Republic of the Philippines 
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
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Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
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First Regular Session 
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HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
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Introduced by Hon. Julienne "Jam" L. Baronda 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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In recognition of the fundamental principles of justice, fairness, and the 
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protection of individual rights, the Congress of the Philippines hereby introduces 
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this proposed legislation to ensure the humane and just treatment of individuals 
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involved in traffic accidents within the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines. 
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Traffic accidents are unfortunate realities of modern life, often resulting in 
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severe consequences for all parties involved. When such incidents occur, the 
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apprehension and detention of individuals represent a critical moment where the 
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principles of justice and fairness must be upheld. Unfortunately, under current 
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procedures, individuals who are not at fault may suffer prolonged and unnecessary 
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detention while investigations are being conducted. This practice causes undue 
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hardship, violates their rights, and erodes public trust in our judicial system and law 
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enforcement agencies. 
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The purpose of this bill is to address the apprehension and detention 
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procedures for individuals involved in traffic accidents. It seeks to establish a fair, 
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transparent, and expedient process for determining culpability, and to ensure the 
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prompt release of individuals who are not at fault. Specifically, it mandates that any 
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individual apprehended following a traffic accident must be released within twelve 
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(12) hours if, upon thorough investigation and attestation by the Chief of Police or
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their duly authorized representative, all evidence points to their lack of fault. By
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setting a clear and reasonable timeframe, the bill minimizes unnecessary detention
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and safeguards the rights of innocent drivers.
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August 20, 2025
4:43pm
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The measure likewise emphasizes accountability and transparency in law 
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enforcement. By requiring timely and accurate investigations, and placing 
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responsibility on the Chiefs of Police or their designated representatives to certify 
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the findings, it ensures that the process is both efficient and credible. This provision 
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not only protects innocent individuals but also compels law enforcement agencies to 
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perform their duties diligently. 
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Statistical data from the Philippine National Police further underscores the 
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urgency of this legislation. In 2024, road accidents increased significantly compared 
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to the previous year. Fatalities rose by 35%—from 2,030 in 2023 to 2,747 in 2024. 
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Of these incidents, 87.17 percent, or 27,249 cases, were attributed to reckless 
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driving. Other factors included defective motor vehicles (790 cases) and poor road 
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conditions (725 cases).1 These figures reveal two important truths: first, road 
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accidents remain a pressing public safety issue; second, not all accidents are caused 
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by reckless or negligent behavior. Many innocent drivers, despite exercising 
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defensive driving and adhering to traffic rules, find themselves caught in 
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circumstances beyond their control. 
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized that transport 
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systems must be responsive to human needs and forgiving of human error. Its Safe 
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System Approach calls for safe roads, safe speeds, safe vehicles, and safe road users, 
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recognizing that crashes are not always the sole responsibility of one party.2 In line 
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with this, our justice system must also be forgiving of human error and avoid 
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compounding the burden of those who are blameless by subjecting them to unjust 
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detention. 
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It must therefore be recognized that innocent drivers, who have diligently 
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observed traffic regulations and acted with care, should not be penalized as though 
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they were guilty criminals. The current practice of detaining individuals for extended 
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periods pending investigation has stirred public clamor for reform. Citizens demand 
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a more just system that respects rights while ensuring accountability in cases 
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involving property damage, injury, or even death. 
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This bill answers that call by mandating the speedy conduct of investigations 
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and ensuring the prompt release of individuals found not at fault. It seeks to strike a 
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balance between upholding justice and strengthening accountability in road safety. 
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1  LTO embarks on comprehensive data analysis for holistic gov't intervention on road accidents, road rage - LTO | 
Land Transportation Office 
2 http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries 


More importantly, it reflects our commitment to fairness and the protection of human 
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dignity in all circumstances. 
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By enacting this measure, Congress affirms its duty to protect the innocent, 
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uphold the rule of law, and restore public trust in our institutions. Through a more 
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humane and just procedure for handling traffic accidents, we can prevent 
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unnecessary hardship, strengthen confidence in law enforcement, and ensure that 
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justice is not only done but seen to be done. 
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Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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        HON. JULIENNE “JAM” L. BARONDA 
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     Representative 
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  Lone District, Iloilo City 
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AN ACT PROMOTING THE FAIR TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS 
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INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS BY DEFINING DEFENSIVE 
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DRIVING AND PROVIDING PROTECTION TO MOTOR VEHICLE 
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DRIVERS WHO CAN PRESENT SUFFICIENT PROOF THEREOF 
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Be it enacted by the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in Congress 
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assembled: 
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Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Fair Treatment of 
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Drivers in Traffic Accidents Act".  
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Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
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shall be defined as follows: 
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a. Accident Investigation refers to the process of securing facts upon
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which to base an accident prevention program, determining whether or
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not laws have been violated, gathering evidence which will reveal the
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road user responsible for the accident, and taking on-the-scene police
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action and ascertaining the facts so that those involved in accidents can
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properly exercise claims under our Civil Law.
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b. Apprehension shall refer to the act of detaining an individual suspected
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of being involved in a traffic accident.
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c. Chief of Police shall refer to the highest-ranking law enforcement
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officer within the territorial jurisdiction where the traffic accident
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occurred.
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d. Defensive Driving refers to a proactive approach to road safety and
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involves anticipating and responding to potential hazards, keeping an
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appropriate distance from other vehicles, and staying alert for possible
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risk on the road.
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e. Dashboard Camera refers to a camera that is mounted in or around the
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dashboard of a motor vehicle. It faithfully records all it sees as the
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vehicle moves about its daily business.
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HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
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f. Law Enforcement Officer refers to all officers of the law who exercise 
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the powers of arrest or detention and are tasked with the conduct of 
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traffic investigation. 
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g. Not at fault shall refer to a determination that the individual involved 
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in the traffic accident bears no legal responsibility for its occurrence.  
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h. Traffic Accident shall refer to any collision involving vehicles on public 
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roads within the territorial jurisdiction where the traffic accident 
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occurred.  
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Sec. 3. Proof of Defensive Driving. – Any person driving a motor vehicle  
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who is involved in a traffic accident shall not be detained by the law   
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enforcement officer if he or she can provide credible evidence of his or her  
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defensive driving such as, during traffic investigation, but not limited to the  
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following: 
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a. A dashcam video taken by the driver of the motor vehicle showing that 
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he or she was not violating any traffic laws before and during the 
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accident; 
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b. A closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showing that the driver of 
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the motor vehicle was not violating any traffic rules before and during 
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the accident; or, 
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c. Any other video footage or still image from any witness in the vicinity 
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of the accident showing that the driver of the vehicle was not violating 
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any traffic rules before and during the incident.  
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Provided, that the presentation of the foregoing evidence shall not exonerate  
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the driver of the motor vehicle from any liability under the law.  
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Provided, further, that any other person who suffered injury to himself or  
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herself or his or her property, or the heirs of the person who died due to the  
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road accident shall retain the right to pursue all other legal remedies  
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available to them under the law. 
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Sec. 4.  Duty of the Law Enforcement Officer – All persons involved in  
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traffic accidents shall be brought to the nearest police station for traffic  
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investigation. It shall be the duty of law enforcement officers to conduct a  
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thorough traffic investigation. In case of submission of sufficient proof of  
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defensive driving, the law enforcement officer shall recommend for the  
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release of the person not at fault and submit their findings to the Chief of  
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Police within six (6) hours from the occurrence of such an accident. The  
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Chief of Police or his/her designated representative shall act on the  
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recommendation within three (3) hours from receipt of the findings. The  
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performance of the duty of the law enforcement officer and Chief of Police 
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or his representative in herein Section shall proceed even during weekends  
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and holidays.  
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Sec. 5. Authority of the Law Enforcement Officer. – Notwithstanding the  
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presentation of evidence under Section 3 of this Act, the law enforcement  
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officer shall have the authority to acquire and process the personal  
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information of the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident, and  
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impound the vehicle involved in the incident, in accordance with pertinent  
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laws, rules and regulations. 
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Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is  
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declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not  
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affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.  
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,  
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rules and regulations and other issuances, or any part thereof, inconsistent  
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with this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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Sec. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after  
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of  
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general circulation.  
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Approved, 
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