Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill Number 875

Introduced by Representatives GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO.
and DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
AMENDING ARTICLE 131 OF ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
REVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED, TO UPHOLD THE RIGHT OF

RESIDENTS TO PRIVACY FROM MASS OR CONCERTED ACTIONS NOT
DIRECTED TO THE PUBLIC.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article Ill, Section 4, of the Constitution provides that: "No law shall be
passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the

right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for
redress of grievances."

In line with this declaration, the Penal Code, Article 131, paragraph 3,
penalizes a public officer or employee who shall prohibit or hinder any person
from addressing, either alone or together with others, any petition to the
authorities for the correction of abuses or redress of grievances.

But this right of the people is not absolute, though it is fundamentally and
protected by the Supreme law of the land, If within reasonable bounds in terms
of time, place and manner, and if necessary to further significant governmental
interests, the right of the people to peaceably assemble for redress of their
grievances can be prohibited if it infringes on the greater public good. For
instance, making a speech in a library would certainly infringe upon the
convenience and welfare of others, but that same speech should be perfectly
appropriate in a park


The proposed bill focuses on one area that may certainly be considered as
deserving of governmental interest, that is, the protection of residential privacy
since the Penal Code failed to specify certain exceptions to the rule

The US Supreme Court, whose decisions have certainly influenced our
own interpretation of constitutional issues, has had the opportunity to address
cases where the right to peaceably assemble was weighed against residential
privacy. Citing the case of Carey v, Brown 447 US 455, the Court held that:

"The State's interest in protecting the well-being, tranquility, and
privacy of the home is certainly of the highest order in a free and civilized
society." Our prior decisions have often remarked on the unique nature of
the home, "the last citadel of the tired, the weary, and the sick," Gregory v.
Chicago, 394 US. 111, 125 (1969) @lack, J., concurring), and have
recognized that "preserving the sanctity of the home, the one retreat to which
men and women can repair to escape from the tribulations of their daily
pursuits, is surely an important value.”

This bill contemplates the mass or concerted action that is narrowly
directed at the household, not the public. The type of picketers or rallyists
banned by the new section are those who do not seek to disseminate a message to
the general public, but simply aims to intrude upon the targeted resident. and to do
so in an especially offensive way

The protection of the unwilling listener is an important aspect of residential
privacy. The home should offer security from those who seek to. enforce their
opinions and conduct upon other persons. 'That we are often ‘captives’ outside
the sanctuary of the home and subject to objectionable speech . . . does not
mean we must be captives everywhere." Rowan v. Post Office Dept, 397 U.S.
728,738 (1970). Instead. a special benefit of the privacy all citizens enjoy within
their own walls, which the State may legislate to protect, is an ability to avoid
intrusions.

It is for these reasons that expeditious passage of this measure is
earnestly requested

GLI MACAPAGAL ARROYO DIOSADADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Pampanga Second District, Camarines Sur


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill Number 875

Introduced by Representatives GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO.
and DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
AMENDING ARTICLE 131 OF ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
REVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED, TO UPHOLD THE RIGHT OF
RESIDENTS TO PRIVACY FROM MASS OR CONCERTED ACTIONS NOT
DIRECTED TO THE PUBLIC

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1, Article 131 of Act No. 3815, also known as The Revised
Penal Code, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

Article 131, Prohibition, Interruption and dissolution of peaceful
meetings. - The penalty of prision correccional in its minimum period shall be
imposed upon any public officer or employee who, without legal ground,
shall prohibit or interrupt the holding of a peaceful meeting, or shall
dissolve the same.

The same penalty shall be imposed upon a public officer or
employee who shall hinder any person from joining any lawful association or
from attending any of its meetings.

The same penalty shall be imposed upon any public officer or
employee who shall prohibit or hinder any person from addressing, either
alone or together with others, any petition to the authorities for the
correction of abuses or redress of grievances. PUBLIC OFFICERS OR


EMPLOYEES MAY, HOWEVER, PROHIBIT OR HINDER ANY PERSON
FROM ADDRESSING, EITHER ALONE OR TOGETHER WITH OTHERS,
ANY PETITION TO THE AUTHORITIES FOR THE CORRECTION OF
ABUSES OR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES WHICH SHALL BE HELD
BEFORE OR ABOUT THE RESIDENCE OR DWELLING OF A
PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL OR IN VIOLATION OF EXISTING LAWS.

SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or
issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, ‘administrative order, rule or
regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby
repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 3. Effectivily Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,