NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1408
(4
o( Iljf Ji tiPtdip
*22 OCT 20 A8:15
RECEIV£0 BY:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PROTECTING SENIOR CITIZENS FROM VIOLENCE, DEFINING ELDER 
ABUSE, AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Filipino families are known for their great respect, appreciation and care for the 
elderlies. Our lolos and bias are beloved figures in the household, part of extended 
families and are often taken cared of by their children and grandchildren.
While elderly care is characteristic of Filipino culture, from time to time we hear 
heartbreaking stories of maltreatment and abuse of senior citizens, perpetrated no 
less by their own family members. Unfortunately, the cases of physical and emotional 
cruelty inflicted against senior citizens were aggravated by the ongoing Covid-19 
pandemic, which forced the elderly population to be confined with their potential 
abusers at home for an extended period of time1.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines "elder abuse" as "a single or 
repeated act, or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where 
there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. This 
type of violence constitutes a violation of human rights and includes physical, sexual, 
psychological and emotional abuse, financial and material abuse, abandonment, 
neglect and serious loss of dignity and respect2." WHO, which describes it is an
1 "Elder abuse increased during COVID-19 pandemic - CHR official." June 15, 2020. 
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1291743/elder-abuse-increased-during-covid-19-pandemic-chr-official
2 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/elder-abuse


important public health concern, also enumerates interventions to respond to and 
prevent further abuse, to wit3:
Mandatory reporting of abuse to authorities 
Safe houses and emergency shelters 
Psychological programs for abusers
• 
Helplines to provide information and referrals
• 
Caregiver support interventions
This measure defines elder abuse, prescribes mandatory programs and services 
for senior citizens who are victims of violence, institutes procedures and mechanisms 
in responding to cases of violence, and provides a legal framework to prevent further 
acts of abuse against the elderly, similar to those recommended by the WHO.
This bill is part of the legislative agenda of the updated Philippine Development 
Plan 2017-2022 intended to address individual life cycle risks and reduce vulnerabilities 
of Filipinos.
Consistent with the Constitutional provision valuing the dignity of every human 
person and full respect for human rights, and our commitments to several international 
human rights conventions, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMON
iNG REVILLA, JR.
H
' Ibid.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 1408
Ij/Jt denari-
of tl)c iS'rc rf;ii t>
72 OCT 20 A8:15
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG RE VILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PROTECTING SENIOR CITIZENS FROM VIOLENCE, DEFINING ELDER 
ABUSE, AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Elder Abuse Act."
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
3 
value the dignity of senior citizens and thereby guarantee full respect for human rights.
4 
The State also recognizes the need to protect the family and its members, particularly
5 
the senior citizens from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and
6 
coercion, especially acts deleterious to their personal safety and security.
7 
Towards this end, the State shall exert effort to address all forms of violence,
8 
abuse, neglect, exploitation and coercion, especially acts deleterious to their personal
9 
safety, security, dignity or any discriminatory act committed against senior citizens in
10 
keeping with the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution and the
11 
provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
12 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
13 
a) Domestic violence refers to acts or threats of violence on a senior citizen to
14 
exclude an act of self-defense, committed by any of the following:
15 
1) Current or former spouse of the victim;
16 
2) A person related by blood or marriage to the victim;
17 
3) A person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim;


1 
4) A person with whom the victim shares a child in common;
2 
5) A person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or
3 
intimate nature with the victim; or
4 
6) A person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim, or by any other
5 
person, if the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction of the
6 
victim provide for legal protection of the victim.
7 
b) Elder abuse refers to a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action,
8 
occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust,
9 
which causes harm or distress to a senior citizen. It includes any act or
10 
series of acts committed by any person against a senior citizen, within or
11 
outside the family abode, which result or is likely to result in physical or
12 
psychological harm, suffering or distress, or neglect including threats of
13 
such acts, battery, physical assault, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of
14 
liberty. This includes physical violence, psychological or emotional,
15 
economic or domestic violence, and neglect or abandonment;
16 
c) Emotional abuse refers to acts that include shouting, swearing, scaring or
17 
humiliating a senior citizen through name-calling, ridiculing, constant
18 
criticism, accusing, blaming, showing disrespect, ignoring, or giving them
19 
the silent treatment;
20 
d) Safe place or shelter refers to any home or institution maintained or
21 
managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
22 
or any other suitable place that is willing to accommodate the aggrieved
23 
senior citizen;
24 
e) Senior citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty
25 
(60) years old as defined under Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as
26 
the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010."
27 
Sec. 4. Acts of Violence Against a Senior Citizen. - Acts of violence against a
28 
senior citizen are acts that cause harm or distress committed once or repeatedly
29 
through any of the following:
30 
a) Physical abuse or infliction of pain or injury with the use of physical force
31 
resulting in bodily injury, physical harm, pain or impairment, suffering or
32 
distress;


1 
b) Psychological, mental or emotional abuse causing mental or emotional
2 
suffering or distress;
3 
c) Materiai exploitation through illegal or improper use of funds or resources
4 
of the senior citizen; and economic or financial abuse through acts that
5 
make the senior citizen financially dependent; and
6 
d) Abandonment or desertion by leaving a senior citizen unattended at a place
7 
for such a considerable length of time, as may be likely to endanger the
8 
health and welfare of a senior citizen, by an individual who has assumed
9 
responsibility for providing care for the senior citizen, or by a person with
10 
custody of the senior citizen.
11 
Sec. 5. Rights of a Senior Citizen Who is a Victim of Violence. - During the
12 
pendency of the case involving vioience against a senior citizen, in addition to those
13 
provided under existing laws, a senior citizen shall have the following rights:
14 
a) To avail of protection and legal assistance from the Public Attorney's Office
15 
(PAO) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or any public legal assistance
16 
office;
17 
b) To be entitled to support services from the DSWD and the Local Government
18 
Unit (LGU) concerned;
19 
c) To be entitled to all legal remedies as provided for by laws;
20 
d) To be informed, through the Senior Citizen Help Desk established
21 
hereunder, of the senior citizen's rights and services available, including the
22 
right to apply for a protection order; and
23 
e) To be entitled to actual, compensatory, moral and exemplary damages.
24 
Sec. 6. Mandatory Programs and Services for a Senior Citizen Who is a Victim
25 
of Violence. - The DSWD, in coordination with the LGUs, shail provide a senior citizen,
26 
who is a victim of violence and similar acts, with the following services:
27 
a) A safe place or temporary shelter, such as senior housing or nursing home
28 
or other suitable facility or service, when appropriate, as emergency short-
29 
term shelters. This safe place or temporary shelter 
shall provide
30 
counselling, psycho-social services, recovery or rehabilitation programs and
31 
livelihood assistance;
32 
b) Counselling, healing, recovery and rehabilitation services; and


1 
c) Appropriate programs to ensure the personal safety and security of a senior
2 
citizen and prevent the recurrence of violent acts committed against them.
3 
The Department of Health (DOH) shall provide medical assistance to senior
4 
citizens who are victims or survivors of violence and similar acts.
5 
Sec. 7. Response to a Request for Assistance. - In responding to a request for
6 
assistance, a barangay official or law enforcer shall have the following duties:
7 
a) Respond immediately to a call for help or request for protection of the
8 
victim by entering the offended party's dwelling, if necessary, whether or
9 
not a protection order has been issued to ensure the safety of the victim;
10 
b) Confiscate any harmful object in the possession of the perpetrator, or one
11 
which is within plain view;
12 
c) Transport the victim to a barangay hall, or to a clinic or hospital;
13 
d) Assist the victim in removing personal belongings from the dwelling;
14 
e) Ensure the enforcement of the Protection Order (PO) issued by the Lupong
15 
Tagapamayapa, the Punong Barangay or Barangay Chairperson, and the
16 
court;
17 
f) Arrest the suspected perpetrator even without a warrant when any of the
18 
acts of violence defined in this Act is occurring, or on a personal knowledge,
19 
an act of violence has been committed, and there is imminent danger to
20 
the life or limb of the senior citizen as defined in this Act; and
21 
g) Immediately report the call for assistance to the DSWD, the LGU or
22 
accredited non-government organization (NGO).
23 
Sec. 8. Philippine National Police (PNP) Protocol in Responding to Violence
24 
Committed Against a Senior Citizen. - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is hereby
25 
directed to adopt a written protocol establishing written guidelines and procedures to
26 
be followed by police officers in responding to requests for assistance and calls related
27 
to violence against senior citizens.
28 
Sec. 9. Education and Training Programs for Law Enforcement Officers and
29 
Persons Involved in Responding to Cases of Violence Against a Senior Citizen. - All
30 
persons involved in responding to cases on all forms of abuse, violence, threats to
31 
personal safety and security or any discriminatory act committed against a senior
32 
citizen, shall be required to undergo education and training. The PNP, in coordination


1 
with the LGU concerned and the DSWD, shall establish education and training
2 
programs to assist law enforcement officers and barangay officials to enable them to
3 
properly handle cases of violence against senior citizens and acquaint them with:
4 
a) The nature, extent, and cause of violence;
5 
b) The legal rights and remedies available to victims of violence;
6 
c) The services and facilities available to victims or survivors;
7 
d) The duties imposed on police officers in making lawful arrest and to offer
8 
protection and assistance; and
9 
e) The necessary techniques to be employed in handling incidents of violence
10 
to minimize the likelihood of injury to the officer and promote the safety of
11 
the victim or survivor.
12 
Sec. 10. Mandatory Reporting of Domestic Violence. - A public officer who
13 
receives a complaint of violence committed against a senior citizen, or the head of a
14 
public or private hospital, medical clinic or similar institution, as well as the attending
15 
physician or nurse, clinician, barangay health worker, therapist or counsellor who
16 
examined or rendered treatment to a senior citizen victim, shall make a report of the
17 
complaint, examination or treatment within forty-eight (48) hours from the time of the
18 
complaint, examination or treatment to the nearest police station.
19 
All public workers and medical professionals who have knowledge of the
20 
incident involving domestic violence and to whom said abuse or violence was reported
21 
or revealed in the course of the performance of official duty, shall immediately report
22 
the incident to the proper authorities.
23 
In all cases, a report shall be made to any law enforcement agency within forty-
24 
eight (48) hours from knowledge of the same. Whereupon, investigation shall
25 
immediately follow. The DSWD shall assign a social worker to verify incidents of
26 
violence and file a petition for PO, if warranted.
27 
Sec. 11. Establishment of a Senior Citizen Help Desk. - Every barangay shall
28 
establish a Senior Citizen Help Desk which shall provide immediate assistance to
29 
victim-survivors of abuse. Besides barangay officials, it may be manned by
30 
representatives of the senior citizen sector or by members of a local senior citizen
31 
organization designated and authorized by the Barangay Council or Chairperson.


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Sec. 12. Special Protection Units. - The DOJ is hereby directed to establish 
special units that shall handle complaints of violence against senior citizens as defined 
in this Act, and the prosecution thereof.
Sec. 13. Venue.- Ihe Regional Trial Court (RTC) designated as a Family Court 
shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over cases of violence against senior 
citizens as provided in this Act. In the absence of such a court in the place where the 
offense was committed, the case shall be filed in the nearest RTC where the crime or 
any of its elements was committed at the option of the complainant.
Sec. 14. Protection Order. - A Protection Order (PO) is an injunction under this 
Act that may be requested or issued for the purpose of preventing further acts of 
abuse or violence against senior citizens as specified in Section 4 of this Act and 
granting other necessary relief. The provisions of the PO shall be enforced by law 
enforcement agencies.
The types of PO that may be issued under this Act are as follows:
a) Barangay Protection Order (BPO);
b) Temporary Protection Order (TPO); and
c) Permanent Protection Order (PPO).
The PO that may be issued under this Act shall include any or all of the following
relief^:
a) Prohibiting the respondent from threatening to commit, personally or 
through another, any of the acts of violence as defined in Section 4;
b) Whenever applicable, prohibiting the respondent to immediately leave the 
domicile or residence of the petitioners, or offended party, regardless of 
ownership of the residence. If personal effects must be removed from the 
residence, the Court shall direct a law enforcement officer to accompany 
the respondent to the residence, remain there, until respondent has 
gathered all belongings, and to escort the respondent from the residence;
c) Prohibiting the respondent to stay away from the petitioner or the offended 
party within a distance to be determined by the Court, and to stay away 
from the residence, place of work, school and such other places frequented 
by the petitioner or offended party;


1 
d) Prohibiting the respondent from communicating or contacting, in any
2 
manner, directly or indirectly, the petitioner or offended party;
3 
e) Directing the proper law enforcement agencies to enforce the provisions of
4 
this Section;
5 
f) Directing the DSWD and the Social Welfare Development Office (SWDO) of
6 
the LGU concerned to provide therapy, counselling, and other support
7 
services to the petitioner or offended party;
8 
g) Restitution for actual damages caused by the violence inflicted, including
9 
but not limited to, property damaged, medical expenses, and loss of income,
10 
if any; and
11 
h) Such other relief as deemed necessary by the Court for the protection of
12 
the petitioner and such other persons who may be in need of the same.
13 
Any of the reliefs provided herein shall be granted even in the absence of a
14 
decree of legal separation or annulment, or declaration of absolute nullity of marriage,
15 
in appropriate cases.
16 
The application for a PO must be in writing, signed and verified under oath by
17 
the applicant. If the applicant is not the victim, the application must be accompanied
18 
by an affidavit of the applicant attesting to;
19 
1) The circumstances of the disclosure of the violence or abuse suffered by the
20 
victim; and
21 
2) The circumstances of consent, or lack thereof, given by the victim for the
22 
filing of the application.
23 
When disclosure of the address of the abused senior citizen will pose danger to
24 
that person's life, it shall be stated in the application. In such a case, the applicant
25 
shall attest that the victim is residing in the municipality or city over which the Court
26 
has territorial jurisdiction, and shall provide a mailing address for the purpose of the
27 
service of court processes.
28 
The standard application form for PO shall include the following information:
29 
1) Names and addresses of petitioner and respondent;
30 
2) Description of relationship between petitioner and respondent, in the case
31 
of violence within the context of Section 4 of this Act;
32 
3) Statement of the circumstances and the nature of violence or abuse;


1 
4) Description of the reliefs requested by the petitioner as specified in this
2 
section;
3 
5) Request for counsel and reasons for such request;
4 
6) Request for waiver of application fees until hearing; and
5 
7) An attestation that there is no pending application for a PO in another court.
6 
Any of the following persons may file the petition for a PO:
7 
1) The offended party;
8 
2) Any member of the family or household of the offended party as defined in
9 
this Act;
10 
3) Social worker from the DSWD or the SWDO of the concerned LGU or any
11 
accredited social welfare organization;
12 
4) Law enforcement officer or agent;
13 
5) Lawyer, counsellor, therapist or healthcare provider of the offended party;
14 
and
15 
6) Any concerned citizen of the community who has personal knowledge of the
16 
offense committed.
17 
No filing fee shall be required in the application for a PO.
18 
An application for a PO filed with a court shall be considered an application for
19 
both a TPO and a PPO.
20 
Sec. 15. Transfer of Residence; New Application Needed. - A petitioner
21 
previously granted a BPO under this Act and who desires to relocate to a new
22 
residence outside the original city or municipality of residence has to apply for a new
23 
BPO.
24 
When the PO has been issued by a Court of competent jurisdiction and the
25 
person in whose favor it is issued transfers to a place outside the court's jurisdiction,
26 
the person may still have the order enforced by filing a petition before a court in the
27 
place where the person has transferred. The petition to enforce the order shall include
28 
a copy of the previously obtained PO. The respondent shall be notified of the issuance
29 
of a new PO.
30 
Sec. 16. Legal Representation of Applicant for a PO. - If a petitioner for a PO
31 
is requesting for the appointment of a counsel because of lack of economic means to
32 
hire a counsel de parte, the Court shall immediately direct the Office of the Public


1 
Prosecutor who has jurisdiction over the case to represent the petitioner in the hearing
2 
on the application sought. The applicant who cannot afford to hire the services of a
3 
private counsel, or lacks access to family or conjugal resources such as when the same
4 
are controlled by the abuser, shall qualify for iegal representation by the DOJ, the
5 
Public Prosecutors' Office or the PAO.
6 
However, a private counsel offering free legal service is not barred from
7 
representing the petitioner with the latter's consent, and with the approval of the
8 
Court.
9 
Sec. 17. Barangay Protection Order. - A Barangay Protection Order (BPO) is
10 
issued by the Lupong Tagapamayapa and the Punong Barangay or Barangay
11 
Chairperson. The issuance of a BPO or the pendency of an application for a BPO shall
12 
not preclude petitioner from applying for, or the Court from granting, a TPO or PPO.
13 
Application for a BPO shall follow the Rules on venue under the Local
14 
Government Code of 1991 and its implementing rules and regulations.
15 
A Punong Barangay or Barangay Chairperson who receives application for a
16 
BPO shall issue the PO to the applicant on the date of filing after ex parte
17 
determination of the basis of the application. If the Punong Barangay or Barangay
18 
Chairperson is unavailable to act on the application for a BPO, the appiication shall be
19 
acted upon by any available Lupong Tagapamayapa ox Barangay Kagawad. If the BPO
20 
is issued by a Barangay Kagawad, the order must be accompanied by an attestation
21 
by the Barangay Kagawad that the Punong Barangay ax\^ the Lupong Tagapamayapa
22 
were not available at the time of the issuance of the BPO.
23 
A BPO issued by a Lupong Tagapamayapa, a Punong Barangay or Barangay
24 
Chairperson and Barangay Kagawad may cover only the relief provided in Section 14
25 
hereof and shall be effective for fifteen (15) days. Immediately after the issuance of
26 
an ex parte BPO, the Punong Barangay ox Kagawad personally serve a copy of
21 
the same to the respondent, or direct any barangay official to personally serve the
28 
order.
29 
Within forty-eight (48) hours of issuance of an ex parte BPO, the Punong
30 
Barangay ox Barangay Kagawad must refer the case to the Lupong Tagapamayapa.
31 
The case shall be heard by the Lupong Tagapamayapa within seven (7) days from the
32 
date of referral and within the fifteen (15) - day effectivity of the ex parte BPO.


1 
Notice of the hearing shall be given to both parties. Subsequent to a hearing
2 
on the merits of the application, the Lupong Tagapamayapa may extend a BPO that
3 
grants relief under Section 14 for a period of six (6) months. The issuance of a BPO
4 
shall not preclude any applicant from applying or receiving a subsequent BPO
5 
concerning the same matter.
6 
Sec. 18. Temporary Protection Order (TPO). - A Temporary Protection Order
7 
(TPO) may be issued by a Court prior to the issuance of a Permanent Protection Order
8 
(PPO) and shall be based on an application under Section 14 herein. Any application
9 
for TPO or PPO must be made with the RTC, Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial
10 
Court or Municipal Circuit Trial Court with territorial jurisdiction over the place of
11 
residence of the petitioner or offended party who suffered violence described under
12 
Section 4 of this Act: Provided, however, That if a Family Court exists in the place of
13 
residence of the person for whom the application is made, the application shall be
14 
filed with that Court.
15 
A Court that receives an application for a PO shall issue a TPO on the date of
16 
filing of the application after 
determination that such order shall be issued.
17 
The TPO shall be effective for thirty (30) days. The Court shall schedule a hearing on
18 
the issuance of a PPO prior to or on the date of the expiration of the TPO. The Court
19 
shall order the immediate service of the TPO on respondent by the Court Sheriff who
20 
may obtain the assistance of law enforcement agents for the purpose. The TPO shall
21 
include a notice of the date of the hearing on the merits of the issuance of a PPO.
22 
Sec. 19. Permanent Protection Order (PPO). - A Permanent Protection Order
23 
(PPO) may be issued only by the Court after notice and hearing.
24 
Any application for TPO or PPO must be made with an RTC, Metropolitan Trial
25 
Court, Municipal Trial Court or Municipal Circuit Trial Court with territorial jurisdiction
26 
over the place of residence of the petitioner or offended party who suffered violence
27 
described under Section 4 of this Act: Provided, however. That if a Family Court exists
28 
in the place of residence of the person for whom the application is made, the
29 
application shall be filed with that Court.
30 
Respondent's non-appearance despite proper notice, or lack of a lawyer, or the
31 
non-availability of respondent's lawyer shall not be a ground for rescheduling or
32 
postponing the hearing on the merits of the issuance of a PPO. If the respondent
10


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necessary, suspend other proceedings in order to hear applications for a PO. 
Respondents shall be notified of the issuance of a PO.
Sec. 21. Prohibition Against Undue Influence Over a Protection Order Applicant 
- A Lupong Tagapamayapa, Punong Barangay or Barangay Chairperson, or the Court 
hearing an application for a PO shall not order, direct, force or in any way unduly 
influence the applicant for a PO to compromise or abandon any of the reliefs sought 
m the application for PO provided under this Act. Section 7 of the "Family Courts Act 
of1997 and Sections 410, 411, 412 and 413 of the "Local Government Code of 1991" 
shall not apply in proceedings where relief is sought under this Act.
Failure to comply with this Section shall render the concerned individual, official 
or judge administratively liable.
Sec. 22. Mutual Protection Order Prohibited. — No order for protection of the 
offender or respondent may be granted by a Lupong Tagapamayapa or Punong 
Barangay or Barangay Chairperson and the Courts.
Sec. 23. Complaint Against a Violation of Protection Order. — A complaint on a 
violation of a BPO issued under this Act shall be filed directly with any Municipal Trial 
Court, Metropolitan Trial Court, or Municipal Circuit Trial Court that has territorial 
jurisdiction over the barangay that issued the BPO. Violation of a BPO shall be 
punishable by imprisonment of thirty (30) days without prejudice to any other criminal 
or civil action that the offended party may file for any of the acts committed under 
Section 4 hereof.
A judgment on a violation of a BPO may be appealed according to the Rules of 
Court. During trial and upon judgment, the trial court may motu proprio issue a PO as 
it deems necessary without need of an application.
A violation of any provision of a TPO or a PPO issued under this Act shall 
constitute contempt of Court punishable under the Rules of Court, without prejudice 
to any other criminal or civil action that the offended party may file for any of the acts 
committed in accordance with Section 4 hereof.
Any violation of a PO issued under this Act shall constitute an offense 
punishable by imprisonment of thirty (30) days, without prejudice to any criminal or 
civil action that the offended party may file against a person who has committed any 
of the acts described in Section 4 hereof.
12


1 
A complaint on the violation of a PO shall be filed by the complainant directly
2 
with the Court that issued the order, or with the Court in the place of residence of the
3 
complainant, if the former is not practicable. A criminal case for violation of a PO shall
4 
be tried and resolved by the Court within sixty (60) days from the date the complaint
5 
was filed. The Court, upon determination of probable cause, shall cause the arrest of
6 
the accused who may post bail in the interim in an amount to be determined by the
7 
Court.
8 
A judgment on a violation of a PO may be appealed according to the Rules of
9 
Criminal Procedure. During triai and upon judgment, the Court may motuproprio issue
10 
a PO as it deems necessary.
11 
Sec. 24. Hold Departure Order. - A hold departure order shall be issued
12 
immediately by the Court against the respondent of a complaint of abuse against a
13 
senior citizen as described under this Act.
14 
Sec. 25. Penalties. - Commission of the acts described under Section 4 hereof
15 
shall suffer the following penalties:
16 
a) Acts falling under Section 4 (a) constituting attempted, frustrated or
17 
consummated parricide or murder or homicide shall be punished in
18 
accordance with the provisions of the Revised Penal Code.
19 
b) Acts falling under Section 4 (a) resulting in mutilation shall be punishable in
20 
accordance with the Revised Penal Code: Provided, That those resulting in
21 
serious physical injuries shall be punishable with the penalty of prision
22 
mayor; those resulting in less serious physical injuries shall be punishable
23 
by prision correccionai; and those resulting in slight physical injuries shall
24 
be punishable by arresto mayor.
25 
c) All other acts enumerated in Section 4 hereof shall be punishable by prision
26 
correccionai an6 a fine in an amount not less than One hundred thousand
27 
pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than Three hundred thousand pesos
28 
(P300,000.00).
29 
In addition to these penalties, a person found guilty of any of the acts
30 
enumerated in Section 4 hereof shall be required to undergo mandatory psychological
31 
counselling or psychiatric treatment and shall report compliance therewith to the
32 
Court.
13


1 
A Barangay Official or law enforcer who fails to respond to any request for
2 
assistance or protection from or on behalf of a victim shall suffer imprisonment of six
3 
(6) months to one (1) year, at the discretion of the Court and pay a fine of not iess
4 
than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), but not more than Ten thousand pesos
5 
(P10,000.00).
6 
Any person who faiis to report any act of violence described in Section 4 hereof
7 
as required herein shail be iiable for a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos
8 
(P10,000.00). Whenever applicable, criminal or administrative charges may aiso be
9 
filed.
10 
Sec. 26. Counselling and Treatment of Offenders. - The DSWD shall provide
11 
rehabilitative counselling and treatment to perpetrators towards learning constructive
12 
ways of coping with anger and emotional outbursts and reforming their ways. When
13 
necessary, the offender shall be ordered by the Court to submit to psychiatric
14 
treatment or confinement.
15 
Sec. 27. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initiai impiementation
16 
of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the concerned
17 
departments. Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of this
18 
Act shall be included in the budget of the concerned departments in the annual
19 
General Appropriations Act.
20 
For LGUs, the impiementation of the programs shail be charged against the
21 
internai revenue allotment and other internally generated funds of the LGU concerned.
22 
In addition, the departments concerned and the LGUs may accept donations,
23 
contributions and grants from various sources for purposes of implementing this Act.
24 
Sec. 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within six (6) months
25 
from the approvai of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD, in coordination with the
26 
Secretaries of the DOJ, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
27 
and the DOFI, shall formulate rules and guidelines as may be necessary for the proper
28 
implementation and enforcement of this Act. This shali include developing protocols
29 
and training programs for all agencies and public officers concerned and a public
30 
information and education program on violence against senior citizens. The IRR
31 
provided for under this Act shall be reviewed periodically, and revised, if necessary.
14


1 
Sec. 29. Suppletory Application. - For purposes of this Act, the Revised Penal
2 
Code and other applicable laws, shall have supplementary application.
3 
Sec. 30. Separability Oause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
4 
unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain
5 
in full force and effect.
6 
Sec. 31. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
7 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
8 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
9 
accordingly.
10 
Sec. 32. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
11 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in
12 
the Philippines.
Approved,
15