, 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S,No, 1081 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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JllL 23 P 1 :33 
Every citizen enjoys the fundamental right to be free from discrimination which arises from 
his or her race, religion Qr ethnicity, 
The importance of this fundamental right cannot be 
overemphasized, especially in a country such as ours with a rich and diverse socio-cultural 
background. A peek into our history will reveal that stereotyping based on religion and ethnic 
background is one of the major barriers that our country has to hurdle in order to progress-
hampering as it does efforts to unite the nation. 
Stereotyping typically casts particular groups of people in a particular mold simply because 
of race, religion or etlmicity. Rooted in bigotry, it ascribes to these groups certain negative traits, 
such as when a person suspected of being involved in a crime is referred to as a "Muslim suspect", 
when no such identification is made when such a suspect belongs to the Christian or other 
religions. This creates mistrust among our people and our institutions. It seriously erodes public 
confidence, discourages people from taking advantage of opportunities, effectively denies basic 
services to the most vulnerable sectors and thus creates a long-lasting negative impact both to the 
economy and to the community. 
Individuals who belong to the stereotyped communities feel a diminished sense of 
citizenship, a feeling of being an unequal member of society even though we purport to live under 
one flag and one country. They also feel singled-out, simply because they belong to these 
stereotyped communities or groups. Thus, it also disempowers communities and creates divisions 
and an unwillingness to identify with and submit to the laws of the country. 
This bili does not purport 'to b'e a panacea to cure these age-old ills. It is however believed 
that a greater knowledge and consciousness about the dangers of stereotyping and racial-cultural 
profiling will go a long way in mending and improving relations among the diverse members of 
our community and countty. 
Urgent passage of this measure is therefore proposed. 
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 


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2 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. lOBI 
~ . 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING STEREOTYPING BASED 
ON RELIGIOUS OR ETHNIC ORIGIN 
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"13 
JUL 23 P 1 :33 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Shol:t Title. This Act shall be known and cited as the "Anti· Religious 
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and Ethnic Stereotyping Act." 
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SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State, as enshrined in the 
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Constitution, and as patt of its obligations as State-Party to various International Human Rights 
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Covenants, particularly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International CoVenatlt on 
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Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 
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to uphold human dignity and the equality of all persons, regardless of race, age, gender, ethnicity 
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or religion. As such, the State shall not allow the commission of acts which directly or indirectly 
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derogate these fundamental Human Rights. More particularly, the State denounces and renounces 
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all forms of discrimination based on the stereotyping or profiling of a person or class of persons 
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based upon ethnicity or religion. 
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SEC. 3. 
Definitions. 
For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall have the 
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following meatlings: 
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a) 
Stereotype. -a stereotype shall refer to a thought adopted about specific kinds of 
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religions or ethnicities, or persons who practice a specific religion or who belong to a specific 
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ethnic background, specifically with reference to their beliefs and ways of doing things, which are 
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based upon oversimplified opinions or intolerant attitudes, regardless of whether such thoughts or 
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beliefs accurately reflect reality. 
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b) 
Stereotyping. -refers to any act Of combination of acts which shall result in 
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the singling out or profiling of a person or class of persons based on a Stereotype as defined in the 
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immediately preceding section, which results in a derogatory attitude towards or any derogatory 
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treatment against such person or class of persons. 
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c.) 
Religion. - refers to any organized fonn of belief or worship. 
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d.) 
Ethnic Origin. -refers or relates the classification of people based on common racial, 
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national, tribal, religiOlis, linguistic, or cultural origin or background 
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SEC. 4. 
Prohibited Acts. The following shall be prohibited under this Act: 
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a.) 
Discriminatory Treatment. - It shall be unlawful for any person to treat another 
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person differently or less favourably on account of any stereotypes associated with that person's 
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religion or ethnic origin in media, employment, education, delivery of basic goods and services 
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and other analogous circumstances, where the person treated as such is discriminated against on 
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account of his or her religion or ethnic origin. 
lOb.) Religious or Ethnic Stereotyping or Profiling. - It shall be unlawful for any person to 
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single-out or profile a person or class of persons based solely on account of religion or ethnic 
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origin, such that it shall be made to appear that any act committed or any attitude taken by such 
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person or class of persons is bome solely on account ofhis/her/their religion or ethnicity. 
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SEC. 5. 
Penalty. - Any person, whether real or juridical, who after due hearing shall 
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be found to have committed the acts described in the immediately preceding Section shall be held 
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guilty of violating this Act and shall be meted the following: 
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a.) 
First Offence - A fine not lower than Thirty Thousand Pesos, (PhP 30,000.00) but not 
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exceeding One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 100,000.00) at the discretion of the Court; 
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b.) 
Succeeding Offences - Any person who having already been convicted of violating 
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this Act shall be found to have committed another, separate violation thereof, shall after due 
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hearing and conviction be made to suffer a fine not lower than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 
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200,000.00) but not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 500,000.00); OR imprisoument 
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for a term of at least Thirty (30) Days but not exceeding Six (6) Months; OR both such fine and 
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imprisonment at the discretion of the Court, as the case may be. 
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SEC. 5. 
Separability Clause. 
If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting 
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SEC. 6. 
Effectivity Clause. 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its 
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publication in at least two newspapers of national circulation. 
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Approved, 
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