Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2519 
Introduced by:  REP. SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
While the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates the State to prioritize 
the needs of the elderly and existing laws like the Expanded Senior Citizens 
Act (RA 9994) and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act 
(RA 9262, for elder women) offer some safeguards, there's a recognized 
legislative gap in explicitly defining and comprehensively addressing elder 
abuse for all senior citizens. These bills aim to close that gap and provide a 
more robust protective mechanism. 
A central aspect of these bills is the explicit definition of "elder abuse." 
This 
typically 
includes 
various 
forms, 
such 
as: 
physical, 
psychological/emotional, financial/economic, neglect, abandonment, and 
sexual.  Corresponding penalties are hereby prescribed, which vary depending 
on the severity of the offense. 
Another element is the provision for Elder Protection Orders (EPOs), 
similar to those available under RA 9262 for women. These orders would aim 
to prevent further acts of abuse by ordering perpetrators to desist from 
committing abusive acts, keeping away from the victim, and providing support. 
This measure represent a vital step towards ensuring the safety, dignity, 
and well-being of senior citizens in the Philippines, affirming society's collective 
obligation to protect its most vulnerable members. 
In view of the aforesaid, the consideration and approval of this bill is 
hereby earnestly sought. 
SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR.       
July 29, 2025
4:37 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2519 
Introduced by:  REP. SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR. 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT PROTECTING SENIOR CITIZENS FROM VIOLENCE, DEFINING 
ELDERLY ABUSE AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Short Title – This Act shall be known as the “Elderly 
Protection Act of 2025”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy – It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to uphold the dignity and fundamental rights of elderly persons, recognizing 
their invaluable contributions to society. The State shall ensure their safety, 
security, and well-being by protecting them from all forms of abuse, neglect, 
exploitation, and violence, and by providing mechanisms for immediate 
intervention and redress. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms – For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms shall mean: 
a. Elderly Person (or Senior Citizen) – refers to any resident citizen of  the
Philippines who is sixty (60) years old or above.
b. Abuse – refers to any act or series of acts committed by any person against
an elderly person which causes or tends to cause physical, psychological, or
economic harm, suffering, or even death, and includes, but is not limited to:
i. Physical Abuse – acts that inflict bodily harm, such as hitting, slapping,
pushing, burning, or restraining without consent.


ii. Psychological/Emotional Abuse – acts or omissions that cause mental 
or emotional suffering, such as intimidation, harassment, threats, 
isolation, ridicule, verbal assault, or deprivation of dignity and respect.  
iii. Financial/Material Abuse – illegal or improper use of an elderly 
person's funds, property, or assets, including theft, fraud, coercion, 
misuse of power of attorney, or unauthorized withdrawal of funds.  
iv. Neglect – the failure of a caregiver or any person having custody or 
care of an elderly person to provide for the basic needs of the elderly 
person, such as food, water, shelter, clothing, medical care, or 
supervision, which results in harm or a serious risk of harm.  
v. Abandonment – the desertion of an elderly person by an individual who 
has assumed responsibility for their care. 
vi. Sexual Abuse – any sexual act committed against an elderly person 
without their consent, including sexual assault, molestation, or 
exploitation. 
c. Caregiver – refers to any person who provides care, assistance, or support 
to an elderly person, whether paid or unpaid, including family members, 
domestic helpers, or institutional staff.  
d. Intervention – refers to the range of services and actions taken to address 
and prevent the recurrence of abuse against an elderly person, including 
protection orders, counseling, medical assistance, and legal aid.  
e. Barangay VAWC Desk – refers to the Violence Against Women and Children 
Desk established in every barangay, which shall also serve as the primary 
receiving and reporting mechanism for cases of elderly abuse. 
 
 
SEC. 4.  Prohibited Acts. - The following acts, when committed against 
an elderly person, are hereby prohibited: 
a. Committing any form of physical abuse.  
b. Committing any form of psychological or emotional abuse.  
c. Committing any form of financial or material abuse.  
d. Committing neglect or abandonment.  
e. Committing any form of sexual abuse.  
f. Threatening to commit any of the foregoing acts.  
g. Attempting to commit any of the foregoing acts.  
h. Causing or allowing the elderly person to witness the abuse of  
    another person. 


 
SEC.  5.   Penalties –  
a. Any person who commits any of the prohibited acts under Section 4 
of this Act shall suffer the penalty of: 
 i. Prision Mayor in its minimum period and a fine of not less than 
One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than Two 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00), if the abuse resulted in 
slight physical injuries or psychological harm.  
ii. Prision Mayor in its medium period and a fine of not less than 
Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) but not more than Three 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00), if the abuse resulted in less 
serious physical injuries or severe psychological harm.  
iii. Prision Mayor in its maximum period and a fine of not less 
than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) but not more 
than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00), if the abuse 
resulted in serious physical injuries.  
iv. Reclusion Temporal in its minimum period and a fine of not 
less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) but not more 
than One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00), if the abuse resulted in 
mutilation or permanent disability.  
v. Reclusion Perpetua and a fine of not less than One Million 
Pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not more than Two Million Pesos 
(P2,000,000.00), if the abuse resulted in death.  
b. In addition to the foregoing penalties, the offender shall:  
i. Undergo mandatory psychological counseling or psychiatric 
treatment.  
ii. Be ordered to pay actual, moral, and exemplary damages to the 
elderly person.  
c. If the offender is a public officer or employee, in addition to the 
penalties provided herein, he/she shall suffer the penalty of perpetual 
absolute disqualification from public office.  
d. If the offender is a foreigner, he/she shall be immediately deported 
after serving his/her sentence and payment of fine.  
e. The penalties under this Act shall be without prejudice to any other 
criminal liability under the Revised Penal Code or other special laws. 
 
 


SEC. 6. Protection Orders 
a. Issuance of Elder  Protection Orders. The Barangay VAWC Desk, 
the Municipal/City Social Welfare and Development Office 
(MSWDO/CSWDO), or the court may issue a Protection Order to 
prevent further acts of abuse against an elderly person. A 
Protection Order shall include, but not be limited to, any of the 
following reliefs: 
i. 
Prohibiting the respondent from committing any of 
the prohibited acts.  
ii. 
Requiring the respondent to stay away from the 
elderly person, their residence, place of work, or 
any place specified in the order.  
iii. 
Directing the respondent to provide financial 
support to the elderly person. iv. Directing the 
respondent to surrender any firearms or deadly 
weapons to the proper authorities. v. Requiring the 
respondent to undergo mandatory counseling or 
psychiatric treatment.  
  b.  Who May File for a Protection Order. Application for a Protection 
Order may be filed by the elderly person themselves, their children, 
parents, ascendants, descendants, relatives within the fourth civil 
degree of consanguinity or affinity, duly authorized officers of the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), or any 
concerned citizen or non-governmental organization.  
 c.  Duration of Protection Orders. A Barangay Protection Order (BPO) 
shall be effective for fifteen (15) days. A Temporary Protection Order 
(TPO) issued by the court shall be effective for thirty (30) days. A 
Permanent Protection Order (PPO) issued by the court shall be 
effective until revoked by the court upon motion of the elderly 
person or for good cause shown. 
 
SEC. 7. Duty to Report - Any person who has personal knowledge of or 
reasonable ground to believe that an elderly person is being abused shall have 
the duty to report the same to the nearest Barangay VAWC Desk, police 
station, or MSWDO/CSWDO. Failure to report such abuse, when there is a 
clear and present danger to the elderly person's life or safety, shall be 
penalized with a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) but 
not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00). 
 


SEC. 8. Role of the Barangay. - The Barangay VAWC Desk shall be the 
primary government unit responsible for receiving complaints of elderly 
abuse, assisting in the issuance of Barangay Protection Orders, and providing 
initial intervention services. It shall: 
a. Receive complaints of elderly abuse and document them.  
b. Conduct immediate investigation and intervention.  
c. Assist the elderly person in securing a Barangay Protection Order.  
d. Refer cases to the police, MSWDO/CSWDO, or other concerned 
agencies for further action.  
e. Provide counseling and support services to the elderly person and 
their family.  
f. Maintain a confidential record of all cases of elderly abuse reported. 
 
SEC. 9. Role of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD). 
The DSWD, through its MSWDO/CSWDO, shall be the lead agency in 
providing comprehensive social services to elderly victims of abuse. It shall: 
a. Provide immediate rescue and temporary shelter for elderly victims.  
b. Provide counseling, psychological support, and medical assistance.  
c. Facilitate legal assistance and representation for elderly victims.  
d. Develop and implement programs for the prevention of elderly abuse.  
e. Conduct training for social workers, law enforcement personnel, and 
other service providers on elderly protection.  
f. Establish and maintain a national database on elderly abuse cases. 
 
SEC. 10. Role of Law Enforcement Agencies. 
The Philippine National Police (PNP) shall ensure the effective 
enforcement of this Act. They shall: 
a. Respond to calls for assistance from elderly persons or their 
representatives.  
b. Conduct immediate investigation of reported cases of elderly abuse.  
c. Arrest offenders in accordance with the law.  
d. Assist in the implementation of Protection Orders.  


e. Coordinate with the DSWD and other agencies in providing protection 
to elderly victims. 
 
SEC. 11. Confidentiality. - All information and records pertaining to cases 
of elderly abuse shall be treated with utmost confidentiality. Any person who 
discloses confidential information in violation of this Act shall be penalized 
with prision correccional in its minimum period and a fine of not less than 
Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00). 
 
SEC. 12. Mandatory Programs and Services. - The DSWD, in coordination 
with other relevant government agencies and local government units (LGUs), 
shall develop and implement mandatory programs and services for the 
prevention of elderly abuse, including: 
 a. Public awareness campaigns on elderly rights and protection. 
 b. Training programs for caregivers on proper elderly care.  
 c. Establishment of community-based support groups for elderly 
persons.  
 d. Provision of legal aid and counseling services free of charge to elderly 
victims. 
 
SEC. 13. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act. 
 
SEC.  14 .  Implementing Rules and Regulations – Within ninety (90) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department 
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare 
and Development (DSWD), and other concerned agencies shall promulgate 
the implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of 
this Act. 
 
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause.- All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, ordinances, rules and regulation, and other issuances or part thereof 
which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 


SEC. 16.  Separability Clause – If for any reason any provision of this Act 
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
 
 
SEC. 17.  Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,