Article 172Falsification by private individuals and use of falsified documents
ELI5— what this means for you
Falsification by a private individual: a private person who falsifies a public, official, or commercial document. Penalty: prision correccional and fine. Falsifying private documents (like a promissory note) is punished only if there is actual damage.
Key point
Using a fake document — even if you didn't create it — can also make you liable.
Official text — Act No. 3815
Falsification by private individuals and use of falsified documents.
-The penalty of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods and a fine of not more than 5,000 pesos shall be imposed upon:
1. Any private individual who shall commit any of the falsifications enumerated in the next preceding article in any public or official document or letter of exchange or any other kind of commercial document; and
2. Any person who, to the damage of a third party, or with the intent to cause such damage, shall in any private document commit any of the acts of falsification enumerated in the next preceding article.
Any person who shall knowingly introduce in evidence in any judicial proceeding or to the damage of another or who, with the intent to cause such damage, shall use any of the false documents embraced in the next preceding article or in any of the foregoing subdivisions of this article, shall be punished by the penalty next lower in degree.
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