officer face if convicted of graft?: The offender can be sentenced to one to ten years in prison, permanently disqualified from holding public office, and have any ill-gotten wealth confiscated or forfeited to the government. [Sec. 9(a)]
Is a public officer allowed to resign while under investigation for graft?: No. The law forbids any public officer from resigning or retiring while an investigation or prosecution for an offense under this Act is pending. [Sec. 12]
Are small tokens of gratitude exempt from the anti-graft provisions?: Yes. Unsolicited gifts of small or insignificant value given as a mere token of gratitude or friendship are excluded from the prohibitions of the Act. [Sec. 14]

REPUBLIC ACT No. 3019

ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT

Section 1.

Statement of policy.

It is the policy of the Philippine Government, in line with the principle that a public office is a public trust, to repress certain acts of public officers and private persons alike which constitute graft or corrupt practices or which may lead thereto.

Section 2.

Definition of terms.

As used in this Act, that term

(a) "Government" includes the national government, the local governments, the government-owned and government-controlled corporations, and all other instrumentalities or agencies of the Republic of the Philippines and their branches.

(b) "Public officer" includes elective and appointive officials and employees, permanent or temporary, whether in the classified or unclassified or exempt service receiving compensation, even nominal, from the government as defined in the preceding subparagraph.

(c) "Receiving any gift" includes the act of accepting directly or indirectly a gift from a person other than a member of the public officer's immediate family, in behalf of himself or of any member of his family or relative within the fourth civil degree, either by consanguinity or affinity, even on the occasion of a family celebration or national festivity like Christmas, if the value of the gift is under the circumstances manifestly excessive.

(d) "Person" includes natural and juridical persons, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Section 3.

Corrupt practices of public officers.

In addition to acts or omissions of public officers already penalized by existing law, the following shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful:

(a) Persuading, inducing or influencing another public officer to perform an act constituting a violation of rules and regulations duly promulgated by competent authority or an offense in connection with the official duties of the latter, or allowing himself to be persuaded, induced, or influenced to commit such violation or offense.

(b) Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present, share, percentage, or benefit, for himself or for any other person, in connection with any contract or transaction between the Government and any other part, wherein the public officer in his official capacity has to intervene under the law.

(c) Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present or other pecuniary or material benefit, for himself or for another, from any person for whom the public officer, in any manner or capacity, has secured or obtained, or will secure or obtain, any Government permit or license, in consideration for the help given or to be given, without prejudice to Section thirteen of this Act.

(d) Accepting or having any member of his family accept employment in a private enterprise which has pending official business with him during the pendency thereof or within one year after its termination.

(e) Causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. This provision shall apply to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions.

(f) Neglecting or refusing, after due demand or request, without sufficient justification, to act within a reasonable time on any matter pending before him for the purpose of obtaining, directly or indirectly, from any person interested in the matter some pecuniary or material benefit or advantage, or for the purpose of favoring his own interest or giving undue advantage in favor of or discriminating against any other interested party.

(g) Entering, on behalf of the Government, into any contract or transaction manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the same, whether or not the public officer profited or will profit thereby.

(h) Director or indirectly having financing or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity, or in which he is prohibited by the Constitution or by any law from having any interest.

(i) Directly or indirectly becoming interested, for personal gain, or having a material interest in any transaction or act requiring the approval of a board, panel or group of which he is a member, and which exercises discretion in such approval, even if he votes against the same or does not participate in the action of the board, committee, panel or group.

Interest for personal gain shall be presumed against those public officers responsible for the approval of manifestly unlawful, inequitable, or irregular transaction or acts by the board, panel or group to which they belong.

(j) Knowingly approving or granting any license, permit, privilege or benefit in favor of any person not qualified for or not legally entitled to such license, permit, privilege or advantage, or of a mere representative or dummy of one who is not so qualified or entitled.

(k) Divulging valuable information of a confidential character, acquired by his office or by him on account of his official position to unauthorized persons, or releasing such information in advance of its authorized release date.

The person giving the gift, present, share, percentage or benefit referred to in subparagraphs (b) and (c); or offering or giving to the public officer the employment mentioned in subparagraph (d); or urging the divulging or untimely release of the confidential information referred to in subparagraph (k) of this section shall, together with the offending public officer, be punished under Section nine of this Act and shall be permanently or temporarily disqualified in the discretion of the Court, from transacting business in any form with the Government.

Section 4.

Prohibition on private individuals.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person having family or close personal relation with any public official to capitalize or exploit or take advantage of such family or close personal relation by directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any present, gift or material or pecuniary advantage from any other person having some business, transaction, application, request or contract with the government, in which such public official has to intervene. Family relation shall include the spouse or relatives by consanguinity or affinity in the third civil degree. The word "close personal relation" shall include close personal friendship, social and fraternal connections, and professional employment all giving rise to intimacy which assures free access to such public officer.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to induce or cause any public official to commit any of the offenses defined in Section 3 hereof.

Section 5.

Prohibition on certain relatives.

It shall be unlawful for the spouse or for any relative, by consanguinity or affinity, within the third civil degree, of the President of the Philippines, the Vice-President of the Philippines, the President of the Senate, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to intervene, directly or indirectly, in any business, transaction, contract or application with the Government: Provided, That this section shall not apply to any person who, prior to the assumption of office of any of the above officials to whom he is related, has been already dealing with the Government along the same line of business, nor to any transaction, contract or application already existing or pending at the time of such assumption of public office, nor to any application filed by him the approval of which is not discretionary on the part of the official or officials concerned but depends upon compliance with requisites provided by law, or rules or regulations issued pursuant to law, nor to any act lawfully performed in an official capacity or in the exercise of a profession.

Section 6.

Prohibition on Members of Congress.

It shall be unlawful hereafter for any Member of the Congress during the term for which he has been elected, to acquire or receive any personal pecuniary interest in any specific business enterprise which will be directly and particularly favored or benefited by any law or resolution authored by him previously approved or adopted by the Congress during the same term.

The provision of this section shall apply to any other public officer who recommended the initiation in Congress of the enactment or adoption of any law or resolution, and acquires or receives any such interest during his incumbency.

It shall likewise be unlawful for such member of Congress or other public officer, who, having such interest prior to the approval of such law or resolution authored or recommended by him, continues for thirty days after such approval to retain such interest.

Section 7.

Statement of assets and liabilities.

Every public officer, within thirty days after the approval of this Act or after assuming office, and within the month of January of every other year thereafter, as well as upon the expiration of his term of office, or upon his resignation or separation from office, shall prepare and file with the office of the corresponding Department Head, or in the case of a Head of Department or chief of an independent office, with the Office of the President, or in the case of members of the Congress and the officials and employees thereof, with the Office of the Secretary of the corresponding House, a true detailed and sworn statement of assets and liabilities, including a statement of the amounts and sources of his income, the amounts of his personal and family expenses and the amount of income taxes paid for the next preceding calendar year: Provided, That public officers assuming office less than two months before the end of the calendar year, may file their statements in the following months of January.

Section 8.

Dismissal due to unexplained wealth.

If in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act Numbered One thousand three hundred seventy-nine, a public official has been found to have acquired during his incumbency, whether in his name or in the name of other persons, an amount of property and/or money manifestly out of proportion to his salary and to his other lawful income, that fact shall be a ground for dismissal or removal. Properties in the name of the spouse and unmarried children of such public official may be taken into consideration, when their acquisition through legitimate means cannot be satisfactorily shown. Bank deposits shall be taken into consideration in the enforcement of this section, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary.

Section 9.

Penalties for violations.

(a) Any public officer or private person committing any of the unlawful acts or omissions enumerated in Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than ten years, perpetual disqualification from public office, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the Government of any prohibited interest and unexplained wealth manifestly out of proportion to his salary and other lawful income.

Any complaining party at whose complaint the criminal prosecution was initiated shall, in case of conviction of the accused, be entitled to recover in the criminal action with priority over the forfeiture in favor of the Government, the amount of money or the thing he may have given to the accused, or the value of such thing.

(b) Any public officer violation any of the provisions of Section 7 of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred pesos nor more than one thousand pesos, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the Court.

The violation of said section proven in a proper administrative proceeding shall be sufficient cause for removal or dismissal of a public officer, even if no criminal prosecution is instituted against him.

Section 10.

Competent court.

Until otherwise provided by law, all prosecutions under this Act shall be within the original jurisdiction of the proper Court of First Instance.

Section 11.

Prescription of offenses.

All offenses punishable under this Act shall prescribe in ten years.

Section 12.

Termination of office.

No public officer shall be allowed to resign or retire pending an investigation, criminal or administrative, or pending a prosecution against him, for any offense under this Act or under the provisions of the Revised Penal Code on bribery.

Section 13.

Suspension and loss of benefits.

Any public officer against whom any criminal prosecution under a valid information under this Act or under the provisions of the Revised Penal Code on bribery is pending in court, shall be suspended from office. Should he be convicted by final judgment, he shall lose all retirement or gratuity benefits under any law, but if he is acquitted, he shall be entitled to reinstatement and to the salaries and benefits which he failed to receive during suspension, unless in the meantime administrative proceedings have been filed against him.

Section 14.

Exception.

Unsolicited gifts or presents of small or insignificant value offered or given as a mere ordinary token of gratitude or friendship according to local customs or usage, shall be excepted from the provisions of this Act.

Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to prejudice or prohibit the practice of any profession, lawful trade or occupation by any private person or by any public officer who under the law may legitimately practice his profession, trade or occupation, during his incumbency, except where the practice of such profession, trade or occupation involves conspiracy with any other person or public official to commit any of the violations penalized in this Act.

Section 15.

Separability clause.

If any provision of this Act or the application of such provision to any person or circumstances is declared invalid, the remainder of the Act or the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration.

Section 16.

Effectivity.

This Act shall take effect on its approval, but for the purpose of determining unexplained wealth, all property acquired by a public officer since he assumed office shall be taken into consideration.

Approved: August 17, 1960