Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
1 Regular Session

House Bill No, £405

Introduced by Representatives ERIC GO YAP, JOCELYN PUA TULFO, and
ROWENA NINA TADURAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As old as their age may be, the Filipino elderly serve as the strength of the
youth. They play significant roles in the family, providing support and sharing
wisdom to the members of the community. Also, they serve as the guardians of our
traditions and nourishers of our culture.

But as time goes by, they experience health deterioration which affects the
aspects of their being. Thus, they become more vulnerable to discrimination,
exploitation, marginalization, oppression, and subordination. Elder abuse does not
only cover the intentional act, but also the failure to act to the needs of the elderly.

This measure seeks to ensure that our senior citizens are given protection
from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and coercion, especially acts
detrimental to their personal safety and security. Through this, we continue to
provide them a sense of community who is willing to protect them.

This bill adopts the version of the same subject that was passed on third
reading in the House of Representatives during the 17 Congress. In view of the
foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ole ERIC GO YAP
JOCEL’ [A TULFO RO’ NA TADURAN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
1* Regular Session

House Bill No._ 4406

Introduced by Representatives ERIC GO YAP, JOCELYN PUA TULFO, and
ROWENA NINA TADURAN

AN ACT
PROTECTING SENIOR CITIZEN FROM VIOLENCE, DEFINING ELDER
ABUSE, AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Elder
Abuse Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of
the State to value the dignity or senior citizens and thereby guarantee full
respect for human rights. The State also recognizes the need to protect the
family and its members, particularly the senior citizens from all forms of
violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and coercion, especially acts deleterious
to their 6 personal safety and security.

Towards this end, the state shall exert efforts to address all forms of
violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and coercion, especially acts deleterious
to their personal safety, security, dignity or any discriminatory act committed
against senior citizens in keeping with the fundamental freedom guaranteed
under the Constitution and the provisions of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a. Domestic violence refers to acts or threats of violence on senior citizen,
to exclude an act of self-defense, committed by any of the following:

1) current or former spouse of the victim;


2) a person related by blood or marriage to the victim;

3) a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim;

4) a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;

5) a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic
or intimate nature with the victim; or

6) a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim, or by any
other person, if the domestic or family violence laws of the
jurisdiction of the victim provide for legal protection of the
victim;

. Elder abuse refers to a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate
action, occurring within any relationship where there is an
expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to a senior
citizen. It includes any act or series of acts committed by any person
against a senior citizen, within or outside the family abode, which
result or is likely to result in physical or psychological harm,
suffering or distress, or neglect including threats of such acts,
battery, physical or emotional, economic or domestic violence, and
neglect or abandonment;

c. Emotional abuse refers to acts that includes shouting, swearing,
scaring or humiliating a senior citizen through name-calling,
ridicule, constant criticism, accusing, blaming, showing disrespect,
ignoring, or giving them the silent treatment;

d. Safe place or shelter refers to any home or institution maintained or
manage by the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) or by nay other suitable place that is willing to
accommodate the aggrieved senior citizen; and

Senior citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least
sixty (60) years old as defined under Republic Act No. 9994,
otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.”

=

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SECTION 4. Acts of Violence Against a Senior Citizen. - Acts of
violence against a senior citizen are acts that cause harm or distress committed
once or repeatedly through any of the following:

a. Physical abuse or infliction of pain or injury with the use of physical
force resulting in bodily injury, physical harm, pain or impairment,
suffering or distress;

b. Psychological, mental or emotional abuse causing mental or
emotional suffering or distress;


ic

Material exploitation through illegal or improper use of funds or
resources of the senior citizen, and economic or financial abuse
through acts that make the senior citizen financially dependent; and

| Abandonment or desertion by leaving a senior citizen unattended at

a place for such a considerable length of time as may be likely to
endanger the health and welfare of a senior citizen, by an individual
who has assumed responsibility for providing care for the senior
citizen, or by a person with custody of the senior citizen;

SECTION 5. Rights of a Senior Citizen Who is a Victim of Violence. -
During the pendency of the case involving violence against a senior citizen, in
addition to those provided under existing laws, a senior citizen shall have the
following rights:

a.

to avail of protection and legal assistance from the Public Attorney's
Office (PAO) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or any public legal
assistance office;

. to be entitled to support services from the DSWD and the Local

Government Unit (LGU) concerned;

. to be entitled to all legal remedies as provided for under the Family

Code;

|. to be informed through the Senior Citizen Help Desk established

hereunder of the senior citizen’s right and services available
including the right to apply for a protection order; and

to be entitled to actual, compensatory, moral and exemplary
damages.

SECTION 6. Mandatory Programs and Services for a Senior Citizen
Who is a Victim of Violence. - The DSWD, in coordination with the LGUs,
shall provide a senior citizen who is a victim of violence and similar acts the
following services:

a.

b.

a safe place or temporary shelter, such as senior housing or nursing
home or other suitable facility or service, when appropriate, as
emergency short term shelters. This safe place or temporary shelter
shall provide counseling, psycho-social services, recovery or
rehabilitation programs and livelihood assistance;

counseling, healing, recovery and rehabilitation services; and


c

the appropriate programs to ensure the personal safety and security
of a senior citizen and prevent the recurrence of violent acts
committed against them.

The Department of Health (DOH) shall provide medical assistance to
senior citizens who are victims or survivors of violence and similar acts.

SECTION 7. Response to a Request for Assistance. - In responding to
a request for assistance, a barangay official or law enforcer shall have the
following duties:

a.

°

a respond immediately to a call for help or request for protection of
the victim by entering the senior citizen victim’s dwelling if
necessary, whether or not a protection order has been issued to
ensure the safety of the victim;

. confiscate any harmful object in the possession of the perpetrator, or

one which is within plain view;
transport the victim to a barangay hall, or to a clinic hospital;

. assist the victim in removing personal belongings from the dwelling;
. ensure the enforcement of the Protection Orders (PO) issued by the

Lupong Tagapamayapa, the Punong Barangay or Barangay Chairman
and the court;

arrest the suspected perpetrator even without a warrant when any of
the acts of violence defined in this Act is occurring, or on a personal
knowledge, an act of violence has been committed, and there is
imminent danger to the life or limb of the senior citizen as defined in
this Act; and

. immediately report the call for assistance to the DSWD, the LGU or

accredited Non-Government Organization (NGO).

SECTION 8. Philippine National Police (PNP) Protocol in
Responding to Violence Committed Against a Senior Citizen. - The
Philippine National Police (PNP) is hereby directed to adopt a written
protocol establishing written guidelines and procedures to be followed by
police officers in responding to request for assistance and calls related to
violence against senior citizens.

SECTION 9. Education and Training Programs for Law Enforcement
Officers and Persons Involved in Responding to Cases of Violence Against
a Senior Citizen. - All persons involved in responding to cases on all forms of
abuse, violence, treats to personal safety and security or any discriminatory


act committed against a senior citizen, shall be required to undergo education
and training. The PNP, in coordination with the LGU concerned and the
DSWD shall establish education and training programs to assist law
enforcement officers and barangay officials to enable them to properly handle
cases of violence against senior citizens and acquaint them with:

the nature, extent and causes of violence;

. the legal rights of, and remedies available to victims of violence;

the services and facilities available to victims or survivors;

|. the duties imposed on police officers in making lawful arrest and to
offer protection and assistance; and,

e. the necessary techniques to be employed in handling incidents of

violence to minimize the likelihood of injury to the officer and

promote the safety of the victim or survivor.

Ross

SECTION 10. Mandatory Reporting of Domestic Violence. - A public
officer who receives a complaint of violence committed against a senior citizen
or the head of a public or private hospital, medical clinic or similar institution,
as well as the attending physician or nurse, clinician, barangay health worker,
therapist or counselor who examined or rendered treatment to a senior citizen
victim shall make a report of the complaint, examination or treatment within
forty-eight (48) hours from the time of complaint, examination or treatment to
the nearest police station.

All public workers and medical professionals who have knowledge of
the incident involving domestic violence and to whom said abuse or violence
was reported or revealed in the course of the performance of official duty,
shall immediately report the incident to the proper authorities.

In all cases, a report shall be made to any law enforcement agency
within forty-eight (48) hours from knowledge of the same Whereupon,
investigation shall immediately follow. The DSWD shall assign a social
worker to verify incidents of violence and file a petition for PO, if warranted.

SECTION 11. Establishment of a Senior Citizen Help Desk. - Every
barangay shall establish a Senior Citizen Help Desk which shall provide
immediate assistance to victim-survivors of abuse. Besides barangay officials,
it may be manned by representatives of the senior citizen sector or by
members of a local senior citizen organization designated and authorized by
the Barangay Council or Chairperson.


SECTION 12. Special Prosecution Units. - The DOJ is hereby directed
to establish special units that shall handle complaints of violence against
senior citizens as defined in this Act, and the prosecution thereof.

SECTION 13. Venue. - The Regional Trial Court (RTC) designated as a
Family Court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over cases of
violence against senior citizen as provided in this Act. In the absence of such
court in the place where the offense was committed at the option of the
complaint.

SECTION 14. Protection Order (PO). - A Protection Order (PO) is an
injunction under this Act that maybe requested or issued for the purpose of
preventing further acts of abuse or violence against senior citizens as specified
in Section 4 of this Act and granting other necessary relief. The provisions of
the PO shall be enforced by law enforcement agencies.

The types of PO that may be issued under this Act are, as follows:

a. Barangay Protection Order (BPO);
b. Temporary Protection Order (TPO); and
c. Permanent Protection Order (PPO).

The PO that may be issued under this Act shall include any or all of the
following reliefs:

a. Prohibition of the respondent or offender from threatening to
commit, personally or through another, any of the acts of violence as
defined in Sec. 4;

b. Whenever applicable, issuance of an order to the respondent or
offender to immediately leave the domicile or residence of the
petitioner. If personal effects must be removed from the residence,
the Court shall direct a law enforcement officer to accompany the
respondent to the residence until such time that respondent has
gathered all belongings and to escort the respondent from residence:
Provide, That the victim or the aggrieved party shall likewise be
accorded the same protection contemplated herein;

c. Issuance of an Order to respondent to stay away from the petitioner
within a distance to be determined by the Court; Provided, That the
order shall ensure the physical safety of the petitioner in the
residence, place of work, school and such other places frequented by
the offended party;


d. Prohibition of the respondent from directly or indirectly
communicating or contacting the petitioner;

e. Issuance of an Order to proper law enforcement offices to enforce
the provisions of this Section;

fi Issuance of an Order to the DSWD and the Social Welfare
Development Office (SWDO) of the LGU concerned to provide
therapy, counseling and other support services to the aggrieved
party or parties;

g. Issuance of an Order for the restitution for actual damages caused by
the violence inflicted, including but not limited to property
damaged, medical expenses, and loss of income; and

h. Such other relief as deemed necessary by the Court for the protection
of the petitioner and such other persons who may be in need of the
same.

Any of the reliefs provided under this Section shall be granted even in
the absence of a degree of legal separation or annulment, or declaration of
absolute nullity of marriage in the case of married individuals.

The application for a PO must be in writing, signed and verified under
oath by the applicant. If the applicant is not the victim, the application must
be accompanied by an affidavit of the applicant attesting to:

a. the circumstances of the disclosure of the violence or abuse suffered
by the victim; and

b. the circumstances of consent, or lack thereof, given by the victim for
the filing of the application.

When disclosure of the address of the abused senior citizen will pose
danger to that person’s life, it shall be stated in the application. In such a case,
the applicant shall attest that the victim is residing in the municipality or city
over which the Court has territorial jurisdiction, and shall provide a mailing
address for purpose of the service of court processes.

The standard application form for PO shall include the following
information:
a. names and address of petitioner and respondent;
b. description of relationship between petitioner and respondent, in the
case of violence within the context of Section 4 of this Act;
c. astatement of the circumstances and the nature of violence or abuse;


d. description of the reliefs requested by the petitioner as specified in
this section;

e. request for counsel and reasons for such request;

request for waiver of application fees until hearing; and,

g. an attestation that there is no pending application for a PO in
another Court.

SS

The following persons may file the petition for a PO:

a. the offended party;

b. any member of the family or household of the victim as defined in
this Act;

c. social worker from the DSWD or the SWDO of the LGU or any
accredited social welfare organization;

d. law enforcement officer or agent;

e. lawyer, counselor, therapist or the community who has personal
knowledge of the offense committed.

No filing fee shall be required in the application for a PO.

‘An application for a PO filed with a Court shall be considered an
application for both a TPO and a PPO.

SECTION 15. Transfer of Residence; New Application Needed. - A
petitioner previously granted a BPO under this Act and who desires to
relocate to a new residence outside the original city or municipality of
residence has to apply for a new BPO.

When a PO has been issued by a Court of competent jurisdiction, and
the person in whose favor it is issued transfer to a place outside the court's
jurisdiction, the person may still have the order enforced by filing a petition
before a court in the place where the person has transferred. The petition to
enforced the order shall include a copy of the previously obtained PO. The
respondent shall be notified of the issuance of a new PO.

SECTION 16. Legal Representation of Applicant for a PO. - If a
petitioner for a PO is requesting for the appointment of a counsel because of
lack of economic means to hire a counsel de parte, the Court shall immediately
direct the Office of the Public Prosecutor who has jurisdiction over the case to
represent the petitioner in the hearing on the application sought. The
applicant who cannot afford to hire the services of a private counsel or lacks


access to family or conjugal resources such as when the same are controlled by
the abuser, shall qualify for legal representation by the DOJ, the Public
Prosecutors’ Office or the PAO.

However, a private counsel offering free legal services is not barred
from representing the petitioner with the latter's consent, and with the leave
of Court.

SECTION 17. Barangay Protection Order (BPO). - A Barangay
Protection Order (BPO) is issued by the Lupong Tagapamayapa and the Punong
Barangay or Barangay Chairman. The issuance of a BPO or the pendency of an
application for a BPO shall not preclude petitioner from applying for, or the
Court from granting a TPO or PPO.

Application for a BPO shall follow the Rules on venue under the Local
Government Code of 1991 and its implementing rules and regulations.

‘A Punong Barangay or Barangay Chairperson who receives application
for a BPO shall issue the PO to the applicant on the date of filing after ex parte
determination of the basis of the application. If the Punong Barangay or
Barangay Chairman is unavailable to act on the application for a BPO, the
application shall be acted upon by any available Lupong Tagapamayapa or
Barangay Kagawad. If the BPO is issued by a Barangay Kagawad, the order must
be accompanied by an attestation by the Barangay Kagawad that the Punong
Barangay and the Lupong Tagapamayapa were not available at the time of the
issuance of the BPO.

A BPO issued by a Lupong Tagapamayapa, a Punong Barangay or
Barangay Chairperson and Barangay Kagawad may cover only the relief
provided in Section 14 hereof and shall be effective for fifteen (15) days.
Immediately after the issuance of an ex parte BPO, the Punong Barangay or
Kagawad shall personally serve a copy of the same to the respondent, or direct
any barangay official to personally serve the order.

Within forty-eight (48) hours of issuance of an ex parte BPO, the Punong
Barangay ot Barangay Kagawad must refer the case to the Lupong Tagapamayapa.
The case shall be heard by the Lupong Tagapamayapa within seven (7) days
from the date of referral and within the fifteen (15)- day effectivity period of
the ex parte BPO.


Notice of the hearing shall be given to both parties. Subsequent to a
hearing on the merits of the application, the Lupong Tagapamayapa may extend
a BPO that grants relief under Section 14 for a period of six (6) months. The
issuance of a BPO shall not preclude any applicant from applying or receiving
a subsequent BPO concerning the same matter.

SECTION 18. Temporary Protection Order (TPO). - A Temporary
Protection Order (TPO) may be issued by a Court prior to the issuance of a
Permanent Protection Order (PPO) and shall be based on an application under
Section 14 herein. Any application for TPO or PPO must be made with the
RTC, Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court or Municipal Circuit
Trial Court with territorial jurisdiction over the place of residence of the
offended family or the senior citizen or the senior citizen victim who suffered
violence described under Section 4 of this Act: Provided, however, That if a
Family Court exists in the place or residence of the person for whom the
application is made, the application shall be filed with that Court.

A Court that receives an application for a PO shall issue a TPO on the
date of filing of the application after ex parte determination that such order
shall be issued. The TPO shall be effective for thirty (30) days. The Court shall
schedule a hearing on the issuance of a PPO prior to or on the date of the
expiration of the TPO. The Court shall order the immediate service of the TPO
on respondent by the Court Sheriff who may obtain the assistance of law
enforcement agents for the purpose. The TPO shall include a notice of the date
of the hearing on the merits of the issuance of a PPO.

SECTION 19. Permanent Protection Order (PPO). - A Permanent
Protection Order (PPO) may be issued only by the Court after notice hearing.

Any application for TPO or PPO must be made with an RTC,
Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court or Municipal Circuit Trial
Court with territorial jurisdiction over the place of residence of the offended
family or the abused senior citizen who suffered violence described under
Section 4 of this Act: Provided, however, That id a Family Court exists in the
place of residence of the person for whom the application is made, the
application shall be filed with that Court.

Respondent's non-appearance despite proper notice, or lack of a lawyer,
or the non-availability of respondent's lawyer shall not be a ground for
rescheduling or postponing the hearing on the merits of the issuance of a PPO.
If the respondent appears without counsel on the date of the hearing on the

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PPO, the Court shall appoint a lawyer for the respondent and immediately
proceed with the hearing. In case the respondent fails to appear despite
proper notice, the Court shall allow ex parte presentation of the evidence by
the applicant and render judgment on the basis of the basis of the evidence
presented. The Court shall allow the introduction of any history of abusive
conduct of a respondent even if the same was not directed against the
application or the person for whom the application is made.

The court shall, to the extent possible, conduct the hearing on the merits
of the issuance of a PPO in one (1) day. Where the court is unable to conduct
the hearing within one (1) day and the TPO issued is due to expire, the court
shall continuously extend or renew the TPO for the duration be modified by
the Court accordingly to address the needs of the applicant.

The Court may grant any, some, or all of the reliefs provided in Section
14 hereof through a PPO. A PPO shall be effective until revoked by a Court
upon application of the person in whose favor the order was issued. The
Court shall ensure immediate service of the PPO on respondent.

The Court shall not deny the issuance of a PO on the basis of the lapse
of time between the act of violence or abuse a defined in Section 4 herein, and
the filing of the application.

Regardless of the conviction or acquittal of the respondent, the Court
must determine whether or not the PPO shall become final. Even in a
dismissal of the application for a PPO, the same shall be granted as long as
there is no clear showing that the act from which the order might arise did not
exist.

Failure to act on an application for PO within the period specified in the
previous sections without justifiable cause shall render the Lupong
Tagapamayapa, the Punong Barangay or Barangay Chairman, the Barangay
Kagawad, the Official or the judge administratively liable.

SECTION 20. Priority Action on Application for a Protection Order. -
Hearings on applications for PO under this Act shall have priority over all
other proceedings. Barangay officials, Lupong Tagapamayapa and the Courts
shall schedule and conduct hearings on applications for a PO under this Act
above all other businesses and, if necessary, suspend other proceedings in
order to hear applications for a PO.

n


Respondents shall be notified of the issuance of a PO.

SECTION 21. Prohibition Against Undue Influence Over a Protection
Order Applicant. - A Lupong Tagapamayapa, a Punong Barangay or Barangay
Chairman, or the Court hearing an application for a PO shall not order, direct,
force or in any way unduly influence the applicant for a PO to compromise or
abandon any of the reliefs sought in the application for PO provided under
this Act. Section 7 of the Family Courts Act of 1997 and Sections 410, 411, 412
and 413 of the Local Government Code of 1991 shall not apply in proceedings
where relief is sought under this Act.

Failure to comply with this Section shall render the concerned
individual, official or Judge administratively liable.

SECTION 22. Mutual Protection Order Prohibited. - No order for
protection of the offender or respondent may be granted by a Lupong
Tagapamayapa or a Punong Barangay or Barangay Chairman and the Courts.

SECTION 23. Complaint Against a Violation of Protection Order. - A
complaint on a violation of a BPO issued under this Act shall be filed directly
with any Municipal Trial Court, Metropolitan Trial Court, or Municipal
Circuit Trial Court that has territorial jurisdiction over the barangay that
issued the BPO. Violation of a BPO shall be punishable by imprisonment of
thirty (30) days without prejudice to any other criminal or civil action that the
offended party may file for any of the acts committed under Sec. 4 hereof.

A judgment on a violation of a BPO may be appealed according to the
Rules of Court. During trial and upon judgment, the trial court may motu
proprio issue a PO as it deems necessary without need of an application.

A violation of any provision of a TPO or a PPO issued under this Act
shall constitute contempt of Court punishable under the Rules of Court,
without prejudice to any other criminal or civil action that the offended party
may file for any of the acts committed in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

Any violation of a PO issued under this Act shall constitute an offense
punishable by imprisonment of thirty (30) days, without prejudice to any
criminal or civil action that the offended party may file against a person who
has committed any of the acts described in Section 4 hereof.

A complaint on a violation of a PO shall be filed by the complainant
directly with the Court that issued the order, or with the Court in the place of

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residence of the complainant, if the former is not practicable. A criminal case
for violation of a PO shall be tried and resolved by the Court within sixty (60)
days from the date the complaint was filed. The Court, upon determination of
probable cause, shall cause the arrest of the accused who may post bail in the
interim in an amount to be determined by the Court.

A judgment on a violation of a PO may be appealed according to the
Rules of Criminal Procedure. During trial and upon judgment, the Court may
motu proprio issue a PO as it deems necessary.

SECTION 24. Hold Departure Order. - A hold departure order shall be
issued immediately by the Court against the respondent of a complaint of
abuse against a senior citizen as described under this Act.

SECTION 25. Penalties. - Commission of the acts described under Sec.4
hereof shall suffer the following penalties:

a. Acts falling under Section 4 (a) constituting attempted, frustrated or
consummated parricide or murder or homicide shall be punished in
accordance with the provisions of the Revised Penal Code.

b. Acts falling under Section 4 (a) resulting in mutilation shall be
punishable in accordance with the Revised Penal Code: Provided,
That those resulting in serious physical injuries shall be punishable
with the penalty of prison mayor; those resulting in less serious
physical injuries shall be punishable by prison correcccional and those
resulting in slight physical injuries shall be punishable by arresto
mayor.

c. All other acts enumerated in Section 4 hereof shall be punishable by
prison correcccional and a fine in an amount not less that One
hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than Three
hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00).

In addition to these penalties, a person found guilty of any of the acts
enumerated in Section 4 hereof shall be required to undergo mandatory
psychological counseling or psychiatric treatment and shall report compliance
therewith to the court.

A Barangay Official or law enforcer who fails to respond to any request
for assistance or protection from or on behalf of a victim shall suffer
imprisonment of six (6) months to one (1) year, at the discretion of the Court


and pay a fine of not less that Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), but not more
than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00).

Any person who fails to report any act of violence described in Section 4
hereof as required herein shall be liable for a fine of not less than Ten
thousand pesos (P10,000.00). Whenever applicable, criminal or administrative
charges may also be filed.

SECTION 26. Counseling and Treatment of Offenders. - The DSWD
shall provide rehabilitative counseling and treatment to perpetrators towards
learning constructive ways of coping with anger and emotional outburst and
reforming their ways. When necessary, the offenders shall be ordered by the
Court to submit to psychiatric treatment or confinement.

SECTION 27. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s
appropriations of the concerned departments. Thereafter, the amount needed
for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the budget
of the departments in the annual General Appropriations Act.

For LGUs, the implementation of the programs shall be charged against
the internal revenue allotment and other internally generated funds of the
LGU concerned.

In addition, the departments concerned and the LGUs may accept
donations, contributions and grants from various sources for purposes of
implementing this Act.

SECTION 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within six
(6) months from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD in
coordination with the Secretaries of the DOJ, the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) and the DOH shall formulate rules and guidelines
as may be necessary for the proper implementation and enforcement of this
Act. This shall include developing protocols and training programs for all
agencies and public officers concerned and a public information and
education program on violence against senior citizens. The implementing
rules and regulations (IRR) provided for under this Act shall be reviewed
periodically, and revised, if necessary.

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SECTION 29. Suppletory Application. - For purposes of this Act, the
Revised Penal Code and other applicable laws, shall have suppletory
application.

SECTION 30. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be

declared unconstitutional or invalid, such declaration shall not invalidate
other parts thereof which shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 31. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees,
executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent
with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 32. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general
application.

Approved,

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