FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
i
.
 
-7 
Jut. -2 
S.B. No. 310 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
While there appears to be sufficient legislation providing necessary assistance to 
victims of rape, these laws exclude victims of battery, harassment and other sexual and 
physical abuse. Because of this, society has become indifferent to the real plight that 
victims of such abuse undergo. Many continue to refuse to acknowledge the gravity of 
mental trauma caused by encountering such experiences. 
According to the World Health Organization's report on domestic violence, the 
Philippines is one of the highest in terms of domestic violence cases. The results were 
based on collateral reports of hospitals and non-governmental organizations in Cebu, 
Metro Manila and Cordillera region. If the statistics prove accurate then there exist a 
dire need to expand the existing laws against rape to cover assistance and protection to 
victims of battery, harassment and other forms of physical and mental abuse. This 
proposed measure seeks to establish a Trauma Center which will aid victims in 
regaining their self-esteem and confidence. 
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly recommended 
AINGGO~ 
EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
1 
7 JUL -2 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
Senate Bill No. 3 3.8 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8505, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
“RAPE VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ACT OF 1998” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to 
read as follows: 
“Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “[Rape 
Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 19981 TRAUMA CENTER 
ACT.” 
SEC 2. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
Section 2. Declaration ofPolicy. It is hereby declared 
the policy of the state to provide necessary assistance and 
protection for [rape] victims.[.] OF RAPE, BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT,AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL AND 
PHYSICAL ABUSE. 
Towards this end, the government 
shall coordinate its various agencies and non-government 
organizations to work hand in hand for the establishment 
and operation of a [rape crisis] TRAUMA center in every 
province [and], city AND MUNICIPALITY that shall assist 
and protect [rape victims] [.I 
of RAPE, BATTERY 
HARASSMENT,AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL AND 
PHYSICAL ABUSE in the litigation of their cases and their 
recovery. 
SEC 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
Section 3. 
[Rape Crisis] TRAUMA Center. The 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 
the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of the 
Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of 
Justice (DOJ), and a lead non-government organization 
(NGO) with proven track record, or experience in handling 


sexual and PHYSICAL ABUSE CASES, shall establish in 
every province, city AND MUNCIPALITY a [Rape Crisis] 
TRAUMA Center located in a government hospital or health 
clinic or in any other suitable place for the purpose of: 
a) Providing 
[rape] 
victims 
of 
RAPE, 
BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR 
PHYSICAL ABUSE with psychological counseling, 
medical and health services, including their medico-legal 
examinations; 
b) Securing free legal assistance or service, when 
necessary for [rape] victims of RAPE, BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR 
PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
c) Assisting 
[rape] 
victims 
of 
RAPE, 
BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR 
PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
d) Ensuring the privacy and safety of [rape] victims of 
RAPE, 
BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT, AND 
OTHER 
FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
e) Providing psychological counseling and medical services 
whenever necessary for the family of [rape] victims of 
RAPE, BATERY, HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS 
OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
9 Developing and undertaking a training program for law 
enforcement officers, public 
prosecutors, 
lawyers, 
medico-legal officers, PSYCHOLOGISTS, social workers, 
and 
barangay 
officials 
on 
human 
rights 
and 
responsibilities; gender sensibility and legal management 
of rape, BATTERY HARASSMENT, AND OTHER 
FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE cases. 
PARTICULARLY 
THOSE 
COMMITTED 
AGAINST 
CHILDREN; and 
g) Adopting and implementing programs for the recovery of 
[rape] victims of RAPE, BATTERY, HARASSMENT, AND 
OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
The DSWD shall be the lead agency in the establishment and 
operation of the [Rape Crisis] TRAUMA CENTER. 
SEC 4. Section 4 of the Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to 
read as follows: 
Section 4. Duty of the Police Officer. 
Upon receipt 
by the police of the complaint for rape, BATTERY, 
HARASSMENT AND 
OTHER 
FORMS OF SEXUAL 
PHYSICAL ABUSE, it shall be the duty of the police officer 
to: 
a) Immediately refer the case to the prosecutor for 


inquest/investigation if the accused is detained; 
otherwise, the rules of court shall apply; 
b) Arrange for counseling and medical services for 
the offended party; and 
c) Immediately make a report on the action taken. 
It shall be the duty of the police officer of the 
examining physician, who must be of the same gender as 
the offended party, to ensure that only persons expressly 
authorized by the offended party shall be allowed inside the 
room where the investigation or medical or physical 
examination is being conducted. 
For this purpose, a women’s AND CHILDREN’S desk 
must be established in every police precinct throughout the 
country to provide a GENDER-SENSITIVE police woman to 
conduct investigation of or of hislher reputation shall not be 
admitted unless, and only to the extent that the court finds, 
that such evidence is material and relevant to the case. 
SEC 7. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
Section 7. Appropriations. For the establishment and 
operation of the [rape crisis] TRAUMA centers during the 
first year of implementation of this Act, the amount of One 
Hundred Twenty Million Pesos (P120,000,000.00) 
shall be 
charged against the Organizational Adjustment Fund, as 
follows: Sixty Million Pesos (P60,000,000.00) for the DWD; 
and Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000.00) each for the 
DOH, DILG, 
and DOH respectively. 
Thereafter, the 
necessary amount for the [rape crisis] TRAUMA centers 
shall be included in the budgetary allocations for the 
agencies concerned in the annual General Appropriations 
Act. 
SEC 8. lmplemenfing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days 
from the approval of this Act, all concerned agencies shall review, revise, amend 
or modify the existing rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper 
implementation thereof. 
SEC 9. Separability Clause. If any part, section or provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts thereof not affected thereby 
shall remain valid. 
SEC 10. 
Repealing Clause. 
All laws, acts, presidential decrees, 
executive orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed 
accordingly. 


SEC 11. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,