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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE
S. B. No. 1250
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*16 NOV 22 A 9 :24
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Introduced by Senator Ana Theresia “ Risa” Hontiveros - Baraquel
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7877,
OR THE ANTI - SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACT OF 1995
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 has been considered as a landmark 
legislation for explicitly criminalizing unwelcome sexual advances between a 
person in authority and his or her subordinate. The law defines Sexual 
Harassment as “committed by an employer, employee, manager, supervisor, 
agent of the employer, teacher, instructor, professor, coach, trainor, or any other 
person who, having authority, influence or moral ascendancy over another in a 
work or training or education environment, demands, requests or otherwise 
requires any sexual favor from the other, regardless of whether the demand, 
request or requirement for submission is accepted by the object.”
However, this definition is limiting in that it only addresses sexual advances when 
done in situations of institutional power asymmetry. Cases in which both the 
offender and the offended party are peers or have the same rank or status, or 
when the offended party is the superior officer in a work or education 
environment, do not fall within the current framework of sexual harassment.
This bill addresses this gap by introducing peer-to-peer sexual harassment, the 
net effect of which creates a hostile environment for the offended party. This bill 
likewise provides protections for the offended party during the duration of the 
investigation to ensure that there will be no reprisals and other retaliatory acts 
from the offender.
Sexual harassment as a form of gender-based violence (GBV) diminishes 
women's ability to thrive and enjoy their freedoms and liberties. Expanding the 
definition of sexual harassment in the Philippines and strengthening the 
mechanisms to address all acts of sexual harassment will ensure that women are 
protected from all forms of discrimination and a safe, nurturing environment is 
created that will promote the participation of women in all aspects of economic, 
social, political, cultural development.
The passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
ANA THERESIA “ RISA” HONTIVEROS - 
BARAQUEL


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
‘ 
n (  ( I l f  
t l  I ) t y
'16 
NGV22 
A 9:2 4
SENATE
S. B. No. 1250
Rl
■V: y
Introduced by Senator Ana Theresia “ Risa” Hontiveros - Baraiquel
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7877,
OR THE ANTI SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACT OF 1995
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. T77/e. -  This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 2016”.
Section 2. Sexual harassment, when and how committed. Section 3 of Republic Act No.
7877, is hereby deleted and replaced with a new Section 3, which will read as follows:
SECTION 3.
THE CRIME OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT SHALL BE DEFINED AS:
1. AN ACT OR SERIES OF ACTS INVOLVING ANY UNWELCOME 
SEXUAL ADVANCES, REQUESTS OR DEMAND FOR SEXUAL 
FAVORS OR ANY ACT OF A SEXUAL NATURE, WHETHER DONE 
VERBALLY, PHYSICALLY OR THROUGH THE USE OF 
TECHNOLOGY, THAT HAS OR COULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL 
EFFECT ON THE CONDITIONS OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S EMPLOYMENT 
OR EDUCATION, JOB PERFORMANCE OR OPPORTUNITIES;
2. A CONDUCT OF A SEXUAL NATURE AND OTHER CONDUCT BASED 
ON SEX AFFECTING THE DIGNITY OF A PERSON, WHICH IS 
UNWELCOME, UNREASONABLE, AND OFFENSIVE TO THE 
RECIPIENT; AND
3. A CONDUCT THAT IS UNWELCOME AND PERVASIVE AND 
CREATES AN INTIMIDATING, HOSTILE OR HUMILIATING 
ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RECIPIENT;
PROVIDED THAT THE CRIME OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT MAY ALSO 
BE COMMITTED BETWEEN PEERS AND THOSE COMMITTED TO A 
SUPERIOR OFFICER BY A SUBORDINATE, OR TO A TEACHER BY A 
STUDENT, OR TO A TRAINER BY A TRAINEE.
Section 3. Privacy and protection of the offended party. A new provision shall be
inserted into Republic Act No. 7877, which will read as follows:
THE RIGHT OF THE OFFENDED PARTY TO PRIVACY IN ALL STAGES OF 
THE INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION AND TRIAL AND PROTECTION 
FROM RETALIATORY ACTS BY THE OFFENDER SUCH AS: TERMINATION, 
DENIAL OF PROMOTION, THREATS, UNJUSTIFIED NEGATIVE


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EVALUATIONS, OR RETALIATORY SUITS AGAINST THE OFFENDED 
PARTY SHALL BE ENSURED.
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Section 4. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and 
operational.
Section 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, circulars, issuances, rules and 
regulations and parts thereof which are inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly.
Section 6. Effectivity. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,