Commonwealth Act No. 264

Articles one hundred and forty-three, one hundred and forty-four, and one hundred and forty-five of Act Numbered Thirty-eight hundred and fifteen, known as "The Revised Penal Code," are hereby amended so as to read as follows:

• Article 143  Acts tending to prevent the meeting of the Assembly and similar bodies.

  The penalty of prision correccional or a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 pesos, or both, shall be imposed upon any person who by force or fraud prevents the meeting of the National Assembly or of any of its committees or subcommittees, constitutional commissions or committees or divisions thereof, or of any provincial board or city or municipal council or board.

• Article 144  Disturbance of proceedings.

  The penalty of arresto mayor or a fine ranging from 200 to 1,000 pesos shall be imposed upon any person who disturbs the meetings of the National Assembly or of any of its committees or subcommittees, constitutional commissions or committees or divisions thereof, or of any provincial board or city or municipal council or board, or in the presence of any such bodies should behave in such manner as to interrupt its proceedings or to impair the respect due to it.

• Article 145  Violation of parliamentary immunity.

  The penalty of prision mayor shall be imposed upon any person who shall use force, intimidation, threats, or fraud to prevent any member of the National Assembly from attending the meetings of the Assembly or of any of its committees or subcommittees, constitutional commissions or committees or divisions thereof, from expressing his opinions or casting his vote; and the penalty of prision correccional shall be imposed upon any public officer or employee who shall, while the Assembly is in regular or special session, arrest or search any member thereof, except in case such member has committed a crime punishable under this Code by a penalty higher than prision mayor.

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.