FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Senate Bill No. 497 
~ 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
White slavery has become a major trade and menace to the dignity and 
welfare of women and young children. It reduces them to mere sex objects. 
Efforts from various sectors of society and the government have proven to be 
futile due to the ills of the criminal justice system. 
With this alarming thought, there is a need to amend existing laws to deter 
if not totally eradicate this inhumane practice of peddling women and children as 
sex objects. This bill seeks to provide a higher penalty for white slave trade, 
punishable under Article 341 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended. It 
likewise provides for the punishment of persons acting as procurer or recruits of 
prostitute. Sanctions are also imposed against establishments or enterprises 
which promote, facilitate or conduct activities constituting prostitution. 
As white slave trade becomes more rampant rather than curtailed, there is 
a need to put more teeth into the law and impose higher penalty against those 
who transgress and exploit women and young children. 
In view of the foregoing considerations, early passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
e
s
GGO 
JERCITO ESTRAD 
u s e n a t o r  


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
7 
LUL -2 
;? $ : 
~~ , 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
ilECEiVEfi fyf; 
Senate Bill No. 497 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
DETERRING P ROSTlTUTlON BY AMENDING ARTICLE 341 (WHITE SLAVE 
TRADE) OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE, INCREASING THE PENALTY OF 
IMPRISONMENT AND FINE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represenfafives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 341 of the Revised Penal Code, is hereby amended 
to read as follows: 
"Art. 341. White Slave Trade. a. The penalty of RECLUSION 
TEMPORAL [Prison Mayor in its medium and maximum 
periods] shall be imposed upon any person who, in any manner 
or under any pretext shall engage in the business or shall profit 
by [prostitution or shall enlist the services of any other for the 
purpose of prostitution]; 
ACTING AS PROCURER TO SOLICIT A PERSON TO 
BECOME THE CLIENT OF A PROSTITUTE. IF THE CLIENT 
CONSENTS TO BE PROCURED FOR THE PROSTITUTE, 
THE LATTER SHALL LIKEWISE BE PUNISHED UNDER THIS 
ARTICLE; 
INDUCING A PERSON TO BE A CLIENT OF A PROSTITUTE 
BY MEANS OF ADVERTISEMENT OR OTHER SIMILAR 
MEANS; 
CONVERSING WITH ANY PERSON IN ANY PUBLIC PLACE 
WITH THE INTENT TO SOLICIT HIM OR HER TO BE THE 
CLIENT OF A PROSTITUTE; 
RECRUITING A WOMAN UNDER THE PRETEXT OF LAWFUL 
EMPLOYMENT BUT ACTUALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF 
TURNING 
HER 
OVER TO 
OPERATORS OF WHITE 
SLAVERY; 
DECEITFULLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OR THROUGH 
INFLUENCE DUE TO HIS RELATIONSHIP SHALL PROCURE 
A WOMAN AS PROSTITUTE; 


THREATENING OR USING VIOLENCE TOWARDS A WOMAN 
TO ENGAGE PROSTITUTE; 
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS RELATIONSHIP IN ORDER TO 
DEMAND FROM THE WOMAN WHO HAS PROSTITUTED 
HERSELF 
THE 
WHOLE 
OR 
A 
PART 
OF 
THE 
COMPENSATION DERIVED FROM PROSTITUTION; 
GIVING MONETARY CONSIDERATION, GOODS OR OTHER 
PECUNIARY BENEFIT TO A WOMAN BY MEANS OF AN 
ADVANCE OR OTHER MEANS WITH THE INTENT TO MAKE 
SUCH WOMAN AS PROSTITUTE; 
MAINTAINING CALL GIRLS THAT WILL CATER TO FOREIGN 
TOURIST AND LOCAL CLIENTS, AND; 
FURNISHINGA PLACE FOR PROSTITUTION OR ENGAGING 
IN THE BUSINESS OF FURNISHING THE PLACE FOR 
PROSTITUTION, MAKING IT HIS BUSINESS TO ALLOW 
WOMEN PROSTITUTES TO LIVE AT THE ESTABLISHMENT 
WHICH HE POSSESS AND MANAGES OR AT THE PLACE 
WHICH HE DESIGNATES AND FURNISHING THE FUNDS, 
LAND OR BUILDING NECESSARY FOR THE BUSINESS. 
SANCTIONS FOR ESTABLISHMENTS OR ENTERPRISES 
WHICH PROMOTE, FACILITATE OR CONDUCT ACTIVITIES 
AND ENTERPRISES WHICH PROMOTE OR FACILITATE 
PROSTITUTION SHALL AUTOMATICALLY BE CLOSED AND 
THEIR AUTHORITY OR LICENSE TO OPERATE SHALL BE 
CANCELLED, WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE OWNER OR 
MANAGER THEREOF BEING PROSECUTED UNDER THE 
ARTICLE AND/OR THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AS 
AMENDED, 
OR 
BY 
SPECIAL 
LAWS. 
SUCH 
ESTABLISHMENTS AND ENTERPRISES SHALL REMAIN 
CLOSED UNTIL THE COURT DETERMINES OTHERWISE, 
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE INTEREST AND 
WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE AND THE IMMORALITY OF THE 
ACT. 
CONSTITUTING PROSTITUTION - ALL ESTABLISHMENTS 
AN ESTABLISHMENT SHALL BE PRESUMED PRIMA FACIE 
ENGAGE IN THE PROMOTION OR FACILITATION OF PROSTITUTION 
IF THE ACTS CONSISTING PROSTITUTION OCCUR IN THE 
PREMISES. 
SEC 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,