Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fiftoomh Congress
Second Regular Session

5060

HOUSE BILL. NO.

Introduced by the Hon, ANGELO B. PALMONES:

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6981 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS TILE WITNESS
PROTECTION, SECURITY AND BENEFIT PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSE!

EXPLANATORY NOTE

RA 6981 otherwise known as the Witness Protection,
for the conduct of physical, medical and psychological examination of potential witnesses. Many
times in the past witnesses admitted into the program have been lost by the program because they
needed but were not provided one because there was no previous medical examination

courity and Benefit Act does not provide

Wiinesses under the Program are under (rtmendous physical stress and it is necessary that those
administering the Program be informed of the physical condition of the witnesses so that
precautionary measures can be taken to safeguard their health

Many witnesses recant or change their testimonies or outright refuse to testify later. Being under
js0 exerts emotional and psychological pressure particularly to unstable witnesses.
The psychological examination will identify these unstable witnesses and the Program can
institute remedial measures or decide not to admit these kind of witnesses.

To safeguard the integrity of the Program and to save expenses it is urged that this bill be enacted
soonest

ANGHLO B. PALMONES
Reprefentative, AGHAM Party List


Repubite ef the Philippines
E OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Quezon City, Metro Manila

HOL

Fifteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOL SE BILL NO,

Introduced LO ALMO!

the Hos

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6981 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE WITNESS
PROTECTION, SECURITY AND BENEFIT PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES,

Be ut enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
an Congress Assembled:

SECUON 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Amended Witness Protection, Security and
Benefit Act of 20117

SECTION 2. Admission into the Program, Any person who has witnessed or has
knowledge o information on the commission of a crime and has testified ar is testifying or about
to testify before any judicial or quasi-judicial body. or before any investigating authority, may be
admitted imto the Program:

Provided, That

4ay the offense in which his testimony will be used is a grave felony as defined under the Revised
Penal Code, or its equivalent under special laws:

(by his testimony can be substantially corroborated in its material points;

{cy he of any member of his family within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity is
subjected 10 threats to his lil or bodily injury or there is a likelihood that he will be killed,
forced, intimidated, harassed or cormupted to prevent him from testifying, or to wstify falsely, or
evasively, because or on account of his testimony: and

td) he ts not a law enforcement officer, even il he would be testifying against the other law
enforcement officers. In such a case, only the immediate members of his family may avail
thenisch es of the protection provided for under this Act.

PROVIDED FURTHER ‘THAT BEFORE A WITNESS IS ADMITTED INTO THE
PROGRAM HEYSHE SHALL UNDERGO MEDICAL, PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL


FXNAMINATION CONDUCTED IN A GOVERNMENT MEDICAL FACILITY AND BY
GOVERKMENT DOCTORS/PSYCHOLOGISTS THIS 1S TO DETERMINE iF THE
POTENTIAL WETNESS IS PHYSICLALLY. MEDICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY 11
TO ENTER THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM.

SECTION 3. Implementing rules and regulations — The Department of Justice shall issue the
implementing rules and regulations within 180 days from the date of approval of this Act

SECTION 4. Separability clause - Any portion or provision of this Act which may be declared
unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions
hereof,

CTION S. Repealing Clause. - Alt other laws, ordinances, cules, regulations. and other
isspances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, arc hereby repealed or modified
accordingly

CTION 6, Effeetivity Clause - Thus Act shall take effect ummediately after its publication in
10 (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved