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NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._ 4818

Introduced by Representative Joseph Gilbert F. Violago

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This commendable bill had been filed in the past Congress and the present
proponent is acknowledging the wisdom and hard work of his predecessors.

Any person whose age is 60 or above is classified as a senior citizen in the
Philippines. As a person gets older, physical changes are inevitable however, the
degree of the changes depends on the lifestyle and way of living. Those with active
lifestyle and healthy living have delayed ageing process.

In general, senior citizens start to have a weakening of the bones making them
susceptible to fracture; muscles lose strength, endurance and flexibility affecting
coordination and balance; eye visions change giving them have a hard time seeing
in low light conditions; sense of hearing change making them difficult to
communicate; memory loss occur because the number of brain cells decreases; they
start to have weight gain because of lesser physical activities which slow down the
metabolism and a lot more. Hence, senior citizens are susceptible to suffer from
comorbidities like immunocompromised diseases, diabetes, chronic cardiovascular
and chronic respiratory ailments.

With the detrimental effects of aging. senior citizens are defenseless on
different acts of violence like physical abuse, emotional abuse, material exploitation
and abandonment.

This bill seeks to protect senior citizens from violence in recognition of their
important role in the family and the society. ‘They are they are the roots of our life.
They provide wisdom and advice to younger generations and to the society as well.
So much contributions to the society have been made by the senior citizens. They

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should be properly acknowledged by taking care of them and see to it that their
dignity is valued and their rights are protected.

In view of the foregoing. the passage of this bill is sought.

JOSE! sERT F. VIOLAGO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 4818

Introduced by Representative Joseph Gilbert F. Violago

PROTECTING SENIOR CITIZEN FROM VIOLENCE, DEFINING ELDER
ABUSE, AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Elder Abuse
Act”,

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to value
the dignity of senior citizens and thereby guarantee full respect for human rights. The State
also recognizes the need to protect the family and its members, particularly the senior
citizens from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and coercion, especially
acts deleterious to their personal safety and security

Towards this end, the State shall exert efforts to address all forms of violence,
abuse, neglect, exploitation and coercion, especially acts deleterious to their personal
safety, security, dignity or any discriminatory act committed against senior citizens in
keeping with the fundamental freedom guaranteed under the Constitution and the
provisions of the universal Declaration of Human Rights.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act.

a) Domestic violence refers to acts or threats of violence on a senior citizen, to
exclude an act of self-defense, committed by any of the following:

1) current or former spouse of the victim;

2) a person related by blood or marriage to the victim;


3) a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim;
4) a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;

5) a person who is or has been in a social relationship of romantic ot
intimate nature with the victim; or

6) a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim, or by any other
person, if the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction of the victim provide
for legal protection of the victim;

b) Elder abuse refers to a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action,
occurring with any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes
harm or distress to a senior citizen, It includes any act or series of acts committed by
any person against a senior citizen, within or outside the family abode, which result or
is likely to result in physical or psychological harm, suffering or distress, or neglect
including threats of such acts, battery, physical assault, coercion or arbitrary deprivation
of liberty. This includes physical violence, psychological or emotional, economic or
domestic violence, and neglect or abandonment;

©) Emotional abuse refers to acts that include shouting, swearing, scaring or
humiliating a senior citizen through name-calling, ridicule, constant criticism, accusing,
blaming, showing disrespect, ignoring, or giving them the silent treatment;

4) Safe place or shelter refers to any home or institution maintained or
managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or by any
other suitable place that is willing to accommodate the agatieved senior citizen; and

e) Senior citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty
(60) years old as defined under republic Act, No. 9994, otherwise known as the
“Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010.”

SEC. 4. Aets of Violence Against a Senior Citizen. — Acts of violence against
a senior citizen are acts that cause harm or distress committed once or repeatedly
through any of the following:

a) Physical abuse or infliction of pain or injury with the use of physical force
resulting in bodily injury, physical harm, pain or impairment, suffering or distress;

b) Psychological, mental or emotional abuse causing mental or emotional
suffering or distress;

©) Material exploitation through illegal or improper use of funds or resources of
the senior citizen; and economic or financial abuse through acts that make the senior
citizen financially dependent; and

d) Abandonment or desertion by leaving a senior citizen unattended at a place
for such a considerable length of time, as may be likely to endanger the health and


welfare of a senior citizen, by an individual who has assumed responsibility for
providing care for the senior citizen, or by a person with custody of the senior citizen.

SEC. 5. Rights of a Senior Citizen Who is a Victim of Violence. ~ During the
pendency of the case involving violence against a senior citizen, in addition to those
provided under existing law, a senior citizen shall have the following rights:

a) to avail of protection and legal assistance from the Public Attomey’s Office
(PAO) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or any public legal assistance office;

b) to be entitled to support services from the DSWD and the Local Government
Unit (LGU) concerned;

c) to be entitled to all legal remedies as provided for under the Family Code;

d) to be informed through the Senior Citizen Help Desk established hereunder of
the senior citizen’s rights and services available including the right to apply for a
protection order; and

¢) to be entitled to actual, compensatory, moral and exemplary damages.

SEC. 6. Mandatory Programs and Services for a Senior Citizen Who is a
Victim of Violence. — The DSWD, in coordination with the LGUs, shall provide a
senior citizen who is a victim of violence and similar acts the following services:

a) a safe place or temporary shelter, such as senior housing or nursing home or
other suitable facility or service, when appropriate, as emergency short-term shelters.
This safe place or temporary shelter shall provide counseling, psycho-social services,
recovery or rehabilitation programs and livelihood assistance;

b) counseling, healing, recovery and rehabilitation services; and

) the appropriate programs to ensure the personal safety and security of a senior
citizen and prevent the recurrence of the violent acts committed against them. The
Department of Health (DOH) shall provide medical assistance to senior citizens who
are victims or survivors of violence and similar acts.

SEC. 7. Response to a Request for Assistance. — In responding to a request for
assistance, a barangay official or law enforcer shall have the following duties:

a) respond immediately to a call for help or request for protection of the victim
by entering the senior citizen victim’s dwelling, ifnecessary, whether or nota protection
order has been issued to ensure the safety of the victim;

b) confiscate any harmful object in the possession of the perpetrator, or one
which is within plain view;

) transport the victim to a barangay hall, or to a clinic or hospital;


4) assist the victim in removing personal belongings from the dwelling;

e) ensure the enforcement of the Protection Order (PO) issued by the Lupong
‘Tagapamayapa, the Punong Barangay or Barangay Chairman and the Court;

f) arrest the suspected perpetrator even without a warrant when any of the acts of
violence defined in this Act is occurring, or on a personal knowledge, an act of violence
has been committed, and there is imminent danger to the life or limb of the senior citizen
as defined in this Act; and

2) immediately report the call for assistance to the DSWD, the LGU or
accredited Non- Government Organization (NGO).

SEC. 8, Philippine National Police (PNP) Protocol in Responding to
Violence Committed Against a Senior Citizen. - The Philippine National Police
(PNP) is hereby directed to adopt a written protocol establishing written guidelines and
procedures to be followed by police officers in responding to request for assistance and
calls related to violence against senior citizens.

SEC. 9. Education and Training Programs for Law Enforcement Officers
and Persons Involved in Responding to Cases of Violence Against a Senior Citizen.
— All persons involved in responding to cases on all forms of abuse, violence, threats to
personal safety and security or any discriminatory act committed against a senior
citizen, shall be required to undergo education and training. The PNP, in coordination
with the LGU concerned and the DSWD shall establish education and training programs
to assist law enforcement officers and barangay officials to enable them to properly
handle cases of violence against senior citizens and acquaint them with:

a) the nature, extent and causes of violence;
b) the legal rights of, and remedies available to victims of violence;
c) the services and facilities available to victims or survivors;

d) the duties imposed on police officers in making lawful arrest and to offer
protection and assistance; and,

e) _ thenecessary techniques to be employed in handling incidents of violence
to minimize the likelihood of injury to the officer and promote the safety of the victim
or survivor.

SEC. 10. Mandatory Reporting of Domestic Violence.- A public officer who
receives a complaint of violence committed against a senior citizen or the head of a
public or private hospital, medical clinic or similar institutions, as well as the attending
physician or nurse, clinician, barangay health worker, therapist or counselor who
examined or rendered treatment to a senior citizen victim shall make a report of the
complaint, examination or treatment within forty-eight (48) hours form the time of
‘complaint, examination or treatment to the nearest police station.


All public workers and medical professionals who have knowledge of the
incident involving domestic violence and to whom said abuse or violence was reported
or revealed in the course of the performance of official duty, shall immediately report
the incident to the proper authorities.

In alll cases, a report shalll be made to any law enforcement agency with forty-
cight (48) hours from knowledge of the same. Whereupon, investigation shall
immediately follow. The DSWD shall assign a social worker to verify incidents of
violence and file a petition for PO, if warranted.

SEC. 11. Establishment of a Senior Citizen Help Desk. — Every barangay shall
establish a Senior Citizen Help Desk which shall provide immediate assistance to
victim-survivors of abuse. Besides barangay officials, it may be manned by
representatives of the senior citizen sector or by members of a local senior citizen
organization designated and authorized by the Barangay Council or Chairperson.

SEC. 12, Special Prosecution 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. - The Regional Trial Court (RTC) designated as a Family
Court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over cases of violence against senior
citizen as provided in this Act. In the absence of such 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 (PO). — A Protection Order (PO) is an injunction
under this Act that maybe 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
reliefs:

a) Prohibition of the respondent or offender from threatening to commit,
personally or through another, any of the acts of violence as defined in Sec. 4;

b) Whenever applicable, issuance of an order to the respondent or offender
to immediately leave the domicile or residence of the petitioner. If personal effects must


be removed from the residence, the Court shall direct a law enforcement officer to
accompany the respondent to the residence until such time that respondent has gathered
all belongings, and to escort the respondent from the residence: Provided, that the victim
or the aggrieved party shall likewise be accorded the same protection contemplated
herein;

©) _ Issuance of an Order to the respondent to stay away from the petitioner
within a distance to be determined by the Court: Provided, That the order shail ensure
the physical safety of the petitioner in the residence, place of work, school and such
other places frequented by the offended party;

d) Prohibition of the respondent from directly or indirectly communicating
or contacting the petitioner;

e) Issuance of an Order to proper law enforcement offices to enforce the
provisions of this Section;

f) Issuance of an Order to the DSWD and the Social Welfare Development
Office (SWDO) of the LGU concemed to provide therapy, counseling and other support
services to the aggrieved party or parties;

g) _ Issuance of an Order for the restitution for actual damages caused by the
violence inflicted, including but not limited to property damaged, medical expenses,
and loss of income; and

h) Such other relief of the deemed necessary by the Court for the protection
of the petitioner and such other persons who may be in need of the same.

Any of the reliefs provided under this Section shall be granted even in the
absence of a decree of legal separation or annulment, or declaration of absolute nullity
of marriage in the case of married individuals.

The application for PO must be in writing, signed and verified under oath by the
applicant. If the applicant is not the victim, the application must be accompanied by an
affidavit of the applicant attesting to:

)) the circumstances of the disclosure of the violence or abuse suffered by
‘the victim; and

2) the circumstances of consent, or lack thereof, given by the victim for the

filing of the application. When disclosure of the address of the abused senior citizen
will pose danger to that person’s life, it shall be stated in the application. In such a case,
the applicant shall attest that the victim is residing in the municipality or city over which
the Court has territorial jurisdiction, and shall provide a mailing address for purpose of
the service of court processes,

‘The standard application form for PO shall include the following information:


1) names and addresses of petitioner and respondent;

2) description of relationship between petitioner and respondent, in
the case of violence within the context of Section 4 of this Act;

3) a statement of the circumstances and the nature of violence or
abuse;

4) description of the reliefs requested by the petitioner as specified in
this section;

5) request for counsel and reasons for such request;
6) request for waiver of application fees until hearing; and

7) an attestation that there is no pending application for a PO in
another Court.

‘The following persons may file the petition for a PO:
1) the offended party;

2) any member of the family or household of the victim as defined in
this Act;

3) social worker from the DSWD or the SWDO of the LGU or any
accredited social welfare organization;

4) law enforcement officer or agent;

5) lawyer, counselor, therapist or healthcare provider of the
petitioner; and

6) any concerned responsible citizen of the community who has
personal knowledge of the offense committed.

No filing fee shall be required in the application for a PO.

An application for a PO filed with the Court shall be considered an application for both
a TPO and a PPO.

SEC. 15. Transfer of Residence; New Application Needed. — A petitioner
previously granted a BPO under this Act and who desires to relocate to a new residence
outside the original city or municipality of residence has to apply for a new BPO.

When a PO has been issued by a Court of competent jurisdiction and the person
in whose favor it is issued transfers to a place outside the court's jurisdiction, the person
may still have the order enforced by filing a petition before a court in the place where
the person has transferred. The petition to enforce the order shall include a copy of the
previously obtained PO. The respondent shall be noticed of the issuance of a new PO.


SEC. 16. Legal Representation of Applicant for a PO. — If a petitioner for a
PO is requesting for the appointment of a counsel because of lack of economic means
to hire a counsel de parte, the Court shall immediately direct the Office of the Public
Prosecutor who has jurisdiction over the case to represent the petitioner in the hearing
on the application sought. The applicant who cannot afford to hire the services of a
private counsel or lacks access to family or conjugal resources such as when the same
are controlled by the abuse, shall qualify for legal representation by the DOJ, the Public
Prosecutors’ Office or the PAO.

However, a private counsel offering free legal service is not barred from
representing the petitioner with the latter’s consent, and with the leave of Court.

SEC. 17 Barangay Protection Order (BPO). — A Barangay Protection Order
(BPO) is issued by the Lupong Tagapamayapa and the Punong Barangay or Barangay
Chairman. The issuance of a BPO or the pendency of an application for a BPO shall not
preclude petitioner from applying for, the Court from granting a TPO or PPO.

Application for a BPO shall follow the Rules on venue under the Local
Government Code of 1991 and its implementing rules and regulations.

‘A Punong Barangay or Barangay Chairperson who receives application for a
BPO shall issue the PO to the applicant on the date of filing after ex parte determination
of the basis of the application.

If the Punong Barangay or the Barangay Chairman is unavailable to act on the
application for a BPO, the application shall be acted upon by any available Lupong
Tagapamayapa or Barangay Kagawad. If the BPO is issued by a Barangay Kagawad
that the Punong Barangay and the Lupong Tagapamayapa were not available at the time
of the issuance of the BPO.

A BPO issued by the Lupong Tagapamayapa, a Punong Barangay or Barangay
Chairperson and Barangay Kagawad may cover only the relief provided in Section 14
hereof and shall be effective for fifteen (15) days. Immediately after the issuance of an
ex parte BPO, the Punong Barangay or Kagawad shall personally serve a copy of the
same to the respondent, or direct any barangay official to personally serve the order.

Within forty-eight (48) hours of issuance of an ex parte, BPO, the Punong
Barangay or Barangay Kagawad must refer the case to the Lupong Tagapamayapa. The
case shall be heard by the Lupong

Tagapamayapa within seven (7) days from the date of referral and within the fifteen
(15) — day effectivity period of the ex parte BPO.

Notice of the hearing shall be given to both parties, Subsequent to a hearing on
the merits of the application, the Lupong Tagapamayapa may extend a BPO that grants
relief under Section 14 for a period of six (6) months, The issuance of a BPO shall not


preclude any applicant from applying or receiving a subsequent BPO concerning the
same matter.

SEC. 18. Temporary Protection Oder (TPO). ~ A Temporary Protection Order (TPO)
may be issued by a Court prior to the issuance of a Permanent Protection Order (PPO)
and shall be based on an application under Section 14 herein. Any application for TPO
or PPO must be made with territorial RTC, Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial
Court or Municipal Circuit Trial Court with territorial jurisdiction over the place of
residence of the offended family or the senior citizen victim who suffered violence
described under Section 4 of this Act: Provided, however, That if a Family Court exists
in the place of residence of the person for whom the application is made, the application
shall be filed with that Court.

‘A Court that receives an application for a PO shall issue a TPO on the date of
filing of the application for ex parte determination that such order shall be issued. The
‘TPO shall be effective for thirty (30) days. The Court shall schedule a hearing on the
issuance of a PPO prior to or on the date of expiration of the TPO. The Court shall order
the immediate service of the TPO on respondent by the Court Sheriff who may obtain
the assistance of law enforcement agents for the purpose. The TPO shall include a notice
of the hearing on the merits of the issuance of PPO.

SEC. 19. Permanent Protection Order (PPO). — A Permanent Protection
Order (PPO) may _ be issued only by the Court after notice and hearing.

Any application for TPO or PPO must be made with a RTC, Metropolitan Trial
Court, Municipal Trial Court or Municipal Circuit Trial Court with territorial
jurisdiction over their place of residence of the offended family or the abused senior
citizen who suffered violence described under Section 4 of this Act: Provided, however,
‘That if a Family Court exists in the place of residence of the person for whom the
application is made, the application shall be filed with that Court. Respondent’s non-
appearance despite proper notice, or lack of a lawyer, or the non-availability of
respondent's lawyer shall not be a ground for rescheduling or postponing the hearing
on the merits of the issuance of a PPO. If the respondent appears without counsel on the
date of the hearing on the PPO, the Court shall appoint a lawyer for the respondent and
immediately proceed with the hearing. In case the respondent fails to appear despite
proper notice, the Court shall allow ex parte presentation of the evidence by the
applicant and render judgment on the basis of the evidence presented. The Court shall
allow the introduction of any history of abusive conduct of a respondent even if the
same was not directed against the applicant or the person for whom the application is
made.

The court shall, to the extent possible, conduct the hearing on the merits of the
issuance of a PPO in one(1) day. Where the court is unable to conduct the hearing within
one (1) day and the TPO issued is due to expire, the court shall continuously extend or
renew the TPO for the duration of the case until final resolution on the case is issued.


Provided, however, that the PPO may be modified by the Court accordingly to address
the needs of the applicant.

The Court may grant any, some, or all of the reliefs provided in Section 14 hereof
through a PPO. A PPO shall be effective until revoked by a Court upon application of
the person in whose favor the order was issued. The Court shall ensure immediate
service of the PPO on respondent.

The Court shall not deny the issuance of a PO on the basis of the lapse of time
between the act of violence or abuse as defined in Section 4 herein, and the filing of the
application.

Regardless of the conviction or acquittal of the respondent, the Court must
determine whether or not the PPO shall become final. Even in a dismissal of the
application for a PPO, the same shall be granted as long as there is no clear showing
that the act which the order might arise did not exist.

Failure to act on an application for a PO within the period specified in the
previous sections without justifiable cause shall render the Lupong Tagapamayapa, the
Punong Barangay or the Barangay Chairman, the Barangay Kagawad, the Official of
the Judge administratively liable.

SEC. 20. Priority Action on Application for a Protection Order. — Hearings
on applications for a PO under this Act shall have priority over all other proceedings.
Barangay officials, Lupong Tagapamayapa and the Courts shall schedule and conduct
hearings on applications for a PO under this Act above all other businesses and, if
necessary, suspend other proceedings in order to hear applications for a PO.
Respondents shall be notified of the issuances of a PO.

SEC. 21. Prohibition Against Undue Influence Over a Protection Order
Applicant. — A Lupong Tagapamayapa, a Punong Barangay or Barangay Chairman, or
the Court hearing an application for a PO shall not order, direct, force or in any way
unduly influence the application for a PO to compromise or abandon any of the reliefs
sought in the application for a PO provided under this Act. Section 7 of the Family
Courts Act of 1997 and Sections 410, 411, 412 and 413 of the Local Government Code
of 1991 shall not apply in the 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 a Punong
Barangay or Barangay Chairman and the Courts.

SEC. 23. Complaint Against a Violation of Protection Order. — A complaint
on the


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 Sec.
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 proporio 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 ofa 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 acts described
in Section 4 hereof.

‘A complainant on a violation of a PO shall be filed by the complainant directly
with the Court that issued the order, or with that Court in the place of residence of the
complainant, if the former is not practicable. A criminal case for violation of a PO shall
be tried and resolved by the Court within sixty (60) days from the date the complaint
was filed. The Court, upon determination of probable cause, shall cause the arrest of the
accused who may post bail in the interim in an amount to be determined by the Court.

‘A judgment on a violation of a PO may appealed according to the Rules of
Criminal Procedure. During trial and upon judgment, the Court may motu proprio issue
a PO as it deems necessary.

SEC. 24. Hold Departure Order. — A hold departure order shall be issued
immediately by the Court against the respondent of a complaint of abuse against a senior
citizen as described under this Act.

SEC. 25, Penalties. — Commission of the acts described under Sec. 3 hereof shall
suffer the following penalties:

a) Acts falling under Section 4 (a) constituting attempted, frustrated or
consummated parricide or murder or homicide shall be punished in accordance with the
provisions of the Revised Penal Code.

b) Acts falling under Section 4 (a) resulting in mutilation shall be punishable
in accordance with the Revised Penal Code: Provided, that those resulting in serious
physical injuries shall be punishable with the penalty of prision mayor; those resulting



in less serious physical injuries shall be punishable by prision correctional and those
resulting in slight physical injuries shall be punishable by arresto mayor.

c) All other acts enumerated in Section 4 hereof shall be punishable by
prision correctional and a fine in an amount not less than One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00)but not more than Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00).

In addition to these penalties, a person found guilty of any of the acts enumerated
in Section 4 hereof shall be required to undergo mandatory psychological counseling or
psychiatric treatment and shall report compliance therewith to the court.

A Barangay Official or law enforcer who fails to respond to any request for
assistance or protection from or on behalf of a victim shall suffer imprisonment of six
(6) moths to one (1) year, at the discretion of the Court and pay fine of not less than
Five thousand pesos (P5,000,00), but not more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00).

‘Any person who fails to report any act of violence described in Section 3 hereof
as required herein shall be liable for a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos
(P10,000.00). Whenever applicable, criminal or administrative charges may also be
filed.

SEC. 26. Counseling and Treatment of Offenders. — The DSWD shall provide
rehabilitative counseling and treatment to perpetrators towards learning constructive
ways of coping with anger and emotional outbursts and reforming their ways. When
necessary, the offender shall be ordered by the Court to submit to psychiatric treatment
or confinement.

SEC. 27. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of
the concerned departments. Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the budget of the concerned departments
in the annual General Appropriations Act.

For LGUs, the implementation of the programs shall be charged against the
internal revenue allotment and other internally generated funds of the LGU concerned.
In addition, the departments concerned and the LGUs may accept donations,
contributions and grants from various sources for purpose of implementing this Act.

SEC. 28, Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).— Within six (6) months
from the approval of this Act, the’ Secretary of the DSWD in coordination with the
Secretaries of the DOJ, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and
the DOH shall formulate rules and guidelines as may be necessary for the proper
implementation and enforcement of this Act. This shall include developing protocols
and training programs for all agencies and public officers concerned and a public
information and education program on violence against senior citizens. The


implementing rules and regulations (IRR) provided for under this Act shall be reviewed
periodically, and revised, if necessary.

SEC. 29. Suppletory Application. — For purposes of this Act, the Revised Penal
Code and other applicable laws, shall have suppletory application.

SEC. 30. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be declared

unconstitutional or invalid, such declaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof
which shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 31, Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with or contrary to the
provisions of this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 32. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after it
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.