An Act to Regulate Lobbying in the Congress of the Philippines and in the Commission on Appointments

REPUBLIC ACT No. 1827

An Act to Regulate Lobbying in the Congress of the Philippines and in the Commission on Appointments

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1. Legislative purpose. -The purpose of this Act is to prohibit corrupt or undesirable methods of lobbying, to promote a high standard of ethics in the practice of lobbying, to prevent harassing unfair and unethical lobbying practices, and to provide for the licensing of lobbyists and the suspension or revocation of such licenses.

Section 2. Corrupt means to influence legislation; disclosure of interest. -Any person who shall, directly or indirectly, give or agree or offer to give any money or property or valuable thing or any security therefor to any person, for the service of such person or of any other person in procuring the passage or defeat of any measure before the Congress of the Philippines or before either House or any committee thereof, upon the contingency or condition of the passage or defeat of such measure, or who shall receive, directly or indirectly, or agree to receive any such money, property, thing of value or security therefor for such service, upon any such contingency or condition, or who, having a pecuniary or other interest, or acting as the agent or attorney of any person in procuring or attempting to procure the passage or defeat of any measure before the Congress of the Philippines or before either House or any committee thereof, shall attempt in any manner to influence any member of said Congress for or against such measure, without first making known to such member the real and true interest he has in such measure, either personally or as such agent or attorney, shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than two years or by fine not exceeding five thousand pesos or both such imprisonment and fine.

Section 3. Corrupt or secret means to influence confirmation of appointment. -Any person who shall, directly or indirectly, give or agree or offer to give any money or property or valuable thing or any security therefor to any person, for the service of such person or of any other person in procuring the confirmation or rejection or by-passing of any appointment before the Commission on Appointments or before any committee thereof, upon the contingency or condition of the confirmation or rejection or by-passing of such appointment, or who shall receive, directly or indirectly, or agree to receive any such money, property, thing of value or security therefor for such service, upon any such contingency or condition, or who, having an appointment in his favor pending before the Commission on Appointments or before any committee thereof, shall through secret or clandestine methods attempt in any manner to influence any member of such Commission to vote for confirmation of such appointment, shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than two years or by a fine not exceeding five thousand pesos or both such imprisonment and fine.

Section 4. Definitions. -The following words and phrases shall have the meaning respectively ascribed to them:

Section 5. Licenses for lobbyists; suspension or revocation.—

Section 6. Lobby registry. -Except as provided in section twelve (2) hereof every principal who employs any lobbyist shall within one week after such employment cause the name of said lobbyist to be entered upon the docket. It shall also be the duty of the lobbyist to enter his name upon the docket. Upon the termination of such employment such fact may be entered opposite the name of the lobbyist either by the lobbyist or the principal.

Section 7. Docket; authorization.—

Section 8. Restriction on practice of lobbying.—

Section 9. Reports of lobbyist; reports to Congress.—

Section 10. Statement of expense by municipal. -Within thirty days after the sine die adjournment of Congress, every principal whose name appears upon the docket or who has employed any person to engage in any activity permitted under section twelve hereof shall file with the Secretaries of both Houses or with the Secretary of the Commission on Appointments, as the case may be, a complete and detailed statement verified under oath by the person making the same, or in the case of a corporation by its president or treasurer, of all expenses paid or incurred by such principal in connection with the employment of lobbyists or in connection with promoting or opposing in any manner the passage by Congress of any legislation affecting the pecuniary interest of such principal, or in connection with any appointment pending before the Commission on Appointments. The accounts shall be rendered in such form as shall be prescribed by the Secretaries of both Houses or by the Secretary of the Commission on Appointments, as the case may be. Such accounts shall be open to public inspection.

Section 11. Penalties.—

Section 12. Personal lobbying prohibited, exceptions.—

Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than six months or by a fine not exceeding one thousand pesos, or both such imprisonment and fine.

Section 13. Compensation for published articles on matters pending before Congress to be reported; penalty. -Whenever money or other things of value is paid, or a promise or agreement to pay money or other thing of value is given, to the owner or publisher or any editor, reporter, agent or employee of any newspaper or periodical for the publication therein of any article, editorial or other matter favoring or opposing, or which is intended or tends to favor or oppose, any bill, resolution or other matter pending in the Congress, or any appointment pending in the Commission on Appointments, excepting a paid advertisement showing the name and address of the person authorizing the publication and the amount paid or agreed to be paid therefor, the owner or publisher of such newspaper or periodical shall, within ten days after such publication, file with the Secretaries of both Houses, or with the Secretary of the Commission on Appointments, as the case may be, a statement showing the amount of money or other things of value paid or agreed to be paid and the name and address of the person, firm or corporation from whom such payment or agreement was received.

Violation of this section shall punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred pesos nor more than ten thousand pesos.

Section 14. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 22, 1957.