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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
First Regular Session 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHrLrPPrNEs 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the World Health Organization's report on domestic violence, the 
Philippines, unfortunately, is one of the countries with high average when it comes to 
domestic violence incidents. 
With such statistics, there is dire need to expand the existing laws against rape 
to cover assistance and protection to victims of battery, harassment and other forms of 
physical and mental abuse. 
This proposed bill seeks to establish a Trauma Center, not just for rape victims 
but also for victims of domestic violence, which will aid victims in regaining their self- 
esteem and confidence. 
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly recommended. 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
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S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8505, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"RAPE VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ACT OF 1998" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"SECTION 1. Title.- This Act shall be known as the "[Rape Victim 
Assistance and Protection Act of 19981 TRAUMA CENTER ACT." 
SECTION 2. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"SEC.2. Declaration of Policy.- It is hereby declared the policy of 
the state to provide necessary assistance and protection for [rape] 
victims [.] OF RAPE, BATTERY, HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF 
SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE. Towards this end, the government 
shall coordinate its various agencies and non-government organizations 
to work hand in hand for the establishment and operation of a [rape 
crisis] TRAUMA center in every province [and], city AND MUNICIPALITY 
that shall assist and protect [rape] victims [.] OF MPE, BATTERY 
HAMSSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL 
ABUSE in the litigation of their cases and their recovery." 
SECTION 3. Section 3 of Republic act No. 8505 is hereby amended to 
read as follows: 
"SEC. 3. (Rape Crisis)'TMUMA Center. - The Department of Social 
Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government 
(DILG), the 
Department of Justice (DOJ), and a lead non-government organization 
(NGO) with proven track record, or experience in handling sexual AND 
PHYSICAL ABUSE CASES, shall establish in every province, city. AND 
MUNICIPALITY a [Rape Crisis] TRAUMA Center, located in a government 
hospital or Health clinic or, in any other suitable place for the purpose 
O f  
a. 
Providing 
(rape] 
victims 
OF 
RAPE, 
BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR 
PHYSICAL ABUSE with psychological counsel[l]ing, medical 


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and 
health 
services, 
including 
their 
medico-legal 
examination; 
b. 
C. 
d. 
e. 
f. 
g. 
Securing free legal assistance or service, when necessary for 
[rape] victims OF RAPE, BATTERY, HARASSMENT, AND 
OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
Assisting 
[rape] 
victims 
OF 
RAPE, 
BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR 
PHYSICAL ABUSE in the investigation to hasten the arrest 
of offenders and the filing of cases in court; 
Ensuring the privacy and safety of [rape] victims OF RAPE, 
BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT, 
AND 
OTHER 
FORMS 
OF 
SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
Providing psychological counsel[ lling and medical services 
whenever necessary for the family of [rape] victims OF 
RAPE, BATTERY, HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF 
SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
Developing and undertaking a training program for law 
enforcement 
officers, 
public 
prosecutors, 
lawyers, 
medico-legal officers, PSYCHOLOGISTS, social workers, and 
barangay officials on human rights and responsibilities; 
gender sensitivity and legal management of rape, BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR 
PHYSICAL 
ABUSE 
cases, 
PARTICULARLY 
THOSE 
COMMITT’ED AGAINST CHILDREN; and 
Adopting and implementing programs for the recovery of 
[rape] victims OF RAPE, BATTERY, HARASSMENT, AND 
OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
The DSWD shall be the lead agency in the establishment and 
operation of the [Rape Crisis] TRAUMA Center.” 
SECTION 4. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
“SEC. 4. Duty of the Police OfBcer - Upon receipt by the police of 
tire complaint for rape, BATTERY, HARASSMEN’T AND OTHER FORMS 
OF SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE, it shall be the duty of the police 
officer to: 
a. 
b. 
C. 
It 
Immediately refer the case to the prosecutor for inquest/ 
investigation if the accused is detained; otherwise, the Rules of 
Court shall apply; 
Arrange for counsel[ lling and medical services for the offended 
party; and 
Immediately snake a report on the action taken. 
shall be the duty of the police officer or the examining 
physician, who must be of-the same gender as the offended party, to 
ensure that only persons expressly authorized by the offended party 
shall be allowed inside the room where the investigation or medical or 
physical examination is being conducted. 


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For this purpose, a women’s AND CHILDREN’S desk must be 
established in every police precinct throughout the country to provide a 
GENDER-SENSITIVE police woman to conduct investigation of 
complaints of women AND CHILDREN [rape] victims of RAPE, BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL 
ABUSE. In the same manner, the preliminary investigation proper or 
inquest of women AND CHILDREN [rape] victims OF RAPE, BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE 
must be assigned to female prosecutor or prosecutors after the police 
shall have endorsed all the pertinent papers thereof to the same office.” 
SECTION 5. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
“SEC. 5. Protective Measures. - At any stage of the investigation, 
prosecution and trial of a complaint for rape, BATTERY, HARASSMENT, 
AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE, the police 
officer, the prosecutor, the court and its officers, as well as the parties to 
the complaint shall recognize the right to privacy of the offended party 
and the accused, Towards this end, the police officer, prosecutor, or the 
court to whom the complaint has been referred may, whenever necessary 
to ensure fair and impartial proceedings, and after considering all 
circumstances for the best interest of the parties, order a closed-door 
investigation, prosecution or trial and that the name and personal 
circumstances of the offended party and/or the accused, or any other 
information tending to establish their identities, and such circumstances 
or information on the complaint shall not be disclosed to the public. 
The investigating officer or prosecutor shall inform the parties that 
the proceedings can be conducted in a language or dialect known or 
familiar to them.” 
SECTION 6. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby mended to read as 
follows: 
“SEC. 6. [Rape] VICTIM Shield. - In prosecutions for rape, 
BATTERY, HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR 
PHYSICAL ABUSE evidence of complainant’s past sexual conduct, 
opinion thereof or of his/her reputation shall not be admitted unless, 
and only to the extent that the court finds, that such evidence is material 
and relevant to the case.” 
SECTION 7. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
“SEC. 7. Appropriations. --For the establishment and operation of 
the 
[rape crisis] TRAUMA 
centers during the first year 
of 
implementation of this Act, the amount of One hundred twenty million 
pesos (P 120,000,000.00) shall be charged against the Organizational 
Adjustment Fund, as follows: Sixty million pesos (P 60,000,000.00) for 
the DSWD; and Twenty million pesos (P 20,000,000.00) each for the 
DOH, DILG, AND DOJ, respectively. Thereafter, the necessary amount 
for the [rape crisis] TRAUMA centers shall be included in the budgetary 
allocations for the agencies concerned in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 


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SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days 
from the approval of this Act, all concerned agencies shall review, revise, amend or 
modify the existing rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper 
implementation thereof. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act 
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts thereof not affected thereby 
shall remain valid. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to 
the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,