Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7225

Introduced by Representative Evelina Escudero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Public interest in animal rights has intensified dramatically in the past years.
Serious efforts by animal welfare advocates to prevent animal cruelty had paved the
way for the enactment of Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise known as the Animal
Welfare Act of 1998.

The purpose of the said law is to protect and promote the welfare of all animals in
the Philippines. Animal cruelty is a repulsive act against some of the most vulnerable
members of society. Consistent with this objective, RA No. 8485 provides penalties
for violation of any provisions of said law including torture, neglect and maltreatment
of animals.

However, there are still reports that high incidence of cruelty to animals,
especially to dogs, man's best friend, continues to exist. Last September 15, 2016, it
was reported in several news networks (print, online, television) that the Philippine
National Police (PNP) and Network for Animals, a non-government organization
(NGO), found in a vacant lot in Barangay San Roque, San Pedro, Laguna, four
hundred (400) kilos of dog meat. The NGO received a tip that dogs are being
butchered in the area to he sold in Baguio City. Dogs are sold from P10.00 to P100.00
depending on the size of the dog. Dog meat are said to sell at P140.00 per kilo.

Under RA No. 8485 as amended, violators of any provisions of said law shall be
punished by imprisonment ranging from six (6) months to three (3) years or a fine
ranging from Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) to Two Hundred Fifty thousand
pesos (P250,000.00), or both at the discretion of the court


It is submitted that the penalties imposed under the present law are not enough to
deter the commission of prohibited acts.

This bill seeks to put more teeth to the law by imposing stiffer penalties to
violators. Also under this proposal, violators shall not benefit from Presidential
Decree No. 968 or the Probation Law, if the animal subjected to cruelty dies, as the
penalty thereof is raised to more than 6 years imprisonment

With this measure, it is hoped that the incidence of animal cruelty may not just be
decreased, but be totally eliminated. It is in this view that the immediate passage of

the bill is earnestly sought.

EVELINA ESCUDERO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.__7225

Introduced by Representative Evelina Escudero

AN ACT INCREASING THE PENALTIES FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ANIMAL WELFARE ACT OF 1998," AS
AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Increasing the Penalties Against Animal Cruelty. ~

Section 9 of Republic Act 8485, as amended, is further amended to read as
follows:

Section 9. Any person who subjects any animal to cruelty, maltreatment or
neglect shall, upon conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment
and/or fine, as indicated in the following graduated scale:

1) Imprisonment of + six: hs-and- La a
(2)years} SIX (6) YEARS AND SIX (6) MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY TO
EIGHT (8) YEARS and/or fine not exceeding | one-hundred-thousand-pesos—
(P100,000.00}} FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS ( P500,000.00) if the
animal subjected to cruelty, maltreatment, or neglect dies;

2) Imprisonment of Fone id 4-day: 4 nd six {6)-
months} THREE (3) YEARS AND SIX (6) MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY
TO SIX (6) YEARS and/or a line not exceeding [Fifty thousand pesos—
(P50,000.00}} THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS
(P350,000.00) if the animal subjected to cruelty, maltreatment or neglect
survives but is severely injured with loss of its natural faculty to survive on its
own and needing human intervention to sustain its life; and



3) Imprisonment of fsix-(6}-months-to-one-(1)-year} THREE (3) YEARS
AND SIX MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY and/or fine not exceeding [Fhirty—
: TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS
(P250,000.00) for subjecting any animal to cruelty, maltreatment or neglect but
without causing its death or incapacitating, it to survive on its own.

SEC. 2. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force
and effect.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. — All laws. acts, decrees, executive orders, issuances,
and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect after fifteen (I5) days from its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,