Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING THE HOLDING OR DETENTION OF HUMAN REMAINS OR CADAVERS BY 
HOSPITALS, CLINICS, MORGUES, AND FUNERAL PARLORS FOR NON-PAYMENT OF 
HOSPITAL/MEDICAL BILLS AND FUNERAL EXPENSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Thousands of Filipinos live below the poverty line. The majority are just able to make ends meet. 
But when sickness or death strikes, it is an added stress on the part of our countrymen on how to 
come up with the required amount of money needed to settle hospital and funeral costs. In a country 
where the value of family is deeply ingrained in our culture, we like to honor our dead by giving 
them a proper burial as a send-off.    
It has been a common practice of hospitals and funeral parlors to hold hostage the death certificate 
or the human remains of our loved ones on account of non-payment in full of expenses incurred. 
Though some agree on promissory notes, most do not. This then becomes an added burden for the 
family who will then resort to loan sharks, sell their belongings or at the extreme, commit a crime 
just to raise the necessary funds to pay for the said services.  
This bill aims to relieve that stress by making mandatory the release of the human remains and 
death certificates upon the execution of the proper promissory notes.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the Filipino 
people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
August 23, 2022
2:27 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING THE HOLDING OR DETENTION OF HUMAN REMAINS OR CADAVERS BY 
HOSPITALS, CLINICS, MORGUES, AND FUNERAL PARLORS FOR NON-PAYMENT OF 
HOSPITAL/MEDICAL BILLS AND FUNERAL EXPENSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act that be known as the “Anti-Human Remains/Cadaver Detention 
Act of 2022.” 
SECTION 2. Holding/Detaining of Human Remains or Cadavers. – It shall be declared 
unlawful for any hospital, clinic, funeral parlor, morgue, mortuary, or any other similar businesses 
that provide medical or funeral service to cause directly or indirectly, the holding, detention of 
human remains or cadavers from being released to their surviving relatives or any person taking 
responsibility for the body for reasons of non-payment in part or in full of any hospital and medical 
bills or funeral related service, including autopsy, transport of cadaver, embalmment, casket, wake 
services, and burial or cremation.  
SECTION 3.  Release of Death Certificate. – It shall likewise be declared unlawful for any 
individual to cause directly or indirectly the non-issuance of a Death Certificate on the account of 
non-payment, whether in part or in full, of hospital bills, medical expenses, professional fees, and 
funeral-related services. 
SECTION 4. Execution of Promissory Notes. – Surviving relatives or any person taking 
responsibility for the cadaver who are financially incapable of settling their hospital, medical, and/or 
funeral services, in part or whole, shall be allowed to secure the cadaver, be provided with the death 
certificate and given the necessary burial/cremation services after executing a proper promissory 
note to cover all accrued expenses. The said promissory note shall be secured by a mortgage or by 
a guarantee of a co-maker, who will be jointly and severally liable with the relatives or responsible 
person/s for all the unpaid obligations. The said promissory note/s are legally binding. 
SECTION 5. Penalties. – Any person of the hospital or funeral parlor or morgue who violates the 
provisions of this Act shall be fined Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or imprisonment of six (6) 
months, or both such fines at the discretion of the proper court. The hospital, medical clinic, funeral 
parlor, morgue, or mortuary shall likewise be subjected to suspension of their business permit for a 
period of three (months), subject to the severity of their violations and upon recommendation of 
the City Health Officer and/or City Social Worker. 
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Person/s who executed the promissory note, together with their co-makers, who do not comply with 
the terms as stated in their agreement, shall likewise be held equally liable, subject to the conditions 
of their promissory notes and other penalties of which are at the discretion of the proper court.  
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Health shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper and effective implementation of this 
Act.  
 
 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. – If for any reason, a provision or part hereof is declared 
invalid, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, regulations, or 
parts or provisions of this Act, which are inconsistent herewith are hereby deemed repealed, 
amended, or modified.  
 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,