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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
I 
S. NO. 
683 
~~ 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Respect fophuman rights is acknowledged as a cornerstone of any democratic country in 
the whole world today. Here in the Philippines, decades of repression and violation of human 
rights were felt during martial rule wherein thousands of government critics were incarcerated, 
tortured or even killed. A number of repressive laws found their way into our statute books by 
virtue of the legislative powers of the Chief Executive under Amendment No. 6 to the 1973 
Constitution. 
A dawn of hope, however, broke into our troubled lands after the 1986 EDSA 
Revolution. Respect for human rights was given primacy and was enshrined in the Bill of Rights 
and the Social Justice provisions of the 1987 Constitution. Corollary to his constitutional 
provision, most, if not all, of Marcos repressive decree were also removed from our statute 
books. New laws were enacted to protect and promote respect for human rights in the country 
such as RA No. 7309 which provides compensation for victims of human rights. 
By virtue of Executive Order No. 8, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) was 
created to ensure the protection and promotion of respect for human rights through continuous 
human rights education, prosecution of human rights violators and compliance of the government 
with Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights covenants and 
agreements. Executive Order No. 27 was also issued on July 24, 1986 which provides, among 
others, human rights education in elementary and secondary schools. 
Despite our significant gains in transforming human rights into legal and enforceable 
right, human rights violations continue in the Philippines today. One has only to go through his 
daily newspapers to know that a large number of summary executions, torture, arbitrary 
detentions, bombings, forced evacuations and food blockades continue to occur in our country. 
Many law enforcers have been accused of demonstrating their gross disrespect for human 
rights and non-observance of due process in the arrest and detention of suspects and in the 
extraction of forced confessions during tactical interrogation and/or custodial investigation. 
Reports of extra judicial killings in the guise of shootout between elements of law enforcement 
agencies and suspected criminals continue to filter in the news. 
For law enforcers to understand, appreciate and respect the rights of others, human rights 
education is a must. This Bill, therefore, aims to ensure that officers, members and prospective 
members of law enforcement agencies be given at least a working knowledge of due process of 
law and human rights. 
It is the hope of this Bill that with the protection and promotion of human rights 
enshrined in our laws, the continuing education of our law enforcers on human rights will 
contribute to the decline in the incidence of human rights violations and promote respect for the 
rights of others and the rule of law in our country. 
A 
The passage of this Bill is earnestly sought. 
MANUEL B. VI LAR, JR. 
f 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
First Regular Sessioq 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
, 
S 
I 
 INTRODUCED B 
I 
I 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAN1 
OFFICERS, MEYBERS AND TR 
PHILIPPINES (AFP), THE PHILIPP 
BUREAU OF IYVESTIGATION 
AGENCIES AND F,OR OTHER PUR 
Be it enacted by thL Senate and Hot 
assembled: 
I 
~ 
SECTION 1. The b e d  Forces of 
(PNP), the National qureau of Investiga 
(BJMP), the Bureau ;of Corrections (Bt 
the study of human rights as an 
I 
trainees/prospective +embers of such ai 
SEC. 2. 
No trainee and/or prospeci 
other law enforcement agencies sha 
2 
SENATE 
No. 
683 
HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
ATORY COURSE IN HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL 
JNEES OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE 
NE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP), THE NATIONAL 
:NBI), AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT 
OSES 
e of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
le Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police 
on (NBI), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 
lor), and other law enforcement agencies shall include 
itegral part of the education and training of all 
ncies. 
ye member of the AFP, PNP, NBI, BJMP, BuCor and 
be admitted into the service without passing a 
comprehensive examination on human rights to be administered by the Commission on Human 
Rights (CHR). 
SEC. 3. 
All officers and men of the AFP, PNP, NBI, BJMP, BuCor and other law 
enforcement agencies shall likewise undergo a training course on human rights under the direct 
supervision of the CHR, giving priority to those units involved in counter-insurgency operations, 
national defense, intelligence work and those involved in the maintenance of peace and order. 
SEC. 4. 
No officer or member of the AFP, PNP, NBI, BJMP, BuCor and other law 
enforcement agencies shall be qualified for promotion without undergoing the required human 
rights course. 


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Any law enforcement personnel who commits an offense involving human rights shall, after 
serving the prescribed penalty, go through a retraining on human rights before he is admitted 
back to the service. 
SEC. 5. 
A regular course on human rights shall be included in the curricula of the Philippine 
Military Academy (PMA), Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), Philippine National Police 
Academy (PNPA), Local Government Academy (LGA) and other police, military training 
institutions/facilities. 
SEC. 6. 
In the formulation and creation of the course or subjects on human rights, the 
writing, printing and publication of textbooks, manuals and other reading/audiovisual materials 
relative thereto, the government agency concerned shall consult, coordinate and collaborate with 
CHR, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), human rights NGOs and POs duly 
recognized and accredited by the government collectively, and shall at all times emphasize the 
principles of human rights as they relate to practical conditions, and the laws and rules governing 
the same. 
SEC. 7, 
No textbook, manual or other readinglaudiovisual materials shall be used in the 
above courses in human rights without prior consultation and coordination with CHR, CHED, 
human rights NGOs and POs duly recognized and accredited by the government. 
SEC. 8. 
The CHR, human rights NGOs and POs duly recognized and accredited by the 
government shall provide resource persons, materials and other necessary assistance to the 
different agencies concerned in the implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 9. 
The AFP, PNP, NBI,,BJMP, BuCor, PMA, PPSC and LGA and other law 
enforcement agencies and training institutions/facilities concerned shall submit in due form to the 
CHR an annual report of those who have successfully completed the required course on human 
rights. 
SEC. 10. 
The CHR shall maintain a roster of all those who have successfully completed the 
required course on human rights. 


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SEC. 1 1, 
Failure to take or complete the required course on human rights on the part of a law 
enforcer shall be considered an aggravating circumstance if shehe is charged with a human 
rights violation case. 
SEC. 12. 
Such amounts as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be 
included in the budgets of the CHR and other concerned government agencies in the General 
Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and every year thereafter. 
SEC. 13. 
The CHR, in consultation, coordination and collaboration with the Department of 
Justice (DOJ), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department 
of National Defense (DND), human rights NGOs and POs duly recognized and accredited by the 
government, shall prepare the implementing rules and regulations necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 14. 
A monitoring group shall be tasked to periodically monitor and check compliance 
with this Act. Aside from the representative of the CHR, the members of this monitoring group 
shall be composed of: 
(a) 
(b) 
and POs duly recognized and accredited by the government; and 
( 4  
committees of both Houses of Congress. 
The head of this group shall be appointed by the President from among the representatives of 
human rights NGOs and POs duly recognized and accredited by the government mentioned in 
Subsection b thereof. 
SEC. 15, 
or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 16. 
newspapers of national circulation. 
One (1) representative from the law enforcement agencies; 
Six (6) representatives appointed by the President from among the human rights NGOs 
One (1) representative each from the secretariat of the respective human rights 
All laws or any part thereof, inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed, amended 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days upon its publication in at least two (2) 
Approved,