c;. 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
30 RO:04 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 
8!5fr, 
Introduced by Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Ektrada 
EXP LAN AT0 RY NOTE 
In every day's news reports, a portion for missing persons has always been 
provided for. It seems that there are ceaseless number of people missing, young and 
old alike. Although the media plays a big role in finding lost persons, it does not fully 
solve all cased of missing persons. 
It is for this reason that a Commission on Missing Persons is being 
recommended for creation. The Commission can focus in performing the functions that 
it is tasked to perform, thus, ensuring public safety for each and every member of the 
community. By the nature and character of the functions for which it is created, the 
Commission can guarantee to solve each and every case that will be brought to them 
because they can concentrate their time and effort in rendering their services in finding 
missing persons. 
The following are some of the notable functions of the Commission: 
1. 
to conduct investigation of missing persons whose whereabouts are 
unknown, upon its initiative or upon the request of an interested party; 
2. 
to evaluate and render corresponding reports on each of the cases and 
make recommendations to the party requesting the search, or to the 
DAWD for temporary shelter and assistance; 
3. 
to continuously review and evaluate Detective Operations to achieve 
specification of 
detective assignments as 
a 
measure 
of 
the 
accomplishment of investigation teams; 
4. 
to initiate policies and programs towards an effective communication 
system to aid the search of missing persons; and 
5. 
to devise a system of raising the consciousness of the people and for 
them to inform the Commission of persons who are found loitering about 
in public places, tramping or wandering about aimlessly. 
In view of the above, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
JERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


THJRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
1 
L.wJ 
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 852 
- 
Introduced bv Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
CREATING A COMMISSION ON MISSING PERSONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SWTION I. Commission on Mission Persons. In order to promote, and 
ensure public safety of the community, there is hereby created a Commission to be 
knawn as the Commission on Missing Persons, hereinafter referred to as the 
Commission. 
SEC. 2. Composition of the Commission. 
The Commission shall be 
composed of the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission as Chairman, the Director 
General of the Philippine National Police, the Director of the National Bureau of 
Investigation, Chairman of National Police Commission and the Secretary of Social 
Welfare and Development as members and two (2) representatives from the private 
sector whose advocacy is on human rights. 
For actual attendance at regular meetings, the members of the Commission from 
the private sector shall receive a per diem of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) 
for 
every meeting actually attended. 
SEC. 3. Functions of the Commission. The Commission shall have the 
following functions: 


1. 
to conduct investigation of missing persons whose whereabouts are 
unknown, upon its initiative or upon the request of an interested party; 
2. 
to evaluate and render corresponding reports on each of the cases and 
make recommendations to the party requesting the search or to the party 
requesting the search or to the DSWD for temporary shelter and 
assistance; 
3. 
conduct research, before submitting the corresponding report or 
investigation, to support or back up the commendations; 
4. 
to monitor and supervise the investigation conducted by members of the 
Police Forces; 
5. 
to coordinate the activities of investigation teams with social workers of the 
DSWD in the case of abandoned or maltreated/abused children and 
dependents; 
to continuously review and evaluate Detective Operations to achieve 
specification of 
detective assignments 
as 
a 
measure 
of 
the 
accomplishment of investigation teams; 
6. 
7. 
to call upon different agencies, government and non-governmental, for 
assistance and service as it may require in the discharge of its 
responsibilities; 
8. 
to initiate policies and programs towards an effective communication 
system to aid the search of missing persons; and 
9. 
to devise a system of raising the consciousness of the people and for 
them to inform the Commission of persons who are found loitering about 
in public places, tramping or wandering about aimlessly. 
SECTION 4. Composition of the Secretariat. - There shall be a Secretariat for 
the Commission headed by an Executive Director, to be appointed by the Chairman and 
approved by a majority of the members of the Commission. The Commission shall fix 


the compensation and allowances of the Secretariat in accordance with the Salary 
Standardization law. 
SECTION 5. Powers of the Commission. - The Commission shall have the 
power to make arrests, searches and seizures in accordance with existing laws and 
rules and shall likewise have the power to issue subpoena or subpoena duces tecum for 
the appearance of any persons for investigation. 
SECTION 6.lmplementing Rules. - The Commission of Human Rights shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this 
Act. 
SECTION 7. Appropriation. - The amount needed for the implementation of 
this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the Commission of Human Rights 
under the current annual General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Separability Caluse. - If any provision or section of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, such portions not affected thereby shall remain in 
full force and effect.’ 
SECTION 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
whichever comes earlier. 
Approved.