FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'.11 
SENATE 
S. No. 1850 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
) 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II, Section 27, mandates the State to mllintain honesty and 
integrity in the public service. This is designed to prevent government officers and employees 
from using their office for personal aggrandizement. 
Government offices and premises, as long as their establishment and maintenance are 
paid out of public funds, should be devoted entirely to the performance of public service. Hence, 
• 
the use thereof, during the election period up to the election day, in order to solicit any 
contribution or to raise funds for political purposes, should be prohibited. 
This bill seeks to declare it unlawful for any person seeking public office to use 
government offices and premises in any manner that will promote his/ her election. 
This bill is a product of the public hearings conducted by the Committee on 
Constitutional Amendments, Revision of the Codes and Laws during the 11 th Congress. * 
If ',~ '-
41t.v.<~ ~yX'~ 
~ 
~AM 
DEF~SOR SA-NTIApO 
• This bill was re-filed during lhe Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
"i P6 :04 
SEN..A8~ 
S,No, 1 uO 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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/ 
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AMENDING BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
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THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, SECTION 97, ON 
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CONDUCTING FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate al1d the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 97 of Balas Pambansa Big. 881 as amended, is further amended to 
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read as follows: 
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"Sec. 97. Prohibited raising offunds: 
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(Al It shall be unlawful for any person to hold dances, lotteries, 
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cockfights, 
boxing 
bouts, 
bingo, 
beauty 
contests, 
entertainment, 
or 
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cinematographic, theatrical or other performances for the purpose of raising funds 
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for an election campaign or for the support of any candidate from the 
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commencement of the election period up to and including election day; or for any 
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person or organization whether civic or religious, directly or indirectly, to solicit 
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and/ or accept from any candidate for public office, or from his campaign 
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manager, agent or representative, or any person acting in their behalf, any gift, 
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food, transportation, contribution, or donation in cash or in kind from the 
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commencement of the election period up to and including election day; Provided, 
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That normal and customary religious stipends, tithes, or collections on Sundays 
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and/ or other designated collection days are excluded from this prohibition; and 
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(Bl It shall be unlawful for any person seeking public office whether local, 
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regional or national to solicit or receive any contribution, monetary and/ or in 
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kind, OR CONDUCT ANY FUND RAISING ACTWITY FOR POLITICAL 
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PURPOSES, in any government office or premises, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE 
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BUT ARE NOT LIMITED to NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL 
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GOVERNMENT OFFICES, GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR CONTROLLED 
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CORPORATIONS, any military or police camp, installation or office AND THE 
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LIKE, AS LONG AS THE MAINTENANCE OF SAID OFFICES OR 
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PREMISES ARE PAID OUT OF PUBLIC FUNDS. THIS PROHIBITION 
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SHALL APPLY BEFORE AND DURING ELECTION PERIOD UP TO 
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ELECTION DAY ITSELF." 
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SECTION 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the laws or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regnlation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general pUblication. 
Approved. 
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