THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHlLtPPfNES 
1 
First Regular Sassion 
) 
..- 
Introduced by Senator Flavier 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XV, Section 3{2) of the constitution provides that: 
“The State shall defend the right of the children to 
assistanc8, including proper care and nutrition and special 
protection from ail forms of neglect and abuse, cruelty, 
exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their 
development.” 
During the First National Congress of Street Children held last April 14-19, 
1991 at De La Salle Greenhills, it was found that a major reason for the 
disruption of the normal lives of children is the indifference, abuse, cruelty and 
exploitation by their own parents. 
Consider the neglected and abuse children’s world now-they now tivs in a 
perilous environment, in povtxty and neglect, enduring physical and moral 
indifference, often subjected to abuse by the very symbols of protection and 
security such as the authorities and their elders-all these they endure primarily 
due to the neglect and abandonment by their own parents. 
Congress must now therefore act to correct this untenable situation of our 
children. Present laws must be! strengthened and heavier penalties be imposed 
on delinquent parents who have been remiss in their duties to their children. 
This bill therefore seeks to strengthen our laws against delinquent parents 
in order to make them applicable to certain situations which the drafters of the 
Revised Penal Code did not anticipate in 1932. Among these is the fact that the 
Constitution now mandates compuhory elementary education for all children of 
school ages. 
In view of the urgent need tu certify the laws against delinquent parents 
and to better instill consciousness of their parental duties, passage of this bill is 
earnestly urged. 


c., “ r 
1.p 2 
I 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
*-*” 
p I. 
Introduced by Senator Flavier 
’ ‘ a) 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE 
PENAL 
PROVISIONS WITH 
RESPECT 
TO 
DELINQUENT PARENTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLES 276, 
277, AND 278 OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. 
Article 276 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, is 
hereby further amended to read as follows. 
“Art. 276. Abandoning a minor. - The penalty of arrest0 mayor and 
a fine of not less than’ten thousand pesos (P10,OOO.OO) but not more than fifteen 
thousand pesos (P15,OOO) shall be impose upon anyone who shall abandon [ a 
child under seven years of age ] AN UNEMANCIPATED MINOR, the custody of 
which is incumbent upon him. 
“THE PENALTY OF PRlSlON CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MINIMUM 
PERIOD AND A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN FIFTEEN THOUSAND PESOS 
(P15,OOO.OO) 
BUT NOT MORE THAN TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS 
(P20,OOO.OO) SHALL BE IMPOSED ON THE CULPRIT IF HE IS THE PARENT 
OF THE UNEMANCIPATED MINOR. 
“When the death of the UNEMANCIPATED minor shall result from the 
abandonment, the culprit shall be punished by prision correctional in its medium 
and maximum periods. [;I. IF THE CULPRIT BE THE PARENT OF THE 
DECEASED, HE SHALL BE PUNISHED BY PRlSlON CORRECClONAL IN ITS 
MEDIUM PERIOD TO PRlSlON MAYOR IN ITS MINIMUM PERIOD [;I. [but] 
BUT if the life of the UNEMANCIPATED minor shall have been in danger only, 


the penalty shall be prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods. IN 
THE LATTER CASE, IF THE CULPRIT BE THE PARENT OF THE 
UNEMANCIPATED MINOR, HE SHALL BE PUNISHED BY PRlSlON 
CORRECClONAL IN ITS MINIMUM AND MEDIUM PERIODS. 
“IN ADDITION, THE PARENTS OF THE UNEMANCIPATED MINOR 
SHALL DEPRIVE OF THEIR PARENTAL AUTHORITY, HEREDITARY RIGHTS 
AND CUSTOKY OF THE UNEMACIPATED CHILD. 
“The provisions contained in [the two preceding paragraphs] THIS 
ARTICLE shall not prevent the imposition of the penalty provided for the act 
committed, when the same shall constitute a more serious offense.” 
SEC. 2. Article 277 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, is hereby further 
amended to read as follows : 
“Art. 277. Abandonmenf of minor by person enfrusfed wifh his cusfody; 
indifference of parenfs.- The penalty of arresfo mayor and a fine of at least ten 
thousand pesos (PlO,OOO.OO) 
but not more than fifteen thousand pesos 
(P15,OOO.OO) shall be imposed upon anyone who, having charge of the rearing or 
education of [a] AN UNEMANCIPATED, minor, shall deliver said minor to a 
public institution or other persons, without the consent of the one who entrusted 
such child to his care or, in the absence of the latter, without the consent of the 
proper authorities. 
“The same penalty shall be imposed upon the parents who shall neglect 
their children OF SCHOOL AGE by not giving them the COMPULSORY 
ELEMENTARY education which [their station in life] THE CONSTITUTION 
requires [and financial condition permits.]’’ 
SEC. 3. There shall be incorporated after Article 278 (5) of the same 
Code a new paragraph (6) to read as follows: 
“6. 
ANY PARENT WHO SHALL GIVE HIS UNEMANCIPATED CHILD 
CORRUPTING ORDERS, COUNSELS OR EXAMPLE SHALL BE PUNISHED 
BY ARREST0 MAYOR IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD AND A FINE OF AT LEAST 


TEN THOUSAND PESOS (PlO,OOO.OO) BUT NOT MORE THAN FIFTEEN 
THOUSAND PESOS (PI 5,000.00). THIS SHALL INCLUDE CASES WHICH 
HAVE RESULTED FROM CULPABLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE PARENT. 
“IN THE CASE OF THE PARAGRAPH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING, THE 
DELIQUENT PARENT SHALL, IN ADDITION TO THE PENALTY THAT WILL 
BE IMPOSE UPON HIM, LOSE PARENTAL AUTHORITY, HEREDITARY 
RIGHTS AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD.” 
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
at least two newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,