Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
___________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative PABLO JOHN F. GARCIA     
___________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Preamble of the 1987 Constitution is a fervent prayer by the Filipino people. 
In it we express our aspirations for a just and humane society under the rule of law. 
We also wish for a regime of peace. Goal 16 of the United Nations Sustainable 
Development Goals is “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions”. 
Lawyers are officers of the Court, and as servants of the law, they are expected 
to maintain the rule of law.1  
However, they face a grim reality. One hundred and ten lawyers were killed 
from 1972 to the present.2 A non-government organization tracking the killings said 
more than half were work-related.3  
Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their 
professional  functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper 
interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within 
their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, 
prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in 
accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.4 Where the 
security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall 
be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.5 Lawyers shall not be identified with 
their clients or their clients' causes as a result of discharging their functions.6 
1 De Leon v. Castelo, A.C. No. 8620 (2011). 
2 Carlos Conde, Human Rights Watch, Record High Killing of Philippine Lawyers, available at 
https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/15/record-high-killing-philippine-lawyers. 
3 Id. 
4 Adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of 
Offenders (1990). 
5 Id. 
6 Id.  
July 4, 2022 
10:30 am
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This bill aims to help resolve this ghastly spate of killings by legislating stiff 
penalties therefor. It also establishes a Council which shall ensure the swift 
investigation, prosecution, and resolution of cases involving crimes and offenses 
against members of the Bench and Bar. The various roles of appropriate government 
bodies are also provided for. 
It is hoped that this measure will serve as a strong deterrent against such crimes 
and emphasize our commitment to the rule of law. Members of the Bench and Bar 
constitute the Judicial Branch—one of the three pillars of our democracy. Any attack 
on 
a 
lawyer 
strikes 
at 
the 
very 
heart 
of 
the 
rule 
of 
law. 
The unfettered practice of law in whatever manner is crucial to the integrity of 
our legal system and the very existence of our Republic. We in the Legislative Branch 
must join our brethren in the Judiciary.7 
In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Rep. PABLO JOHN F. GARCIA 
3rd District, Province of Cebu 
7 See Tetch Torres-Tupas, Inquirer, SC condemns lawyer killings, threats: These are ‘no less than an 
assault on the Judiciary’, available at https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1410515/sc-on-lawyers-killings-
threats. 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
___________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative PABLO JOHN F. GARCIA     
___________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
PROTECTING THE PRACTICE OF LAW BY PENALIZING THE HARMING AND 
KILLING OF MEMBERS OF THE BENCH AND BAR, IMPOSING STIFF 
PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Congress of the 
Philippines in session assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS 
Section 1.  Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Protecting the 
Practice of Law Act”. 
Section 2.  Declaration of Policy. - It is policy of the State to recognize 
members of the Bench and Bar as elements of the Judiciary, one of the three pillars 
of our republican democracy. Any attack on a lawyer or judge strikes at the very heart 
of the rule of law. The State shall thus extend whatever protection possible, such as 
the imposition of stiff penalties as deterrents, to ensure the unfettered practice of law, 
the continuous integrity of the Philippine legal system, and the accomplishment of the 
following goals found in the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of 
Crime 
and 
the 
Treatment 
of 
Offenders 
(1990): 
(a)
Governments shall ensure that lawyers:
(i)
Are able to perform all of their professional functions
without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; 
(ii)
Are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both
within their own country and abroad; and 
1027


 
(iii) 
Shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or 
administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in 
accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics; 
 
(b) 
Where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of 
discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the 
authorities; and 
 
(c) 
Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients' 
causes as a result of discharging their functions. 
 
CHAPTER II 
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 
 
Section 3. 
Council for the Protection of Lawyers. - There is hereby 
established a Council for the Protection of Lawyers (“Council”) tasked with the 
coordination and oversight of governmental efforts to accomplish the goals of this Act 
and the fulfillment of its declared policies.  
 
The Council shall ensure the swift investigation, prosecution, and resolution of 
cases involving the prohibited Acts in Chapter III against members of the Bench and 
Bar, as well as other crimes, felonies, and/or offenses found in other laws, rules, or 
regulations concerning the same. The Council shall also endeavor to continuously 
refine the legal landscape and system of the Philippines to ensure the integrity and 
safety of the practice of law. 
 
The Council shall be composed of the following members: 
 
 
(a) 
The 
Secretary 
of 
the 
Department 
of 
Justice; 
 
(b) 
The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice; 
 
(c) 
The Chairperson of the House Committee on Justice; and 
 
(d) 
The President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines 
 
The Council may invite the Chairperson of the Commission of Human Rights, 
the Ombudsman, and a representative of the Supreme Court as observers, 
collaborators, and/or resource persons when necessary.  
 
Section 4. 
Role of the Government in General. - The various departments, 
bureaus, offices, agencies, and local government units are hereby enjoined to give full 
support, assistance, and cooperation to the Council in carrying out its purposes. 


 
Section 5. 
Role of the National Bureau of Investigation. - The National 
Bureau of Investigation shall forthwith investigate all cases referred to it by the Council 
or any other concerned government body concerning the provisions and declared 
policies of this Act. 
 
Section 6. 
Role of the Philippine National Police. - The Philippine National 
Police shall endeavor to: 
 
(a) 
Help enhance the knowledge and skills of lawyers in security, 
personal defense, gun use, and discipline and allow the free use of its facilities 
for such trainings subject to existing rules and policies; 
 
(b) 
Assist and facilitate the processing of the applications for license 
to own and possess firearms (“LTOPF”), firearms registration, and permit to 
carry firearms outside residence (“PTCFOR”) for the benefit of lawyers; and 
 
(c) 
Provide timely assistance and protection to members of the 
Bench and Bar and shall expedite any investigation and provide preferential 
attention to incidents involving prohibited acts against the same. 
 
Section 7. 
Role of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. - The Integrated 
Bar of the Philippines shall:  
 
(a) 
Help improve the legal knowledge and skills of police officers 
concerning the goals and policies of this Act by conducting training programs; 
 
(b) 
Commit to provide legal assistance through its legal aid program 
when necessary; 
 
(c)  
Establish and manage the appropriate incentive and reward fund 
to assist and encourage informants and witnesses to help in the resolution of 
cases 
involving 
the 
aims 
of 
this 
Act; 
and 
 
 
(d) 
Advocate for laws and reforms that will further achieve the 
declared policies of this Act. 
 
CHAPTER III 
PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES 
 
Section 8. 
Unlawful Interference of the Practice of Law. - The penalty of 
prision mayor shall be imposed on any person who shall vilify, persecute, harass, 
coerce, or threaten, directly or indirectly, a member of the Bench or Bar with the 
infliction of any wrong upon his person, honor or property or that of any immediate 


member or members of his family in order to prevent or interfere with an act of such 
member if it is on account of, in relation to, on the occasion of, or arising from a lawyer’s 
representation, or a judge’s presiding over a case. Should the offender be a public 
officer or employee, the penalty shall be reclusion temporal. 
 
Section 9. 
Chilling Effect on the Practice of Law. - The penalty of reclusion 
temporal shall be imposed on any public officer or employee who shall, outside a lawful 
civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding, request for the names or any other 
identifying information of lawyers representing accused persons, or persons 
advocating a civil, political, economic, or social aspiration, or do any other similar 
intrusive act which would tend to send a chilling effect or constitute a prohibitive 
obtrusion on the practice of law by seeking to identify or otherwise associate lawyers 
with their clients or their clients' causes as a result of discharging their functions.  
 
Section 10. Penalty for Physical Injuries. - Any person who shall commit the 
crime(s) of Mutilation, Serious Physical Injuries, Administering Injurious Substances or 
Beverages, Less Serious Physical Injuries, and/or Slight Physical Injuries and 
Maltreatment, as provided for in Act No. 3815 or the Revised Penal Code, as 
amended, against a member of the Bench or Bar on account of, in relation to, on the 
occasion of, or arising from a lawyer’s representation, or a judge’s presiding over a 
case, shall accordingly be imposed the penalty two (2) degrees higher than that 
provided for by Act No. 3815, as amended. Any fines imposed therein shall be trebled. 
 
Section 11. Penalty for Murder. - The penalty of reclusion perpetua and a 
fine of Three Million Pesos (Php 3,000,000.00) shall be imposed on any person who 
shall commit the felony of Murder, as provided for in Act No. 3815, as amended, 
regardless of the stage of execution or degree of participation, against a member of 
the Bench or Bar on account of, in relation to, on the occasion of, or arising from a 
lawyer’s representation, or a judge’s presiding over a case. 
 
Section 12.  Perpetual Absolute Disqualification. - Should the offender in 
any of the foregoing prohibited acts be a public officer or employee, the accessory 
penalty of Perpetual Absolute Disqualification shall be imposed, which entails the 
following:  
 
(a) 
Deprivation of the public offices and employments which the 
offender may have held even if conferred by popular election; 
 
(b) 
Deprivation of the right to vote in any election for any popular 
office or to be elected to such office; 
 
(c)  
Disqualification for the offices or public employments and for the 
exercise of any of the rights mentioned; and 
 


(d)  
Loss of all rights to retirement pay or other pension for any office. 
 
Section 13.  Disputable Presumption. - The commission of any of the 
prohibited acts described in this Act against any member of the Bench or Bar shall 
give rise to a disputable presumption that the same has been committed on account 
of, in relation to, on the occasion of, or arising from a lawyer’s representation, or a 
judge’s presiding over a case.  
 
CHAPTER IV 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
Section 14. Liability Under Other Laws. - A prosecution under this Act shall 
be without prejudice to any liability for violation of any provision of the Revised Penal 
Code, as amended, or special laws. 
 
Section 15.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Council shall issue 
within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act the necessary rules and regulations 
for the effective implementation of this Act. 
Section 16.  Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, proclamations, 
rules, regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
Section 17.  Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected shall 
continue to remain in full force and effect. 
Section 18.  Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
completion of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,