Article 124. Penal Provisions. —

The following acts or omissions affecting cooperatives are hereby prohibited:

1. The use of the word 'cooperative' by any person or of persons or organizations, unless duly registered as a cooperative under this Code except as provided for under Article 130 hereof. In case of violation, the individual or individuals concerned, or in the case of an organization, its officers and directors shall, upon conviction, each suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than two (2) years nor more than five (5) years and a fine not exceeding Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court;

   The Authority may motu proprio, initiate complaints for violations of this provision.

2. Any person who willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat tax in violation of the provisions of Articles 60 and 61 of this Code shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) and suffer imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not more than four (4) years: Provided, That the conviction or acquittal obtained under this article shall not be a bar to the filing of a civil suit for the collection of taxes;

3. Direct or indirect violation or circumvention of the provisions of Articles 60 and 61 of this Code committed by any public official or employee of any bureau, office or agency of the government that deprives, diminishes or in any manner hinders or restricts any duly registered cooperative from the full enjoyment of the exemption from the payment of the taxes, fees and charges enumerated therein, shall upon conviction, suffer a penalty of not less than one (1) year but not more than five (5) years imprisonment or a fine in the amount of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court and shall further be disqualified to hold any other office;

4. Direct or indirect interference or intervention by any public official or employee into the internal affairs of a cooperative of which he is not a member, such as, but not limited to, the following:

   1. Influencing the election or appointment of officers, directors, committee members and employees through public or private endorsement or campaign for or against any person or group of persons;

   2. Requiring prior clearance for any policy or decision within the cooperative;

   3. Requesting or demanding for the creation of positions or organizational units, or recommending any person for appointment, transfer, or removal from his position; or

   4. Any other acts inimical or adverse to the autonomy and independence of cooperatives.

5. A director, officer or committee member who violated the provisions of Article 45 on the Liability of Directors, Officers and Committee Members, Article 48 on the Disloyalty of a Director, and Article 49 on the Illegal Use of Confidential Information shall upon conviction suffer a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) nor more than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than five (5) years but not more than ten (10) years or both at the court's discretion;

6. The following are considered offenses punishable by a penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years or a fine of not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court:

   1. Omission or refusal to furnish any information report or other document that is required under this Code;

   2. Providing information, reports or other documents to the Authority that are required under this Code which the person knows to be false or misleading;

   3. Omission or refusal to keep a book or register required under this Code or to make the required entry therein;

   4. Making an entry required under this Code in a book or register, which the person knows to be false or misleading;

   5. Hindering an authorized person from making an inspection, audit, examination or investigation required under this Code;

   6. Failure to comply with an order or written instructions issued or given by the Authority;

   7. Violation of the provisions regarding transactions with a restricted party; and

   8. Abetting, counseling, allowing, authorizing or commanding another person to commit an offense punishable by this Code: Provided, That in case the violator is a cooperative or juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed on its directors and officers.

7. Any violation of any provision of this Code for which no penalty is imposed shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year and a fine of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00), or both at the discretion of the court.

The cooperative or any of its members can file a case against any officer or employee of the Bureau of Internal Revenue or of any other government agency with the Ombudsman, Civil Service Commission, other appropriate government agency or the courts of law.

In case of violation of any provision of this Code, the individual or individuals, and in the case of organizations or government agencies, its officers, and directors shall, upon conviction by a Court, each suffer a penalty of not less than two (2) years but not more than five (5) years imprisonment or a fine in the amount of not less than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00), or both at the discretion of the court. In the case of a public official or employee, the offender shall upon conviction, suffer the accessory penalty of temporary absolute disqualification.