EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. NO.
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3! i 'r
'19 
JUL -1 P5 :57
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT
AMENDING 
REPUBLIC 
ACT 
NO. 
9262, 
DEFINING 
ELECTRONIC 
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OR E-VAW, PROVIDING PROTECTIVE 
MEASURES AND 
PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Since the enactment of Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against 
Women and Their Children Act of 2004 ("VAWC Law"), women and their children 
have been provided with additional legal alternatives and protection against 
abusive conduct and violence. However, the law has not taken into consideration 
the prevalent and widespread reach of the internet and communications 
technology.
With the ongoing development in information and communications technology, 
the general public has gained another medium of expression, both responsibly 
and irresponsibly. More than a form of communication, social media was used in 
several instances as a mode of disseminating scandals involving both television 
personalities and private individuals. While Republic Act No. 9995 or the Anti- 
Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, sought to prevent further acts of said 
nature from permeating the various medium of information and communications 
technology, the said law failed to address the form of violence brought on 
victims of such scandals, by reason of their special relationships with their 
assailants.


In this regard, the proposed amendment of the VAWC Law includes electronic 
violence against women and to offer protection to women in the form of E-VAW 
Protection Orders.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly recommended.
MARIA LOURDES^ANCY S. BINAY 
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
)
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE,
S.B. NO. 
1 - r l
, 
. d t:). s'f trfari'
•19 JUL -1 P5 57
_tuj_
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
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AN ACT
AMENDING 
REPUBLIC 
ACT 
NO. 
9262, 
DEFINING 
ELECTRONIC 
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OR E-VAW, PROVIDING PROTECTIVE 
MEASURES AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as "The E-VAW Law of
2019."
Sec. 2. Section 3(a) of Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the 
Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, is hereby amended 
to read as follows:
"SECTION 3. Definition o f Terms. -  As used in this Act,
(a) 'Violence against women and their children 'refer to any act 
or series of acts committed by any person against a woman 
who is his wife, former wife, or against a woman with whom the 
person has or had a sexual or dating relationship, or with whom 
he has a common child, or against her child whether legitimate 
or illegitimate, within or without the family abode, which result 
in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or


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suffering, or economic abuse including threats of such acts, 
battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of 
liberty. It includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:
X X
E. 
"ELECTRONIC VIOLENCE" REFERS TO ANY ACT OR 
OMISSION 
INVOLVING THE USE OR 
EXPLOITATION OF 
EPHEMERAL DATA OR ANY FORM OF INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) WHICH CAUSES OR IS 
LIKELY TO CAUSE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL 
DISTRESS OR SUFFERING TO THE VICTIM, INCLUDING BUT 
NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
1. UNAUTHORIZED 
RECORDING, 
REPRODUCTION 
OR 
DISTRIBUTION OF VIDEOS SHOWING THE VICTIM'S 
PRIVATE 
AREA 
OR 
THE 
VICTIM'S 
NAKED 
OR 
UNDERGARMENT-CLAD 
GENITALS, 
PUBIC 
AREA, 
BUTTOCKS OR BREASTS;
2. UPLOADING OR SHARING WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF 
THE VICTIM, ANY FORM OF MEDIA THAT CONTAIN 
PICTURES, VOICE OR VIDEO OF THE VICTIM WITH 
LEWD, INDECENT, OBSCENE OR SEXUAL CONTENT;
3. HARASSING OR THREATENING THE VICTIM THROUGH 
TEXT MESSAGING OR OTHER CYBER, ELECTRONIC OR 
MULTIMEDIA MEANS;


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4. CYBER-STALKING WHICH INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT 
LIMITED TO THE HACKING OF PERSONAL ACCOUNTS 
ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES AND THE USE OF 
LOCATION TRACKERS ON CELLULAR DEVICES; AND
5. UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THE VICTIM'S PICTURE, 
VIDEO, VOICE, NAME OR ANY OTHER ASPECT OF THE 
VICTIM'S IDENTITY AND DISTRIBUTING THE SAME IN 
ANY VIDEO GAME, PHONE APPLICATION, PROGRAM 
AND THE LIKE, WHICH PUTS OR TENDS TO PUT THE 
VICTIM IN A BAD LIGHT OR INJURE THE VICTIM'S 
REPUTATION."
Sec. 3. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the Anti- 
Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, is hereby amended to 
read as follows:
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"SECTION 5. Acts o f Violence Against Women and Their 
Children. -  The crime of violence against women and their 
children is committed through any of the following acts:
X X X
(J) CAUSING ELECTRONIC VIOLENCE AGAINST A WOMAN OR 
HER CHILD; AND
(K) THREATENING TO CAUSE ELECTRONIC VIOLENCE AGAINST 
A WOMAN OR HER CHILD."


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Sec. 4. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the Anti-
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Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, is hereby amended to
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read as follows:
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"SECTION 6. Penalties. -T he crime of violence against women 
and their children, under Section 5 hereof shall be punished 
according to the following rules:
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(G) ACTS FALLING UNDER SECTION 5(J) SHALL BE PUNISHED 
BY PRISION CORRECCIONAL) AND
(H) ACTS FALLING UNDER SECTION 5(K) SHALL BE PUNISHED 
BY ARRESTO MA YOR.
(I) ANY ACT OR OMISSION 
INVOLVING THE 
USE OR 
EXPLOITATION 
OF 
ANY 
FORM 
OF 
INFORMATION 
AND 
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) WHICH CAUSES OR IS 
LIKELY TO CAUSE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL 
DISTRESS 
OR SUFFERING TO THE VICTIM, 
SHALL 
BE 
PUNISHED BY PRISION CORRECCIONAL OR A FINE IN THE 
AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND 
PESOS (P300,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000.00)
If the acts are committed while the woman or child is pregnant 
or committed in the presence of her child, the penalty to be 
applied shall be the maximum period of penalty prescribed in 
the section.


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In addition to imprisonment, the perpetrator shall (a) pay
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a fine in the amount of not less than One Hundred Thousand
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Pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than Three Hundred
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Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00), PROVIDED, THAT, IN E-VAW
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CASES, THE FINE THAT MAY BE IMPOSED SHALL NOT BE LESS
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THAN THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (R300,000.00) BUT
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NOT 
MORE 
THAN 
FIVE 
HUNDRED 
THOUSAND 
PESOS
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(P500,000.00); (b) undergo mandatory psychological counseling
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or psychiatric treatment and shall report compliance to the
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court."
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Sec. 5. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the Anti-
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Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, is hereby amended to
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read as follows:
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"SECTION 8. Protection Orders. -  A protection order is an order
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issued under this Act for the purpose of preventing further acts
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of violence against a woman or her child specified in Section 5
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of this Act and grating other necessary relief. The relief granted
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under a protection order serves the purpose of safeguarding
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the victim from further harm, minimizing any disruption in the
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victim's daily life, and facilitating the opportunity and ability of
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the victim to independently regain control over her life. The
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provisions of the protection order shall be enforced by law
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enforcement agencies. The protection orders that may be
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issued under this Act are the barangay protection order (BPO),
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temporary protection order (TPO), [and] permanent protection
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order (PPO) AND E-VAW PROTECTION ORDER (EPO) FOR
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CASES OF ELECTRONIC VIOLENCE. The protection orders that


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may be issued under this Act shall include any, some or all of 
the following reliefs:
XXX
(I) 
For 
E-VAW cases, 
ordering the 
immediate 
blocking, 
blacklisting, removal or shut down of any upload, program or 
application that causes or tends to cause violence against the 
victim.
Any of the reliefs provided under this section shall be granted 
even in the absence of a decree of legai separation or 
annulment or declaration of absolute nullity of marriage.
The issuance of a BPO or the pendency of an application for 
BPO shall not prejudice a petitioner from applying for, or the 
court from granting a TPO, [or] PPO OR EPO."
Sec. 7. Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the Anti- 
Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, is hereby amended to 
read as follows:
"SECTION 11. How to Apply for a Protection Order. -  The 
application for a protection order must be in writing, signed and 
verified under oath by the applicant. It may be filed as an 
independent action or as an incidental relief in any civil or 
criminal case the subject matter or issues thereof partakes of a 
violence as described in this Act. A standard protection order 
application form, written in English with translation to the major 
local 
languages, 
shall 
be 
made 
available 
to 
facilitate
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applications for protection order, and shall contain, among 
others, the foilowing information:
(a) Names and addresses of petitioner and respondent;
(b) 
Description 
of relationships 
between 
petitioner and 
respondent;
(c) A statement of the circumstances of abuse;
(d) Description of the reliefs requested by petitioner as 
specified in Section 8 herein;
(e) Request for counsel and reasons for such;
(f) Request for waiver of applications fees until hearing; and
(g) An attestation that there is no pending appiication for a 
protection order in another court.
If the applicant is not the victim, the application must be 
accompanied by an affidavit of the applicant attesting to: (a) 
The circumstances of the abuse suffered by the victim; and (b) 
The circumstances of consent given by the victim for the filing 
of the application. When disclosure of the address of the victim 
wili pose danger to her life, it shall be so stated in the 
application. In such a case, the applicant shall attest that the 
victim is residing in the municipality or city over which court 
has territorial jurisdiction, and shall provide a mailing address 
for purpose of service processing.
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An application for protection order filed with a court shall be 
considered an application for both a TPO and PPO.
AN 
APPLICATION 
FOR 
BPO, 
TPO 
OR 
PPO 
SHALL 
AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDE AN APPLICATION FOR EPO. THE 
LATTER MAY BE ISSUED AS PART OF THE CONDITIONS FOR 
THE BPO, TPO OR PPO OR AS A SEPARATE PROTECTION 
ORDER.
Barangay officials and court personnel shall assist applicants in 
the preparation of the application. Law enforcement agents 
shall also extend assistance in the application for protection 
orders in cases brought to their attention."
Sec. 8. Section 16-A is hereby inserted to read as follows:
"SECTION 16-A. E-VAW PROTECTION ORDER. -  IN CASES OF 
ELECTRONIC VIOLENCE, A E-VAW PROTECTION ORDER MAY 
ISSUED SIMULTANEOUSLY OR SUBSEQUENT TO THE 
ISSUANCE OF A BPO, TPO OR PPO.
E-VAW PROTECTION ORDERS SHALL BE ISSUED BY THE 
BARANGAY OR THE COURTS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, 
INDEPENDENTLY OF OR IN ADDITION TO NON-E-VAW 
PROTECTION ORDERS. HOWEVER, AN E-VAW PROTECTION 
ORDER, ONCE ISSUED, DOES NOT EXPIRE AND CONTINUES 
TO TAKE EFFECT WHILE THE CASE IS PENDING AND UNTIL 
THE SAME IS REVOKED BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT."


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Sec. 9. Section 39 of Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the Anti- 
Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, is hereby amended to 
read as follows:
"Section 39. Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women 
and 
Their Children 
(lAC-VAWC). 
In 
pursuance 
of 
the 
abovementioned policy, there is hereby established an Inter- 
Agency Council on Violence Against Women and Their Children, 
hereinafter known as the Council, which shall be composed of 
the following agencies:
(a) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
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(b) National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); AND
(M) DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DOST).
These agencies are tasked to formulate programs and projects 
to eliminate VAW based on their mandates as well as develop 
capability programs for their employees to become more 
sensitive to the needs of their clients. The Council will also serve 
as the monitoring body as regards to VAW initiatives.
The Council members may designate their duly authorized 
representative who shall have a rank not lower than an 
assistant secretary or its equivalent. These representatives shall 
attend Council meetings in their behalf, and shall receive 
emoluments as 
may 
be determined 
by the Council 
in
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accordance with existing budget and accounting rules and 
regulations."
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. If any portion or provision of this Act is 
declared void and unconstitutional, the remaining portions or provisions hereof 
shall not be affected by such declaration.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, 
other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,
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