FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to amend Article 341 (White Slave Trade) of the Commonwealth 
Act No. 3815 also known as the ”Revised Penal Code” to increase the penalty of 
imprisonment and fine to dissuade the promotion of prostitution all over the country. 
Over a decade ago, the International Labor Organization logged nearly half a 
million prostitutes in the country. In 1997, Asiaweek reported that there were 300,000 
Filipino women in the sex trade while 75,000 children were prostituted. Experts have 
claimed that the Asian Financial Crisis have pushed more women to join the oldest 
profession known to man. Over the years, the Philippines has become known for its sex 
trade and has become a sex tourist destination. The increasing numbers of women and 
children prostitutes, along with the alarming number of victims of human trafficking, 
reflect the great need to increase the penalties in order to strongly discourage persons 
from promoting and soliciting the services of a sex worker and individuals from 
entering the trade. 
This measure amends the conditions and penalties stated in Article 341 of the 
Revised Penal Code. Some of the circumstances stated that can lead to the 
imprisonment of the involved individuals include: soliciting a prostitute in behalf of 
another; advertising the services of a prostitute and recruiting a woman under the false 
pretenses of lawful employment to be later turned into a sex worker. 
In an age wherein the rights of women and children are advocated and 
respected, women and children should be given extra protection. Through the increased 
penalties and detailed circumstances, they can be assured of additional security of their 
well being. 
In the light of escalating demands and conditions of the sex trade, the passage of 
this bill is earnestly sought. 
LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
7 
\jLL -4 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
~~~~~~~~ 
SENATE 
, '  
S.B. No. 
937 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
AMENDING ARTICLE 341 (WHITE SLAVE TRADE) OF THE REVISED PENAL 
CODE TO PROVIDE A DETERRENT TO THE PROMOTION OF PROSTITUTION 
AND INCREASING THE PENALTY OF IMPRISONMENT AND FINE AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 341 of Commonwealth Act No. 3815, as amended, 
otherwise known as the Revised penal Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Art. 341. White Slave Trade a. The penalty of RECLUSION TEMPORAL 
(Prision mayor) in its medium and maximum periods shall be imposed upon any 
person who, in any manner, or under any pretext shall engage in the business or shall 
profit by (prostitution or shall enlist the services of any other for the purpose of 
prostitution) 
(1) 
ACTING AS A PROCURER TO SOLICIT A PERSON TO BECOME 
THE CLIENT OF A PROSTITUTE; IF THE CLIENT CONSENTS TO BE 
PROCURED FOR THE PROSTITUTE, THE LATTER SHALL LIKEWISE 
BE PUNISHED UNDER THIS ARTICLE; 
(2) 
INDUCING A PERSON TO BE A CLIENT OF A PROSTITUTE BY 
MEANS OF ADVERTISEMENT OR OTHER SIMILAR MEANS; 
(3) 
CONFRONTING ANY PERSON IN ANY STREET OR 
PUBLIC 
PLACE WITH THE INTENT TO SOLICIT SUCH PERSON TO BE THE 
CLIENT OF A PROSTITUTE; 
RECRUITING A WOMAN UNDER THE PRETEXT OF LAWFUL 
EMPLOYMENT BUTACTUALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF TURNING 
OVER SUCH WOMAN TO ANOTHER OR OTHERS TO WORK AS A 
PROSTITUTE OR OTHER ACTS OF ABUSE OR EXPLOITATION. IF 
THE PERSON WHO RECRUITS THE WOMAN IS ALSO THE 
PERPETRATOR OF THE OFFENSE COMMITTED AGAINST THE 
WOMAN, SUCH PERSON SHALL BE PROSECUTED BOTH FOR THE 
ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT AND FOR THE OFFENSE COMMITTED 
AGAINST THE WOMAN; 
(4) 


(5) 
DECEITFULLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OR THROUGH 
INFLUENCE DUE TO HIS RELATIONSHIP SHALL PROCURE A 
WOMAN AS PROSTITUTE; 
THREATENING OR USING VIOLENCE TOWARDS A WOMAN 
TO ENGAGE HER AS PROSTITUTE. 
(6) 
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS RELATIONSHIP IN ORDER TO 
DEMAND FROM THE WOMAN WHO HAS PROSTITUTED HERSELF 
THE WHOLE OR A PART OF THE COMPENSATION DERIVED FROM 
PROSTITUTION: 
(7) 
(8) 
GIVING MONETARY CONSIDERTION, GOODS OR OTHER 
PECUNIARY BENEFIT TO A WOMAN BY MEANS OF AN ADVANCE 
OR OTHER MEANS WITH THE INTENT TO MAKE SUCH WOMAN 
AS A PROSTITUTE; 
(9) 
FURNISHING A PLACE FOR PROSTITUTION OR ENGAGING 
IN 
THE 
BUSINESS 
OF 
FURNISHING 
THE 
PLACE 
FOR 
PROSTITUTION, MAKING IT HIS BUSINESS TO ALLOW WOMEN 
, PROSTITUTES TO LIVE AT THE ESTABLISHMENT WHICH HE 
POSSESSES AND MANAGES OR AT THE PLACE WHICH HE 
DESIGNATES; AND FURNISHING THE FUNDS, 
LAND, 
OR 
BUILDING NECESSARY FOR THE BUSINESS; 
(10) HIRING A WOMAN TO WORK AS HOSTESS, BAR MAID AND 
WAITRESS WITHOUT COMPENSATION; 
(11) IMPOSING 
”BAR 
FINES” 
TO 
ANY 
PERSON 
IN 
AN 
ESTABLISHMENT BY ALLOWING SUCH WOMAN TO GO OUT 
WITH THEIR CUSTOMER. 
a. 
SANCTIONS FOR ESTABLISHMENTS OR ENTERPRISES, 
WHICH PROMOTE, FACILITATE OR CONDUCT ACTIVITIES 
CONSTITUTING PROSTITUTION. - ALL ESTABLISHMENTS 
AND ENTERPRISIS WHICH PROMOTE OR FACILITATE 
PROSTITUTION SHALL BE CLOSED AND THEIR AUTHORITY 
OR LICENSE TO OPERATE SHALL BE CANCELLED WITHOUT 
PREJUDICE TO THE OWNER OR MANAGER THEREOF BEING 
PROSECUTED UNDER THIS ARTICLE AND/OR THE REVISED 
PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED, OR BY SPECIAL LAWS. SUCH 
ESTABLISHMENTS AND ENTERPRISIS SHALL REMAIN 
CLOSED UNTIL THE COURT DETERMINES OTHERWISE, 
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE INTEREST AND 
WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE AND THE IMMORTALITY OF THE 
ACT. 


AN ESTABLISHMENT SHALL BE PRESUMED PRIMA FACIE 
ENGAGED IN THE PROMOTION OR FACILITATION OF PROSTITUTION IF 
THE ACTS CONSTITUTING PROSTITUTION OCCUR IN THE PREMISIS. 
SEC. 2. 
REPEALING CLAUSE. - ALL LAWS, PRESIDENTIAL DECREES, 
EXECUTIVE ORDERS, RULES AND REGULATIONS WHICH ARE CONTRARY 
TO THE PROVISION OF THIS ACT ARE HEREBY REPEALED, AMENDED AND 
MODIFIED ACCORDINGLY. 
SEC. 3. 
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - IF ANY PART OF THIS ACT SHALL 
BE HELD TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR INVALID, OTHER PARTS OR 
PROVISIONS HEREOF WHICH ARE NOT AFFECTED THEREBY SHALL 
CONTINUE TO BE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT. 
SEC. 4. 
EFFECTIVITY. - THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT FIFTEEN (15) 
DAYS AFTER ITS PUBLICATION IN ENGLISH OR FILIPINO IN THE OFFICIAL 
GAZETTE OR IN AT LEAST TWO (2) NEWSPAPERS OF GENERAL 
CIRCULATION, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. 
APPROVED,