Increasing The Penalties For The Crime Of Rebellion, Sedition, And Related Crimes, And Amending For This Purpose Articles 135, 136, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 146 And 147 Of The Revised Penal

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Presidential Decree No. 1834

Increasing Penalties for Rebellion, Sedition, and Related Crimes
- Amends Articles 135, 136, 138, 140, 141, 142, 146, and 147 of the Revised Penal Code and adds Article 142-B

Rebellion or Insurrection (Section 1):
- Penalty of reclusion perpetua to death for:
    - Promoting, maintaining, or heading a rebellion or insurrection
    - Taking part in a rebellion while holding public office
    - Engaging in war against government forces, destroying property, committing violence, exacting contributions, or diverting public funds
    - Merely participating or executing commands in a rebellion

Conspiracy and Proposal to Commit Rebellion (Section 2):
- Penalty of reclusion perpetua to death (Article 136)

Inciting to Rebellion or Insurrection (Section 3):
- Penalty of reclusion perpetua to death for inciting others to rebellion through speeches, writings, emblems, etc. (Article 138)

Sedition (Sections 4-6):
- Penalty of reclusion perpetua to death for:
    - Participating in sedition (Article 140)
    - Conspiring to commit sedition (Article 141)
    - Inciting others to sedition through speeches, writings, libels against the government, etc. (Article 142)

Aiding and Propaganda in Rebellion or Sedition (Section 7):
- New Article 142-B added
- Penalty of reclusion perpetua to death for:
    - Giving aid and comfort to perpetrators of rebellion or sedition
    - Using mass media facilities for sustained propaganda against the government to destabilize it
    - Using mass media facilities for plots or conspiracies related to rebellion, insurrection, or sedition
- Conviction leads to forfeiture/sequestration of mass media facilities, firearms, explosives, and other instruments used

Acts Tending to Prevent Meetings (Section 8):
- Penalty of prision mayor and fine not exceeding 10,000 pesos for preventing meetings of the National Assembly, constitutional bodies, or local legislative bodies (Article 143)
- Penalty of reclusion temporal and 20,000 pesos fine for second conviction

Disturbance of Proceedings (Section 9):
- Penalty of prision correccional and fine not exceeding 10,000 pesos for disturbing meetings of the National Assembly, constitutional bodies, or local legislative bodies (Article 144)
- Penalty of prision mayor and 20,000 pesos fine for second conviction

Illegal Assemblies (Section 10):
- Penalty of reclusion perpetua to death for organizers or leaders of (Article 146):
    - Armed meetings to commit crimes
    - Meetings inciting treason, rebellion, insurrection, sedition, or assault on authorities
    - Meetings for propaganda against the government to destabilize it
    - Meetings supporting plots or conspiracies related to rebellion, insurrection, or sedition
- Penalty of prision correccional for mere attendance, prision mayor to death if armed
- Presumption of unlawful purpose if unlicensed firearm is carried
- "Meeting" includes public rallies, demonstrations, picketing, and similar group actions

Illegal Associations (Section 11):
- Penalty of prision mayor for founders, directors, and presidents of associations organized to commit crimes or for immoral purposes (Article 147)
- Penalty of prision correccional for mere members

Effective Date (Section 12):
- This Decree takes effect immediately