Simulated births punishable by law
By Rose Palacio
Davao City (26 June) -- Persons with "simulated births" or those posing as biological parents through faked birth certificates can be imprisoned or fined.
They should go to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have these documents corrected before they are jailed for a major crime or fined up to P50,000 under Republic Act (RA) 8622.
Degs Duron of DSWD regional office said "simulated births" constitute falsification of public documents.
Exempt from the law are those who simulated the birth of a child prior to the effectivity of RA 8622, which was signed into law on February 25, 1998 by President Fidel V. Ramos, provided that the simulation of birth was made for the best interest of the child and that he or she has been consistently considered and treated by that person as his or her own daughter or son. (PIA XI) [top]
