.. ' 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
, e- 
< 
Introduced'by Senator S. R. Osmefia 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Respect for human rights is guaranteed under the Philippine Constitution 
and other universal statutes. However, reports have it that law enforcers, who 
have been sworn to protect such rights are often themselves involved in a large 
proportion of human rights violations. The Human Rights Commission claims 
that police rank as the top human rights violators, followed by the military. 
To remedy this situation, this bill provides that the prospective members of 
the police and military organizations be required to go through and complete a 
training course on human rights as part of recruitment and admission 
procedures, Moreover, continuous training on human rights protection should be 
made part of fitness and skills training of personnel involved in counter- 
insurgency ope rat ions. 
The protection of human rights stands as a cornerstone of every civilized 
society. Therefore, the state should spare effort to ensure the rights of every 
single individual. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested 
SERGIO OSMENA 111 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLI “04 ) J/)i 
30 p4 :39 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N AbT E 
tL ’ 
S. No. 3 
I 
~~ 
Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A MANDATORY COURSE ON HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL 
OFFICERS, MEMBERS AND TRAINEES OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE 
PHILIPPINES (AFP), 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONA POLICE (PNP), THE 
NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (NBI) AND OTHER LAW 
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy - It shall be the policy of the State 
2 
to safeguard the basic human rights of the citizenry as embodied in Article I l l  
3 
of the 1987 Constitution . 
4 
SECTION 2. 
Mandatory Course - No trainee and/or prospective 
5 
agent or member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), 
the 
6 
Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 
7 
and other law enforcement agencies shall be accepted into the service 
8 
without undergoing a mandatory course on human rights to be administered 
9 
by the AFP, PNP, NBI and other law enforcement agencies, hereinafter 
I O  
termed as the “concerned agencies”. 
11 
SECTION 3. Educational Course - All regular officers and men of 
12 
the AFP, PNP, NBI and other law enforcement agencies shall likewise 
13 
undergo an education course on human rights under the direct supervision of 
1 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
I 1  
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) giving priority to those units 
involved in counter-insurgency operations, intelligence work 
and the 
maintenance of peace and order. 
SECTION 4. Promotion Requirement - No officer or member of the 
AFP, PNP, NBI and other law enforcement agencies shall be qualified for 
promotion without undergoing the required course on human rights attested 
by the CHR as embodied in Sections 2 and 3 of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Regular Course - A regular course on human rights 
shall also be included in the curricula of the Philippine Military Academy 
(PMA) 
and the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) 
and other 
military and police training institutions. 
SECTION 6. Guiding Principles and Laws - In writing, printing and 
publications of textbooks, manuals and other reading materials needed in the 
formulation and creation of course or subject on human rights, the concerned 
government agency shall consult and coordinate with the Commission on 
Human Rights (CHR) 
and shall at all times emphasize 
the following 
principles on human rights, and the laws and rules governing the same, to 
wit: 
(a) All persons are born with human dignity and inherent rights. No 
one loses his dignity and rights regardless of his political conviction. 
(b) Torture, 
unexplained 
or forced 
disappearances, 
extra-legal 
executions (salvagings), other cruel and degrading treatment or 
punishment are considered as crimes punishable by Philippine 
laws under any and all circumstances. 
(c) Anyone may, by himself or on behalf of a person arrested or 
detained, question the legality of the arrest and detention before 
the appropriate court. 
2 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
G 
7 
8 
9 
10 
I I  
12 
13 
14 
15 
(d) All pertinent human rights laws as may be deemed necessary by 
the CHR 
SECTION 7. Function of the CH 
(a) No textbook, manual or other reading materials shall be used in 
the aforementioned courses on human rights without the prior 
approval andlor endorsement of the CHR. 
(b) The CHR shall provide resource persons, materials and other 
necessary assistance to the different agencies concerned in the 
implementation of this Act. 
(c) The CHR 
shall maintain 
a roster of all those who have 
successfully completed the required course on human rights. 
SECTION 8. Funding - Such amounts as may be necessary for the 
implementation of this Act shall be appropriated for the CHR and other 
concerned government agencies. 
SECTION 9. 
Repea/ing Clause - Any law, act, 
decree, order, 
16 
17 
18 
SECTION I O .  Effecfivify - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
19 
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers 
20 
of general circulation. 
proclamation, or regulation or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
Approved, 
3