Angara pushes for harsher penalty for art forgery

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called for penalties against the crime of art forgery, and for creating an Art Authentication Board that will certify works of art as original.

Senate Bill 910 or "An Act Defining the Crime of Art Forgery, Providing Penalties Thereof and Creating the Art Authentication Board" aims to give a more exact definition to art forgery and what constitutes it, and creates a body that will carry out the task of monitoring and ascertaining art authenticity.

"Since art belongs to the realm of intellectual property, art theft and forgery are difficult to prosecute or even ascertain," he said. "This bill will eliminate much confusion as it clearly spells out the specific acts that constitute art forgery."

The bill defines art forgery as affixing a forged signature to any work of art, counterfeiting any original signature with an intent to deceive the public on the authorship of the work, selling or circulating any work of art bearing a forged or usurped signature, and imitating any work of fine art with the intent to deceive the public on its authenticity.

The bill also seeks the creation of the Art Authentication Board which will verify and certify as original any work of art submitted for authentication, keep a registration of all original works of art, accredit art galleries and art dealers, and initiate investigations and prosecution of violators.

Violators will be punished with imprisonment of not less than six years nor more than 12 years, and a fine that ranges from P5,000.00 to P50,000.00.

Angara has authored and sponsored several laws on the promotion of arts and culture including the laws creating the National Museum, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Natatanging Manlilikha Award which bestows honor on the Filipino folk and traditional artists.