FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 777 
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) 
) 
1 0 JUL -7 P 5 :[:9 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 7877, or the Anti-Sexual Harassment law is considered 
as a milestone in the continuous struggle for the elimination of gender-based 
violence and crimes. Thirteen years after its enactment into law in March 5, 1995, 
however, women continue to be victims of sexual harassment with more cases 
left unreported. The law's very limited definition of what constitutes sexual 
harassment leaves most women no recourse than to keep their silence. Even the 
paltry penalty of imprisonment for 1 month to 6 months is enough to discourage a 
woman from filing a complaint. 
There is clearly a need to revisit the law and make it more responsive to 
the realities that women face every day. 
Recognizing that gender·based violence are rooted in unequal power 
relations, this bill proposes to expand the definition of sexual harassment to 
include unwanted sexual advances made by any person in the place of 
employment, training or education. Further, unsolicited advances of a sexual 
nature committed even outside the place of employment, training or education, 
when by any person having authority, influence or moral ascendancy over 
another is also a punishable offense of sexual harassment under this proposed 
measure. To address the concern that cases reported to some employers are left 
uninvestigated, employers shall be presumed to have knowledge of the act of 
sexual harassment - making them liable for damages - if the employer fails to 
create a committee on decorum.or if the sexual harassment is openly practiced. 
As an added safeguard, the increased penalties are also proposed by this 
measure. 
The passage of this bill is intended to curb, with the hope of eventually 
eliminating, the difficult plight of women, who everyday are exposed to abuses of 
unequal power relations. 
In view of the foregoing, urgent approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 777 
) 
) 
) 
10 
,JUL 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
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, ,,-I he:, 
,1\ :.~y 
FURTHER PROVIDING PROTECTION FOR WOMEN AGAINST ABUSES OF 
UNEQUAL POWER RELATIONS, EXPANDING FOR THAT PURPOSE THE 
DEFINITION 
OF 
SEXUAL 
HARASSMENT 
AND 
INCREASING 
THE 
PENALTIES THEREFOR, THEREBY AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 7877 AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 3 of R.A. 7877 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Section 3. [Work, Education or Training-related] SEXUAL HARASSMENT 
DEFINED. - [Work, education or training-related sexual harassment is 
committed by an employer, employee, manager, supervisor, agent of the 
employer, teacher, instructor, professor, coach, trainor, or any other 
person who, having authority, influence or moral ascendancy over another 
in a work or training or education environment, demands, requests or 
otherwise requires any sexual favor from the other, regardless of whether 
the demand, request or requirement for submission is accepted by the 
object of said Act. 
. 
(a) In a work-related or employment environment, sexual harassment is 
committed when: 
(1) The sexual favor is made as a condition in the hiring or in the 
employment, re-employment or continued employment of said individual, or in 
granting said individual favorable compensation, terms, conditions, promotions, 
or privileges; or the refusal to grant the sexual favor results in limiting, 
segregating or classifying the employee which in any way would discriminate, 
deprive or diminish employment ,opportunities or otherwise adversely affect said 
employee; 
(2) The above acts would impair the employee's rights or privileges under 
existing labor laws; or 
(3) The above acts would result in an intimidating, hostile, or offensive 
environment for the employee. 
(b) In an education or training environment, sexual harassment is 
committed: 


(1) Against one who is under the care, custody or supervision of the 
offender; 
(2) Against one whose education, training, apprenticeship or tutorship is 
entrusted to the offender; 
(3) When the sexual favor is made a condition to the giving of a passing 
grade, or the granting of honors and scholarships or the payment of a stipend, 
allowance or other benefits, privileges, or considerations; or 
(4) When the sexual advances result in an intimidating, hostile or offensive 
environment for the student, trainee or apprentice.] 
A. IN THE PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING OR EDUCATION, 
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS COMMITTED BY ANY PERSON WHO 
ENGAGES IN ANY UNWANTED OR UNWELCOME SEXUAL ADVANCE, 
REQUEST OR DEMAND FOR SEXUAL FAVOR OR OTHER VERBAL 
OR PHYSICAL CONDUCT OF A SEXUAL NATURE AGAINST AN 
EMPLOYEE, 
EMPLOYER, 
TRAINEE, 
TRAINOR, 
STUDENT, 
INSTRUCTOR, 
TEACHER 
OR 
PROPESSOR 
REGARDLESS 
OF 
WHETHER THE DEMAND OR REQUEST FOR SUBMISSION IS 
ACCEPTED BY THE OBJECT OF SAID ACT; 
B. 
OUTSIDE 
THE 
PLACE 
OF 
EMPLOYMENT, 
TRAINING 
OR 
EDUCATION, 
SEXUAL· HARASSMENT 
IS 
COMMITTED 
BY 
AN 
EMPLOYER, MANAGER, SUPERVISON, AGENT OF EMPLOYER, 
TEACHER, INSTRUCTOR, PROFESSOR, COACH, TMINOR OR ANY 
OTHER PERSON, WHO HAVING AUTHORITY, INFLUENCE OR 
MORAL ASCENDANCY OVER ANOTHER, MAKES ANY UNWANTED 
OR UNWELCOME SEXUAL ADVANCE, REQUEST OR DEMAND FOR 
SEXUAL FAVOR OR OTHER VERBAL OR PHYSICAL CONDUCT OF A 
SEXUAL NATURE, REGARDLESS OF THE DEMAND OR REQUEST 
FOR SUBMISSION IS ACCEPTED BY THE OBJECT OF SAID ACT; 
Any person who directs or induces another to commit any act of 
sexual harassment as herein defined, or who cooperates in the 
commission thereof by another without which it would not have been 
committed, shall also be held liable under this Act. 
SEC. 2. Section 5 of RA 7877 is hereby amended as follows: 
"Section 5. Liability of the Employer, Head of Office, Educational or 
Training Institution. - The employer or head of office, educational or 
training institution shall be solidarily liable for damages arising from the 
acts of sexual harassment committed in the employment, education or 
training environment if die employer or head of office, educational or 
training institution is informed of such acts by the offended party and no 
immediate action is taken thereon. THE EMPLOYER IS PRIMA FACIE 
PRESUMED TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT 
ACT OR ACTS 
IF THE EMPLOYER FAILED TO CREATE A 
COMMITTEE ON DECORUM AS MANDATED BY THIS ACT; OR IF A 
COMPLAINT WAS MADE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OR AUTHORITY 
DESIGNATED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS; OR WHEN THE SEXUAL 
HARASSMENT IS OPENLY PRACTICED OR WELL-KNOWN AMONG 
EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS OR TRAINEES." 


• 
SEC. 3. Section 7 of RA 7877 is hereby amended as follows: 
"Section 7. Penalties. - Any person who violates the provisions of this Act 
shall, upon conviction, be penalized by imprisonment of not less than [one 
(1) month] SIX (6) MONTHS nor more than six (6) [months] YEARS, or a 
fine of not less than [Ten thousand pesos (P10,OOO.00) FIFTY 
THOUSAND PESOS (P50,OOO.00) nor more than [Twenty thousand 
pesos (P20,OOO.00)] ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,OOO), 
or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. 
Any action arising from the violation of the provisions of this Act shall 
prescribe in three (3) years.:' 
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. -If, for any reason, any section or provision 
of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the other section or provision 
not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - Any provision of law, decree, executive 
order or issuance inconsistent herewith is hereby repealed and/or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,