Revised Penal Code · Forgeries

Article 166

Forging treasury or bank notes or other documents payable to bearer; Importing, and uttering such false or forged notes and documents

Amended
By RA 10951 (2017)

Current text, as of October 15, 2026

The forging or falsification of treasury or bank notes or certificates or other obligations and securities payable to bearer and the importation and uttering in connivance with forgers or importers of such false or forced obligation or notes shall be punished as follows:

1. By reclusion temporal in its minimum period and a fine not to exceed two million pesos (₱2,000,000), if the document which has been falsified, counterfeited, or altered is an obligation or security of the Philippines.

The words obligation or security of the Philippines shall mean all bonds, certificates of indebtedness, national bank notes, coupons, Philippine notes, treasury notes, fractional notes, certificates of deposit, bills, checks, or drafts for money, drawn by or upon authorized officers of the Philippines, and other representatives of value, of whatever denomination, which have been or may be issued under any act of Congress.

2. By prisión mayor in its maximum period and a fine not to exceed one million pesos (₱1,000,000), if the falsified or altered documents is a circulating note issued by any banking association duly authorized by law to issue the same.

3. By arresto mayor in its medium period and a fine not to exceed one million pesos (₱1,000,000), if the falsified or counterfeited document was issued by a foreign government.

4. By prisión mayor in its minimum period and a fine not to exceed Four hundred thousand pesos (₱400,000), when the forged or altered document is a circulating note or bill issued by a foreign bank duly authorized therefor.

Consolidated by Alleba from the 1930 text of Act No. 3815 (Lawphil) and the amending Republic Acts in our library. Amendments made by Presidential Decrees, Batas Pambansa or executive orders are not yet included. For information and research only, and not legal advice. This text may not reflect later amendments. For certified copies, refer to the Official Gazette or the issuing agency.