FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIF'PINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
! 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 27, mandates the State to maintain honesty and 
integrity in the public service. This is designed to prevent government officers and employees 
from using their office for personal aggrandizement. 
Government offices and premises, as long as their establishment and maintenance are 
paid out of public funds, should be devoted entirely to the performance of public service. Hence, 
the use thereof, during the election period up to the election day, in order to solicit any 
contribution or to raise funds for political purposes, should be prohibited. 
This bill seeks to declare it unlawful for any person seeking public office to use 
government offices and premises in any manner that will promote his/ her election. 
This bill is a product of the public hearings conducted by the Committee on 
Constitutional Amendments, Revision of the Codes and Laws during the 1 Ith Congress.* 
* This bill was re-filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
7 
ilCT -2 !-' : :/ A 
First Regular Session 
) 
S. No. 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
AMENDING BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, SECTION 97, ON 
CONDUCTING FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 97 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 as amended, is further amended to 
read as follows: 
"Sec. 97. Prohibited raising of funds: 
(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to hc 
dances, lotte 
cockfights, boxing 
bouts, 
bingo, 
beauty 
contests, 
entertainment, 
.es, 
or 
cinematographic, theatrical or other performances for the purpose of raising funds 
for an election campaign or for the support of any candidate from the 
commencement of the election period up to and including election day; or for any 
person or organization whether civic or religious, directly or indirectly, to solicit 
and or accept from any candidate for public office, or from his campaign 
manager, agent or representative, or any person acting in their behalf, any gift, 
food, transportation, contribution, or donation in cash or in kind from the 
commencement of the election period up to and including election day; Provided, 
That normal and customary religious stipends, tithes, or collections on Sundays 
and/ or other designated collection days are excluded from this prohibition; and 
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person seeking public office whether local, 
regional or national to solicit or receive any contribution, monetary and or in 
kind, OR CONDUCT ANY FUND RAISING ACTIVITY FOR POLITICAL 
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PURPOSES, in any government office or premises, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE 
BUT ARE! NOT LIMITED TO NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT OFFICES, GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR CONTROLLED 
CORPORATIONS, any military or police camp, installation or office AND THE 
LIKE, AS LONG AS THE MAINTENANCE OF SAID OFFICES OR 
PREMISES ARE PAID OUT OF PUBLIC FUNDS. THIS PROHIBITION 
SHALL APPLY BEFORE AND DURING ELECTION PERIOD UP TO 
ELECTION DAY ITSELF.” 
SECTION 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the laws or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general publication. 
Approved, 
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