THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
5 
JAN 10 P5:09 
First Rcgwlnr Session 
) 
) 
I ~& 
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- -  
SENATE 
f\ECE!VED BY: 
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SB No. 
18kL 
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Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR. 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XV, Section 3.2 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines provides 4.r 
the right 
of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protecti9n from all 
forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions pr+diciall 
to their 
development 
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Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as “Special Protection of Children Against 
Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act” was enacted to give life to the provision of 
the Constitution on the special protection of children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, 
exploitation and discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to their development. The law 
likewise mandates the government to carry out a program for prevention and deterrence of and 
crisis intervention in situations of child abuse, exploitation and discrimination. 
However, in several deplorable circumstances, Filipinos tend to use children as shield or 
protection against police forces during mass actions. In fact just recently, the mass actions at the 
Hacienda Luisita brought about by labor and land disputes unfortunately led to the deaths of two 
(2) children. Moreover on October 19, 2004, thirty (30) children were accompanied by their 
mothers with a number of peasant leaders in a picket in front of the house of former, President 
, 
Corazon C. Aquino to protest the retrenchment of workers in Hacienda Luisita. 
Children of minor age have no business joining mass actions or picket lines where the 
issues being tackled or protested are beyond the scope of their understanding. The worst situation 
to see is when these children are used as pawns by their parents and protest leaders to gain 
sympathy for their cause. The purpose of this bill is to extend the protection of children, 
particularly those under 13 years of age, from abuse, neglect and exploitation that may expose 
them to danger during mass actions of all sorts. 
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Therefore, the passage ofthis bill is earnestly sought. 
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Be it enacted by the senate and the House of Represendives of the 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
5 
JAN 10 P5:lO 
OF THE PHILIPPlNES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
G 
i 
ihilippines in 
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SENATE 
18tl.l 
SB No. 
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR. 
1 
I 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 10 of RA No. 761 0, otherwise known as “Special Protection 
of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation And Discrimination Act,” is hereby amended by 
adding a provision that read as follows: 
“Section 10. Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other 
Conditions Prejudicial to the Child’s Development. 
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X 
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“F. 
ANY 
PERSON 
WHO 
SHALL EMPLOY, 
COERCE, 
FORCE, 
INTIMIDATE OR TAKE ALONG WITH HIM ANY CHILD UNDER THE 
AGE OF 13 YEARS TO SUCH PLACE OR PLACES WHERE THERE ARE 
PICKETLINES DURING LABOR bISPUTES OR STRIKES, PROTEST 
ACTIONS, MARCHES AND OTHER SIMILAR ACnrIVlTIES USED BY 
PEOPLE TO REDRESS THEIR GRIEVANCES SHALL SUFFER THE 
PENALTY OF PRZSZONMAYOR IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD AND A FINE OF 
NOT LESS THAN FORTY THOUSAND PESOS (P40,OOO.OO): PROWDED, 
HOWEVER, THAT SHOULD THE PERPETRATOR BE AN ASCENDANT, 
STEPPARENT-QR GUARDIAN OF THE MINOR, THE PENALTY TO BE 
IMPGSED SHALL BE PRZSZON MAYOR IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD, A 
FINE OF NOT LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00), AND 
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THE LOSS OF PARENTAL AUTHORITY OVER THE MINOR.” 


SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 3. Effeclivity. -This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette and in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation. 
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ApprTved,