Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 14, Article II, of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State recognizes the 
role of women in nation-building and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the 
law of women and men. Various laws were also enacted aiming to further protect 
Filipino women.  
Despite numerous efforts of the government to counter such forms of violence against 
women, data proved that serious interventions must be in place to deter such crimes. 
These cases vary from sexual harassment, trafficking, rape, and photo and video 
voyeurism, among others.  In addition, the incidence of domestic violence, rape and 
sexual assault by strangers and non-strangers, marital rape, and incest has steadily 
increased in the past few years. From January to June 2022, the Philippine National 
Police (PNP) logged 5,333 cases of violence against women. In 2021, PNP logged 
12,535 VAW cases while in 2020, 15,292 were reported. 
Recognizing the inadequacy of existing laws and the underreporting of rape, sexual 
assault, and violent crimes due to fear of reprisal, this bill seeks to establish a Task 
Force that shall develop a uniform law enforcement strategy to protect women against 
violent crimes, punish offenders, and strengthen government interventions to ensure 
and protect the rights of victims of such crimes. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
September 28, 2023
1:05 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO RECOMMEND A UNIFORM STRATEGY TO 
PROTECT WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENT CRIMES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Violence Against Women 
Research Act.” 
SECTION 2. National Task Force on Violence Against Women – Not later than thirty 
(30) days after the date of enactment of this Act, there shall be established a Task
Force to be known as the “National Task Force on Violence Against Women” (referred 
to in this Act as the “Task Force”), which shall be created under the Office of the 
President. 
SECTION 3. Duties. – 
(A)
General Purpose of Task Force. – The Task Force shall develop a uniform law
enforcement strategy aimed at protecting women against violent crimes, punishing 
persons who commit such crimes, and enhancing the rights of victims of such crimes. 
(B)
Duties of Task Force. – The Task Force shall perform such functions as the
President deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Task Force, including – 
(1)
Considering the reports of the Commission on Human Rights, appropriate
agencies and other non-governmental organizations;
(2)
Developing strategies for law enforcement designated to protect women
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against violent crimes, and to prosecute and punish those responsible for such 
crimes;  
(3) 
Evaluating the adequacy of sentencing, incarceration, and release of violent 
offenders against women, and making recommendations designated to 
ensure that such offenders receive appropriate punishment; and  
(4) 
Devaluating the adequacy of the treatment of victims of violent crime against 
women within the criminal justice system, and making recommendations 
designed to improve such treatment. 
 
SECTION 4. Membership. – 
(A) 
In General. – The Task Force shall consist of up to ten (10) members, who shall 
be appointed by the President not later than sixty (60) days after the date of enactment 
of this Act. The President shall ensure that the Task Force includes representatives of 
law enforcement, the judiciary, and groups dedicated to protecting the rights of victims.  
 
(B) 
Per Diem. – While away from their homes or regular places of business in the 
performance of duties for the Task Force, members of the Task Force shall be allowed 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for 
employees of agencies under existing law. 
 
SECTION 5.  Executive Director and Staff. – 
 
(A) 
Executive Director. – The Task Force shall be headed by an Executive Director 
who shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Justice not later than 
thirty (30) days after the Task Force is fully constituted under Section 2. He or she shall 
be given compensation at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate of the basic pay 
payable under existing law. 
 
(B) 
Staff. – With the approval of the Task Force, the Executive Director may appoint 
not more than twelve (12) individuals to serve as staff and fix the compensation of 
such additional personnel as the Executive Director considers necessary to carry out 
the duties of the Task Force.  
 


 
 
(C) 
Applicability of Civil Service Laws. – The Executive Director and the additional 
personnel of the Task Force appointed under paragraph (B) may be appointed and 
paid without regard to the provisions of applicable civil service laws. 
 
SECTION 6. Powers of the Task Force. – 
 
(A) 
Hearings. – For the purpose of carrying out this Section, the Task Force may 
conduct such hearings, sit, and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and 
receive such evidence, as the Task Force considers appropriate. The Task Force may 
administer oaths before the Task Force.  
 
(B) 
Delegation. – Any number or employee of the Task Force may, if authorized by 
the Task Force, take any action that the Task Force is authorized to take under this 
section. 
  
(C) 
Access to Information. – The Task Force may secure directly from any executive 
department or agency such information as may be necessary to enable the Task Force 
to carry out the provisions of this Act, to the extent access to such information is 
permitted by law. 
 
(D) 
Mail. – The Task Force may use the mail in the same manner and under the 
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the government. 
 
SECTION 7. Report. – Not later than one (1) year after the date on which the Task 
Force is fully constituted under Section 2, the Secretary of Justice shall submit a 
detailed report to the Congress on the findings and recommendations of the Task 
Force. 
 
SECTION 8. Authorization of Appropriations. – There are authorized to appropriate 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall 


 
 
remain valid and subsisting. 
 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,