Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
DEFINING THE CRIME OF DEPRIVATION OF SUPPORT TO ELDERLY AND INDIGENT PARENTS 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Unfortunately, abuse against an elderly, disabled, or otherwise incapacitated parent, which includes 
physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse, abandonment, neglect, and serious loss of 
dignity and respect, has become an “invisible issue” in the Philippines, according to the Commission on 
Human Rights. The sad stories of abused or abandoned parents, who in their productive years had toiled 
with blood, sweat, and tears for the upbringing and education of their children, are still rampant nowadays. 
Unreciprocated care and sacrifice—this is the cruel irony of their situation. This cannot go along without 
relief and recourse for these unfortunate parents.  
If parents may be penalized for child abuse under our laws for the unreasonable deprivation of basic needs 
for survival, such as food and shelter, and failure to provide immediate medical treatment, the same level 
of protection must be afforded to parents who are rendered incapacitated due to old age, disease, or 
disability, yet their adult and capable children fail to or neglect to provide support to them. This bill 
reinforces the duty of children to take care of their elderly, sickly, or otherwise, incapacitated parents, by 
providing criminal action for the enforcement of their rights for maintenance and support. 
This measure shall hold any person who (despite being capacitated) shall willfully neglect to maintain 
support to their parents (who are over 60 years of age or suffering from a disease or disability, are rendered 
incapable of supporting themselves) liable for deprivation of support. This crime shall be punishable by 
imprisonment, or a fine of not less than two hundred thousand pesos (Php 200,000.00) but not more than 
five hundred thousand pesos (Php 500,000.00).  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the Filipino 
people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
August 23, 2022
2:27 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
DEFINING THE CRIME OF DEPRIVATION OF SUPPORT TO ELDERLY AND INDIGENT PARENTS 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Criminalizing Deprivation of Support to Elderly 
and Indigent Parents Act”. 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to be cognizant of the dire 
conditions of parents who need assistance and support from their children, legitimate or illegitimate, who 
are capable of rendering such assistance and support. Hence, the State must take positive steps to care 
for their needs by penalizing any act of deprivation of support committed against the elderly members of 
the family. 
Section 3. Maintenance of Support to Parents. – Children shall, within their means and capacity, 
maintain support for their father or mother who, by being over sixty (60) years of age or suffering from a 
disease or disability, are rendered incapable of supporting themselves. 
Where an elderly parent appears to be in need, he/she may, by himself/herself or through a representative 
of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, shall initiate the filing of criminal action against 
his/her children for deprivation of support.  
For purposes of this section, "support'' refers to everything indispensable for sustenance, dwelling, clothing, 
and medical attendance. 
Section 4. Deprivation of Support to Parents. – Any person who, despite being capacitated shall 
willfully neglect to maintain support to his or her parent as defined under Section 3 of this Act, shall be 
liable for deprivation of support to a parent and shall be punishable by imprisonment of arresto menor as 
the minimum and of arresto mayor as the maximum, or a fine of not less than two hundred thousand pesos 
(Php 200,000.00) but not more than five hundred thousand pesos (Php 500,000.00), at the discretion of 
the court. 
Section s. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules, 
and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.  
Section 6. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act, or the application thereof to any 
person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected 
thereby. 
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Section 7. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from Its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,