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"01 SEI' 15 F'4 28 
ular Session 
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Introduced by Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito ~
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Violence against women creates a devastating effect hot only of their physical or 
emotional being, but most especially on the political will of the national government. It 
usually affects not only the victim herself, but also the people around her. The pain, 
trauma, humiliation and damage inflicted on the victim are irreversible. 
The prevalence of crimes against women creates a frightening an 
impression and experience upon, the person of every woman. It resulted not 
of lives but also affected the nation's efforts towards the total 
prosperity of our country 
This bill shall provide for a defense mechanism for, physically weaker gender 
against all forms of assault on the ground that without the system in order to implement 
and enhance the protection of females as provided for in the fundamental law of the 
land the government will have no more chance of doing a noble job to empower each 
and every Filipina out there. 
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Thus, the approval of this bill is urgently requested. 


Introduced by en. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
ERADICATE RAPE AND OTHER FEMALE ABUSES (MOTHER) ACT OR 
RAPE PREVENTION ACT 
USES “ ( ~ O ~ H ~  
SELF DEFENSE TQALL FEMALE CONSTI 
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‘MOTHER 
Be if enacfed by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 2. ~ e c / a ~ a ~ ~ ~ ~  
ofPolicy. Article 2 of the Constitution, Sec. 14 states 
that “the State recognizes the role of women in nation-building and shall ensure the 
fundamental equality before the law of women and men.” 
This Act therefore seeks to prevent sexual harassment, assaults and other forms 
of abuses by enabling females to have a defense mechanism, based on the principle 
that self-defense is an instinct which needs to be developed. With proper technique, 
knowledge of self-defense results in self-confidence, good disposition and quick 
reflexes in the face of imminent danger. It is high time that the State addresses from 
this perspective the issues of violence and other crimes perpetuated against our 
females. 
A suitable basic and non-complicated program of self-defense accessible to all 
females will be incorporated in a training course under the respective public and private 
entities: 
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as part of the Physical Education program of the Department of Education, 
Culture and Sports (DECS) for female students in the Primary, Secondary 
and Tertiary Schools 
as part of the technical and vocational Technical Education and Technical 
and Vocational Education for female students of schools and training 
centers under the supervision of the Skills Development Authority; 
as part of the day-to-day routine of female employees as well as the out- 
of-school female constituents in each Barangay, Municipality, Provincial, 
of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
all female employees of the private, government and semi-government 
offices under the supervision of the Department of Labor and Employment 
(DOLE); 
all female employees of a government offices under the supervision of the 
Civil Service Commission (CSC); 
the overseas Filipino contract workers (OCWs) under the jurisdiction of the 
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); 
all femdgs’ traveling abroad as migrants, whether on short or long-term 
journeys, supervised by the Department of Foreign Affairs; 
all females associated in any group, organization, NGOs under their 
respective umbrella organizations. 
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”Basic Self-Defense Training” means the ability of an individual female to 
discern “at-risk situations and the instinctive reaction using re exes and 
judgment for protection against an impending danger; 
“Females” are girls of and beyond school age, young and old, regardless 
of socio-economic and marital status, calling, sect and location of 
residence; 
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SECTION 3. 
efinigion of Terms: For purposes of this Act: 
a) 
b) 
c) 
“MOTHER 
is the 
self-defense discipline 
designed 
taking 
into 
consideration the characteristics of a Filipina; 
d) 
“Government Agencies” are the branches of Government which are the 
implementing arms of this Bill: the Department of Education, Culture and 
Sports (DECS); the Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE); the 
Department of Foreign Affairs (OFA); all private, government, semi- 
government sectors that have an authority power to mandate this Act to 
females under their respective jurisdictions; 


e) 
Female Groups are the NGOs, schools, workplace, congreg tions, an 
associations, safe houses, halfway houses, orphanages, wher females 
abound, not included in the above classifications; 
f) 
“Public and Private Schools” mean the elementary, primary, econdary 
and tertiary learning institutions operating outside the jurisdiction of DECS; 
and 
Advance Self-Defense Training” means the rigid training for females to 
enable those deployed in high-risk areas, overseas employment to defend 
themselves. 
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SECTION 4. ~ s ~ a ~ ~ i s h ~ e ~ ~  
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~ r a ~ i c a ~ ~  
Ofher Female Abuses 
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To achieve the above objectives, the Movement to 
Help Eradicate Rape (MOTHER), having the rank of a Committee is hereby established 
(hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”). 
The Committee shall be an independent entity separate from the DECS, DFA, 
DlLG and DOLE, and attached to the Office of the President for administrative purposes 
only. Its coverage shall be both public and private institutions as stipulated in this Act. 
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SECTION 5. ~
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The Components of the MOTHER program are: 
a) 
Prevention through Basic Self Defense and Practical Rape Prevention 
Techniques; 
As an introductory program, comprising of theories discussed in a seminar 
with hand-outs and film showings as well as the use of mass media: to 
provide the techniques lectures to create Awareness, Educati n .,Mental !. 
Preparedness, Do’s and Don’ts; Developing Self-Confid nce and 
Removing Fear; knowing the vital weak points; Developing one’ strength; 
Enhancing of weaknesses; Creating opportunities for escaping 
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threatening 
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situations. 
Advance Training - comprised of hands-on and actual drills, practicum 
and continuous training; 
Continuing Education, Refresher Courses Crisis Intervention; and 
Certification - to indicate proof of training, participants of the Self-Defense 
basic and advanced training course will be certified after completion of the 
corresponding requirements. 
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b) 
c) 
d) 


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SECTION 6. C o ~ ~ o s i ~ i o ~  
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- The Committee shall be 
composed of five (5) full time members. During the transition period, which begins upon 
approval of this Act, the President may appoint the Interim Chairman for a maximum 
period of one (I) 
year. Thereafter, the President shall appoint a Chairman of the 
Committee and four (4) Commissioners who shall be holders of earned 
who have been actively engaged in self-defense training or equivalent 
They shall be educators known .for their high degree of professionalism 
who have distinguished themselves as authorities in the self-defense field. In no case 
shall any of the Commissioners appoint representatives to act on their behalf. 
SECTION 7. Term or #ice. The President shall appoint the full-time chairman 
and the Cornmissioners for a term of four (4) years, without prejudice to their 
reappointment. The term of the initial appointees shall be on a staggered basis: the 
full-time chairman shall hold office for a term of four (4) years, the next two (2) 
commissioners for three (3) years and the last two (2) commissioners for two years. 
SECTION 8. 
visers. There shall be constituted a Board of 
Advisers which shall meet with the Committee at least once a year to assist it in aligning 
its policies and plans with the cultural political, and socio-economic development needs 
of the nation and with the demands of the project. The Board of Advisers shall be 
composed of the Secretaries of DECS, DFA, DILG, DOLE, the Chief of the Philippine 
National Police, 
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and_ the Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment 
Administration. 
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SECTION 9. Powers and ~ ~ n c ~ i o n s  
of fhe ~ Q ~ m i f # ~ @  
- The Commission 
shall have the following powers and functions: 
a) 
Through the assistance of the Philippine National Police, to oversee the 
formulation, recommendation, and enforcement of a suitable se f-defense 
module for females which will be called "MOTHER 
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b) 
Ensure that the program is introduced.and implemented on "gradual, 
staggered basis to all females in the various government agencies; 
monitor and evaluate the performance of the program; 
Formulate rules and regulations and exercise other powers and functions 
as may be necessary to carry out effectively the purpose and objectives of 
this Act; and 
c) 


d) 
Perform other functions as may be necessary for its effective operations 
-- and for the continued enhancement, improvement or development of the 
program 
Article 2, Section 14 of the Constitution declares: The State recogniz s the role 
of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality bef re law of 
women and men. Violence against women has a devastating impact on women's 
physical and emotional health and, and as an answer to the needs of the changing 
times, the State clearly recognizes the need to fight against all forms of abuse 
perpetrated against women as part of its duty and obligation to serve and protect them. 
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The preventive measures provided under this Act encompass the State's 
response to increasing incidents of sexual harassment and abuse committed on women 
in today's society. 
SECTION 11. 
w a ~ ~ n e ~ s  
and 
The second Sunday of May every year shall usher the Rape Awareness and 
Prevention Week, coinciding with the celebration of Mothers Day. 
SECTION 12. / ~ ~ ~ e ~ ~ n t a ~ i o n  
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In collaboration- with the cooperating government institutions for the proper 
implementation of this Act, the Committee shall oversee the implementation of this Act 
by the various government agencies concerned, to wit: 
The Department of Education, Culture and Sports - shall ensure that all 
female students have an access to the MOTHER self-defense program, 
incorporated in their physical education (PE) curriculum in the elementary, 
secondary and tertiary levels; 
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a) 
b) 
The Department of Interior and Local Governments (IIILG) - sh 
that all female employees in all the DILO-attached agencies, inc 
out-of-school youth 'in every Barangay have access' to the se 
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training sessions; 


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c) 
The Department of Labor and Employment females employed in the 
private and government provided the opportunity to undertake the 
necessary (DOLE) - shall mandate that all sectors, locally or overseas, 
are self-defense training modules; 
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration - shall mandate that 
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-all prospgctive female OCWs; who are applying for foreign employment, 
are mandated to undergo training as part of the orientation prior to taking 
up their assignment; 
The Department of Foreign Affairs - shall require that every Filipina 
wishing to go out of the country for any purpose is required to have a 
basic self-defense knowledge; and 
d) 
e) 
f) 
All other government agencies, private corporations, and hose not 
covered by the above Departments, shall enable their female c nstituents 
to acquire the basic self-defense knowledge. 
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SECTION 13. CQ/~a~ora~iQff 
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There shall be MOTHER Chapter to be formed in collaboration with NGO's, 
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which will support the maximum awareness and implementation of the program. 
SECTION 14. 
The 
ecre~aria~ 
- The Committee shall be assisted by .a 
secretariat, headed by an executive officer, subject to the national compensation and 
position classification plan. It shall fix the secretariat's staffing pattern, determine the 
duties, qualifications, responsibilities and functions, as well as the compensation 
scheme of the positions to be created upon the recommendation of the executive 
officer. It shall also prepare and approve its budget. 
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SECTION 15. 
ealing Clause. - All laws presidential decrees, or issuances, 
executive orders letters of instruction, rules and regulations inconsistent with'provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed. 
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SECTION 16. A p ~ r ~ p r i a ~ ~ Q n s  
A fund hereinafter referred to as "Prevention 
against rape and other female abuses fund or MOTHER Fund is hereby established 


exclusively for the implementation of the self-defense training program in the entire 
country. 
a) 
The Governments contribution to the Fund shall be the following: 
1) 
Appropriation from the National Treasury: For the initial operation of 
the Committee, such sum as may be necessary is hereby 
authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
Thereafter, the sums necessary for the continuous operation for the 
program shall be included in the appropriations for the respective 
government agencies concerned, namely: the Department of Labor 
a& 
~ Employment, the 
Department of 
Interior 
and 
Local 
Government, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, and 
the Department of Foreign Affairs; and 
An amount equivalent to one percent (1%) of the gross rates of the 
lotto operation of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office 
(PCSO) shall be contributed to the Committee for its operational 
expenses. 
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b) 
Starting fiscal year 2001 and every year thereafter, government finaiicing 
institutions identified and requested by the Committee may co tribute. to 
the Fund an amount as deemed necessary for the implementa ion of the 
program. 
The fund shall have a private component to be raised from donations, 
gifts, and other conveyances by gratuitous title including materials, 
equipment, properties and services. 
c) 
SECTION 17. 
T~~~ Fund. - The 
Fund shall be administered by the Committee. For sound and judicious management of 
the Fund, Committee shall appoint a reputable government financial institution as a 
portfolio manager of the Fund, subject to the conditions set by the Committee. 
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As Administrator of the Fund, the Committee shall prepare the necessary 
guidelines for its use, subject to the conditions set by the Committee: 
a) 
b) 
No part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings, there of shall 
be used to underwrite overhead expenses for administration; 
Unless otherwise stipulated by the private donors, only earnings of private 
contributions shall be used for administrative expenses; 
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c) 
The Commission shall appoint and organize a separate staff which shall 
be independent administratively and in its budget, from the Committee 
Secretariat; and 
d) The Fund shall be utilized equitably according to regions. 
SECTION 18. T ~ c ~ ~ i c a f  
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- The Committee shall reconstitute 
and/or organize a technical panel whose jog description is to formulate, review, 
evaluate, restructure, and improve the module of self-defense discipline based on the 
criteria: 
a) 
b) 
The model self-defense program shall be called 'MOTHER 
The MOTHER Self-Defense discipline shall give due consideration to the 
cultural heritage 
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and image of the Filipina and her culture. 
Due consideration shall be given to the strength, weakness and other 
qualities of the individuals. 
Discipline will be the primordial that will be inculcated in each and every 
MOTHER-trained participant. 
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d) 
SECTION 19. ~ e p ~ ~ a ~ i l i ~ y  
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If any portion of 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not 
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remain in force and effect. 
SECTION 20. ERectivify Date. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
the date of its publication at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved,