Commonwealth Act No. 52, enacted on October 16, 1936, amends Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code concerning disobedience to summonses issued by the National Assembly and its associated bodies. The law imposes penalties of arresto mayor or fines ranging from 200 to 1,000 pesos on individuals who fail to comply with a legal summons, refuse to be sworn in, or neglect to provide requested documents. It also penalizes those who prevent others from attending as witnesses or encourage disobedience to such summonses. The Act took effect upon its approval.
October 16, 1936
COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 52
AN ACT AMENDING ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE
SECTION 1. Article one hundred and fifty of the Revised Penal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
"ART. 150. Disobedience to summons issued by the National Assembly, its committees or subcommittees, by the Constitutional Commissions, its committees, subcommittees or divisions. — The penalty of arresto mayor or a fine ranging from two hundred to one thousand pesos, or both such fine and imprisonment, shall be imposed upon any person who, having been duly summoned to attend as a witness before the National Assembly, its special or standing committees and subcommittees, the Constitutional Commissions and its committees, subcommittees or divisions, or before any commission or committee chairman or member authorized to summon witnesses, refuses, without legal excuse, to obey such summons, or being present before any such legislative or constitutional body or official, refuses to be sworn or placed under affirmation or to answer any legal inquiry or to produce any books, papers, documents, or records in his possession, when required by them to do so in the exercise of their functions. The same penalty shall be imposed upon any person who shall restrain another from attending as a witness, or who shall induce disobedience to a summon or refusal to be sworn by any such body or official." SHDAEC
SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: October 16, 1936