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THlRTEENTH CONGRESS OF TIHE REPUBLIC) 
First Regular Session 
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OF TI-IE PIlilLlPPlNES 
'I!w Constitution. .!wlcle XV, Section 3(2), mandates the State to, protect the right of 
:.e?' child io assistance. including proper care and nutrition. and special protection from all forms 
< ncgleci. nbuse, cruelty. exploitatioii and other conditions prejudicial to their development. 
Tlir Liiited h J p s  Con\,entioti on the Rights of the Child, Article 19, provides that 
social. and educational nieasLiics to protect the child fronl all forms of 
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\iciil or i i i c t i t d  violcncc. injury or iibusc. neglcct or ncgiigcnt treiitnlcn(. 
tni:iltreatrnciit or exploitatioii including sexiial abuse, while in the care of 
parcntfs). Icgal yuardiads) or any other person who has the care of tlie 
child 
States Panics shall take all appropriaie legislative, ndininistrative, 
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This bill I
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seek to sliieltl 
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any child testifying as a victim or witness to a scx crime fronl iltiy 
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.':!r;iici, eiiiotionnl and pryctitrlogical stress by taking the testimony or the clliltl witlloLri ~IIC 
I :-?yskiI pt'esencc oi'tlie bccused but ivithout depriving he accused of his right to confront anti 
The bill: will help alleviate the trauma of the child's harl,owiny 
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[lie witne'ss 
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2xpcrivnce 
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'I iii5 i i \ \  is 'an i n n c l w t i ~ n  of tile mles on presenting testimoiiia~ evidence. in sex crilllcs 
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~ chiltIrcn, the pcrpctraiors arc usualiy close relatives or otl~ers with fanliliar access tcl tilC 
.:l:ic! I n  tn;iti! ciiics. die only witness is tlie victim. 'This bill will facilitate the eli'ective tcstinlclt~y 
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.:~.''ilir c!itlil end succcsdiil prosecution of child ofrenders. 
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S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 
.AS X C l  PRO\'IDfNG PROTECTION TO CHILDREN 
\Cl-lO TESTIFY IN COURT 
\[:(''I IfJh I ;I]m:liflc l'liis sli;dl bc knowti iis the "Child Testimony Act" 
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&d;lrafiono_t' I!gb- - It is tlie policy of the State to provide special 
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c\eiy child lim all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty. exploitation, atld 
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r. 11:id otlicr contlilions pi.c.jutlicia1 t i l  their dev d lopinent 
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.i w.mi t h i s  end ilic Smtc sliall protect every child who is H victini or witness c)f scs 
, ... :. T k  %!a?c shall rliicld a e r y  child frotn the trauma of testifying face-to-face wit11 rlie 
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";)h\:sical injliii, 'I inclutlcs lacerations. fractured bones, burns, intet~nal injuries, 
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. ' . ....' ng Cr ieriotis bothi) 11 1111. 
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I i k  tern; "menial iiijuty" means harm to a child's psychological or intellectual 
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L Y ~ ~ I I ;  .:. 1ii~:Ii tiiiiy IIL. ixliiliitcd Iiy severe anxiety. depression. withdrawal or outw;lrd 
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emotional res& rise, or cognition; 
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I 1.1 the t c m  "cxploitation"i iiicans the act of any person who causes a child. for money. 
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c(,n\itlci-ation (;r duc to the coercion or influence oT any adult, syndicate or 
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2 -  L::.?. :., i d u ! g c  in sexual intercou,rse or lascivioiis conduct; 
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t11c term -%'&I 
alitise" includes tlie employment, use, persuasion, inttucelnent. 
:. . L ~ i ; x x  or cucrcion of a cliild,to enzage in, or assist another person to engage in. sexitnlly 
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:.: ,::):!duct (ii t~ie rape. ini&tiitioii, prosiitution. or other form of' sexual exp~oitatiol! or 
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i n i w  willi children. 
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I K! <ilC !er.?l '-cililtl ;,I)~,.,~'* tines not include discipline administered by a parent or legal 
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t!r hc. child prwdcd rhat it is reasonable in manner and moderate in degrek and 
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.-. ,.-e d a u .  :.,t>: Conitittlte cruelly 
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i l J (  ' I ' I C I  1 ...&!tg~~itives/ to !!JK in-court testimonv. - The court shall 
allow the 
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i I Child's li..c 
iiny ol the grounds provided in Section S is present. 
on) by two-way closcd circuit tclcvision 
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Gri )L I t i  d \. !i 
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~.o-!ivg. i.~:cou!:!_!-ctJLnpny 
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the clnld be taken by two-way closed-circuit television or 
: ! p . , i t ~ ( ~ n  if the cotirt lintls that the child is unable to testify in open coitrt ill the 
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for aiiy of[lre Ibllowing reasons 
i -\; Tilc child is uniiblc I O  tcstiry because of fear or shyness 
i i3 J I licre IS substanti;il lilidilioi~d, established by expert testimony, tllnt [lie child 
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.!:!Tu cnx,iional or rncntai sir'ain fi-cqtlircd to testi@ at trial. 
I I I Thc child w d r s  a iiicnt:lI or other infirmity. 
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I Contluct hy the accused or defense counsel causes the child to be unable to 
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'I ilc. < ; u t  >hall supporl i~ i - t i h q  on the child's inability to testify with findinys on tilt: 
I -  tii-icrniinins uhcther thc iinpaci on an individual child of one or more of the factors is 
- .~~,:;~!I:I:!; x, io j!isii& an,ortlcr, thc court may question thc nlitlor in chanlbers. or nt soI11e 
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place other tliiin tlic courtroom. on the record for a reasonable period o1'11t11c 
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the public prosccwr, the private prosecutor, the gLiardian ad litem, alld 
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-.GI <<itit-l\cl preseni h i t  no1 Inclutling ail attorney pro se. 
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( C  i i';ilic p~ellniinary lintling of inability under Section 4 is based on evidence that 
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i n  tlic pli\,sical prcience of the accused, the court may order tliat the 
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a c c i ~ w !  rejiicwntcx! 1x0 se, be excluded from the room in wliich tlic 
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tliiit the accused bc exclutlcd from the 
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. A  . ~ x t r t  +dl otdcr lliiit t>.vo-w;iy closed circuit television equipment rel;iy tlic 
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.:='< IX;, tlic rmni in \ ~ , h c l i  tlic cliild i s  testirying, and tlie cliild's tcstimony iiito tlic 
\.ieivins die proceeding, and that the accused be provided \villi it 
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I IIC tc,,tirnrmy of thc child shall be restricted tb the inatters 
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. _ _  r .  ,: ti.,(: cixirt is:, rhe basis; f r ~ r  granting the order. 
IC) In connectlon %ith the taking of a videotaped deposition under this paragraph, 
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:nay enter a protecIi\:e order for the purpose of protecting the privacy of the child. 
iH I The videotape of a deposition taken under this paragraph shall be destroycd 
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on irhipli the trial court rendered its judgment, but not before B final 
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I ,  cn!.crc.:I on app.c;il inclrIding Supreme Court review. The videotape shall become part 
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rr;.irt r e w d  and be kcpi by the court until it is destroyed 
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described in subparagraph (2) in connection with a 
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disclose tlie name or any other information concerning 
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. . .:': ::: a i e w e  placc to \?hicli 110 person who does not have reason to know their contents has 
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( t i )  diiclore documents descril)ed in clause (i) or the information in them that 
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.~ _... ~. a ch:id only ;o persons v;';ho, by reason of their participation in the proceeding. have 
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.a ::no..: zuch information 
I 21 Subpragraph i4) applscs to- 
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f i  j ail emplobces of thc Government connected with the case, including employees 
: ' 7 -  iJ:.pmini.nr of Justicc, anv law enl'orcement agency involved in the case, and any person 
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crnmenr to prol.ltle asmtancc in the proceeding; 
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(iii) ttlx isccil~cd itnd crriplo:;ces 01' the accused, including tile attol-]ley for tile 
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0 1  the attorney for the accused ( 0  ~ ) r o ~ i &  
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 ,I: 1 F i l i n ~  under zc%l - ,All papcrs tn he filed in court that disclose the name of or any other 
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co;?:ernin~ a child shall be filed under seal without necessity of obtainins a court 
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..tho makes tile filing shall submit to the clerk of the court - 
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:lie paper v>th the po~tions of it that disclbse the name of or other infornlation 
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ild rcdscte:l 10 bc placcd in the public rccord. 
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SECTIOS 9 Protective orders - 
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I .;I 0:: iiicrion b! any person the court may issue an order protecting a child fiom public 
: ._ ..-:e o i  rhe name.#& 
any other information concerning thy child in the course of the 
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:i ihe court determines that there is a signifi L ant possibility that such disclosui-e 
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ytwu',. c order iiwcti iinder subparagraph (A) niay - 
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j ! pro.\ idc iliat tlic tcstiiiiony of a child witness, and tlie testimony of any otlicr 
..-.?.en :lie a~tornej \vho calls the witness Iias reason to anticipate that the name of or an); 
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i.i(l: concerning a child may Le divulged in the testimony, be taken in a closcd 


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:lees\, social service p\ograrns, and child abuse issim The 
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li:i:rn ~nzi:; bc a ~rmiil viorkcr from the Department of Social Welfare and 
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ih;..!; !:(,I i,i. it p t r i o ~ ~  
who is o r  may bc a witness in a proceeding involving the 
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m il-,c guardian I S  appointed 
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gua:dian ad liten1 - A guardian ad litem may attend all tlie depositions. 
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in \~vIiicli a child 
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and make recornmendations t o  thc 
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of tlie cliild The guardian ad litem may have access to all reports. 
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2:'s 
rei. d s .  except aitoriicy's work product. necessary to en'ectively advocate for the 
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I i t m  sh;iIl mar,hal and coordinate the delivery of resources and special 
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at1 litem shall not be compelled to testifi in any court action or 
11% m y  ii:lbriiiatioii or opinion received from the child in the course of serving 
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~ .\ p r d i a n  ad litcni shall be presumed to be acting in good faith and 
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ci\ il ant! ciiiiiinal liability for complying with the guardian's lawfill duties 
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1OS 12 d\!jr_&e~clm- - A child testifying at or attending a judicial proceeding 
.-!gi:: io choox aid be accompanied by an adult attendant to provide eniotiond 
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7 he caurt. at i t s  discrction, may rdlow the adult attendant to remain ill closc 
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;/. i'i or ~n SOlitilct .with thc chiltl while the child testifies The c0~1i-t rimy allow 
a n  ;o lidd the child's liantl or allow the child to sit on the adult attendant's lap 
;.xrse of'tlie proceeding. tln adult attendant shall not provide tlie child with an 
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c.Iwiiori direcictl 10 thc child during the course ol' the child's testimony or 
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liic c;iild Thc ininge oftlie child aiteiidant. for tlie tinle the child is testifying or 
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I; be reiurdcd o n  vldeotape 
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rules. txpcdite the proceedin?, conduct continous trials and ensure that it 
.. --..~. ;:~.-.?er;:e cp;cr an!, ocher case The court shall ensure a speedy trial in order to minimize 
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 2 '.~.he:her to grant a con~iniiancc, the court shall.take into considkration the age of the 
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citirre !lie child must endure the stress of involvement with the criminal process. When 
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;i-:? ?o:v.ntial ad\,erse impact the .delay !nay have on the child's well-being. 'I'lie couIl 
,: v,riiien firx!in~.: of the fact and conclusion of law when grantin2 a continuance in CBSCS 
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5EC'TIOS 14. Testimonial aids - The court may permit a child to use anatomical dolls' 
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mannequins: or any other demonstrative device the court deems appropriate 
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;1'irprie ofatsisti@?child 
in testifyins. 
<ECTIOK I5 Fsfect on The Rule.; 
of Court. - Nothing iii this Act shall be construed to 
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xi:. ri:e ofihc Rules ofCourt 
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SECTIOS I4 &Lrahilit\, 
('lati?$. 
-. If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
'lit rciiiaiiidcr of llic I~M. 
or h e  provisiol not oil~crwisc i~n'ectetl slii~ll I.CIII;I~II 
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il-CTlOS 17 B e p g ~ l i ~ ~ l g ~ ~ e .  
- Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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_.. 'J; !n;t;uction. administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistellt 
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, . - ..I..Ls~, ofthis :Zcl is licrcby repeiiled, modified or amendetl accordingly. 
MIRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO