FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 1 
-7 
JII1. -4 
11 3 -'G 
1 
SENATE 
S.B.NO. 
924 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to impose stiffer penalties against delinquent parents to minimize if not 
totally eliminate the cases of neglected and abused children in this counhy. 
Parents have the natural right and duty over the upbringing of their children. Under the 
Family Code, parental authority and responsibility includes the caring for and rearin3 of such 
children for civic consciousness and efficiency and the development of their moral, mental and 
physical character and well-being. Parental authority and responsibility, under our laws, cannot 
be renounced or transferred, except in cases authorized by law. Under the same law, parents 
and those exercising parental authority shall have the following rights and duties: 
a. To keep them in their company, to support, educate and instruct them by right 
precept and good example, and to provide for their upbringing in keeping with tkeir 
means; 
b. To give them love and affection, advice and counsel, companionship and 
understanding; 
c. To provide them with moral and spiritual guidance, inculcate in them honesty, 
integrity, self-discipline, self-reliance, industry and thrift, stimulate their interest in 
civic affairs, and inspire in them compliance with the duties of citizenship 
d. To enhance, protect, preserve and maintain their physical and mental health at all 
times; 
e. To furnish them with good and wholesome educational materials, supervise their 
activities, recreatizz and association with others, protect them from bad company, 
and preserve them from acquiring habits detrimental to their health, studies and 
moraIs 
f. To represent them in all matters affecting their interests 
g. To impose discipline on them as may be required under the circumstances; dnd 
h. To perform such other duties as are imposed by law upon parents and guardians. 
Given the crucial role that parents have in the upbringing of a child, it is considered a 
criminal act for a person entrusted with the custody of a minor to abandon him or her and for 
paren1:s to neglect their children by not giving them the education which their stakion in life 
require. However, the law has not been effective in ensuring that parents are not remiss with 
their responsibilities. Reflective of this are the high number of children abandoned jn the streets 
or are left to tend for themselves. 
This bill provides stiffer penalties for the delinquent parents by imposing longer years of 
imprisonment and higher amount of fines than what is presently provided under the Revised 
Penal Code. 
In view the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
Senator 


7 JUh -4 
:,76 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
- 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 9 2 4  
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
TO STRENGTHEN THE PENAL PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO DELINQUENT 
PARENTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE 276,277, AND 278 OF THE 
REVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED 
Be if enacted by fhe Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Conpess assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 276 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is hereby amended as 
follows: 
”ART. 276. Abandoning a minor. - The penalty of avvesfo mayor and a fine of at 
least ten thousand pesos (PlO,OOO.OO) but not more than fifteen thousand pesos 
(P15,OOO.OO) shall be imposed to anyone who shall abandon a [child under 
seven years of age] MINOR, the custody of which is incumbent upon him. 
THE PENALTY OF PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MINIMUM 
PERIOD AND A FINE OF AT LEAST FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (50,000 
Php) BUT NOT MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS 
(100,000 Php) SHALL BE IMPOSED IF THE PERSON CONVICTED OF THE 
PENALTY UNDEX THIS ACT IS THE PARENT OF THE MINOR. 
When the death of the minor shall result from the abandonment, the culprit 
shall be punished by prision correccional in its medium and maximum 
periods[;]. IF THE CULPRIT BE THE PARENT OF THE DECEASED, HE OR 
SHE SHALL BE PUNISHED BY PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN ITS 
MEDIUM PERIOD TO PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MINIMUM PERIOD 
[;].[b]But if the life of the minor shall have been in danger only, the penalty 
shall be prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods. IN THE 
LATTER CASE, IF THE CULPRIT BE THE PARENT OF THE MINOR, HE 
OR SHE SHALL BE PUNISHED BY PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN ITS 
MEDIUM AND MAXIMUM PERIODS. 
IN ADDITION, THE PARENT OF THE MINOR SHALL BE DEPRIVED OF 
THEIR 
PARENTAL 
AUTHORITY, 
HEREDITARY 
RIGHTS 
AND 
CUSTODY OVER THE MINOR. 
The provisions contained in [the two preceding paragraphs] THIS ARTICLE 
shall not prevent the imposition of the penalty provided for the act committed, 
when the same shall constitute a more serious offense.” 


SECTION 2. Article 277 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is hereby alnonded as 
“ART. 277. Abandonment of minor by person entrusted with his custody; indzffeeuence 
of parents. - The penalty of arresto mayor and a fine of at least FIFTY [ten] 
thousand pesos [(PlO,OOO.OO)~ (50,000 Php) 
but not more than ONE 
HUNDRED [fifteen] thousand pesos (100,000 Php) shall be imposed upon 
anyone who, having charge of the rearing or education of a minor shall deliver 
said minor to a public institution or other persons, without the consent of the 
one who entrusted such child to his care or, in the absence of the latter, without 
the consent of the proper authorities. 
The same shall be imposed upon the parents who shall neglect their children 
OF SCHOOL AGE by not giving them the COMPULS0R.Y ELEMENTARY 
education which [their station in life] THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION 
requires [and financial condition permits].” 
follows: 
SECTION 3. Article 278 of the same Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 
I
.
 
”ART. 278. Exploitation ofminous. - The penalty of prision correccional in its 
minimum and medium periods and a fine not exceeding [500] ONE 
HUNDRED THOUSAND pesos shall be imposed upon: 
xxx 
6. ANY PARENT WHO SHALL GIVE HIS UNEMANCIPATED CHILD 
CORRUPTING ORDERS, COUNSELS OR EXAMPLE SHALL BE 
PUNISHED BY ARREST0 MAYOR IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD AND 
A FINE OF AT LEAST FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (50,000 Php) BUT 
NOT MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (100,000 
Php). THIS SHALL INCLUDE CASES WHICH HAVE RESULTED 
FROM CULPABLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE PARENT.” 
SEC. 4. Separabilify ciause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the 
remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and 
effect. 
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and 
their implementing rules, inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 6. Efectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,