The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, Aug. 31, warned of 12 to 20 years imprisonment for anyone who will forge the signature of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and use illegally the official seal of the Office of the President.

“Under Article 161 of the Revised Penal Code, ang counterfeiting the great seal of the President at forgery ho ng signature ng Presidente ay napaparusahan ho ng reclusion temporal (counterfeiting the great seal of the President and the forging of his signature is punishable with reclusion temporal),” DOJ Spokesperson Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

“Ibig sabihin po noon ay 12 to 20 years imprisonment (This means it carries with it imprisonment ranging from 12 to 20 years),” Clavano said.

Since the offense carries an imprisonment of 12 to 20 years, the law does not take this violation lightly, he said.

He issued the warning after the Office of the President ordered an investigation on the release of a fake appointment paper that has the seal and signature of President Marcos Jr. The fake appointment paper stated that lawyer Abraham G. Espejo Jr. has been named as Bureau of Immigration (BI) commissioner.

Clavano noted that the Office of the President, the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), and the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) have already checked and found the document to be non-existent.

“Delikado ho yung ganitong dokumento kasi it creates an atmosphere of confusion at dine-discredit yung reputasyon ng ating gobyerno (This document is dangerous because it creates an atmosphere of confusion and discredits the government),” Clavano said.

He said that DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla and Interior Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. last Tuesday, Aug. 30, have ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), respectively, to investigate the matter.

“The purpose of this investigation is supposedly to determine kung ano yung source natin, kung sino yung napapalikod, at ano yung intention nila kung bakit nila nilabas yung dokumento na ito (who is the source, who are behind this, and what was the intention in releasing the document),” he explained.

On the other hand, the lawyer assured that the media will not be held liable for the release of the document.

“Sa tingin ko ho wala naman liability ang media as a general rule (I don’t think there is no liability on the part of the media as a general rule),” he said.

“However, kung may makitang malice, may nakitang intent and knowingly ginamit ho itong pekeng dokumento para ho ipalabas na may na-appoint na immigration officer or immigration commissioner doon po magkakaroon ng liability ang media (However, there will be liability if it is found there was malice, intent, knowledge in the use of the fake document that shows the appointment of an immigration officer or commissioner),” he warned.

But the issue has to be proven in court, he added.