FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2 3 G 8 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Republic Act (RA) No. 6981, or "The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit 
Act)' is enacted into law principally to encourage an individual who has witnessed or 
has knowledge of the commission of a crime to testify before a court, a quasi-judicial 
body, or an investigating authority, ,by protecting him from probable reprisals and from 
unavoidable economic dislocation. 
Article. VI, Section 21 of the Constitution provides that "The Senate or the House 
of Representatives or any of its respective committees may conduct inquiries in aid of 
legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The rights of 
persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected". 
The Senate of the Philippines has been investigating numbers of controversial 
issues concerning matters of national concern like the Fertilizer Fund Scam and the 
ZTE-National Broadband Network deal among others. 
As a result of their voluntary appearance in the Senate inquiries and 
investigations, key witnesses, including family members, have experienced trauma and 
distress due to alleged intimidations and threats they have been receiving in order to 
prevent them from making statem~nts. Unfortunately, the most that the institution can 
provide is temporary shelter and protection while the investigation is on-going. 
This bill seeks to provide for a separate witness protection program for its 
witnesses and resource persons. This bill also seeks to provide clearly and explicitly for 
the perpetuation of testimonies of witnesses in consonance with Rule 134 of the Revised 
Rules of Court. 
The approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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) 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 23 () 8 
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Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6981, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"WITNESS PROTECTION, SECURITY AND BENEFIT ACT" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Witness Protection, Security and 
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Benefit Act." 
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SEC. 2. 
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follows: 
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Section 4 of Republic Act No. 6981 is hereby amended to read as 
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"Section 4. 
Witness in Legislative Investigations. -
In case of legislative 
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investigations in aid of legislation, [a witness) THE SENATE OF THE 
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PHILIPPINES OR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS THE CASE 
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MAY BE, SHALL PROVIDE FOR A SEPARATE "WITNESS PROTECTION, 
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SECURITY AND BENEFIT PROGRAM" FOR THE RESOURCE PERSONS 
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AND/OR WITNESSES. THE WITNESS AND/OR RESOURCE PERSON, with 
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his express consent, may be admitted into the Program upon the 
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recommendation of the legislative committee where his/her testimony is needed 
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when in its judgment there is pressing necessity therefor: Provided, That such 
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recommendation is approved by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the 
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House of Representatives, as the case may be. 
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THE SENATE OF. THE PHILIPPINES OR THE HOUSE OF 
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REPRESENT A TIVES, AS THE CASE MAY BE, SHALL HAVE PRIMARY 
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JURISDICTION IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF 
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THE PROGRAM. 
CONGRESS MAY REQUEST THE NECESSARY 
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ASSISTANCE FROM ANY DEPARTMENT, BUREAU, OFFICE OR ANY 
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OTHER EXECUTIVE AGENCY TO ASSIST WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION 
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OF THE PROGRAM. 
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HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE 
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SENATE OR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INDEPENDENT FROM 
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ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT, BUREAU, OFFICE OR ANY OTHER 
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EXECUTIVE 
AGENCY 
WHEN 
IT 
IS 
APPARENT 
THAT 
THE 
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INVESTIGATION MIGHT BE PREJUDICED AND/OR WHEN THE SAFETY 


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OF THE WITNESS MIGHT BE JEOPARDIZED ESPECIALLY WHEN THE 
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PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE INVOLVED. 
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CONGRESS 
MAY 
PROMULGATE 
ITS 
OWN 
RULES 
AND 
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REGULATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROVISION." 
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SEC. 3. 
Section 8 (e) and (g) of the same Act are hereby amended to read as 
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follows: 
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"SEC. 8. Rights and Benefits. - The witness shall have the following rights and 
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benefits: 
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x 
x 
x 
(e.) 
To be provided with free medical treatment, hospitalization and 
medicines for any injury or illness incurred or suffered by him because of 
witness duty OR WHILE IN THE SAFEHOUSE in any private or public 
hospital, clinic, or such institution at the expense of the Program. 
x 
x 
x 
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(g.) 
[In case of death or permanent incapacity, his] THE WITNESS' 
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minor or dependent children shall be entitled to free education, from 
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primary to college level in any state, or private school, college or 
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university [as may be determined by the Department,] as long as they 
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shall have qualified thereto." 
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SEC. 4. A new section, Section 12-A, shall be inserted under Section 12 of the 
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same Act, which shall read as follows: 
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SEC. 12-A. PERPETUATION OF TESTIMONY. -- ONCE ADMITTED INTO 
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THE PROGRAM, A WITNESS MAY PERPETUATE HIS TESTIMONY 
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PURSUANT TO RULE 134 OF THE REVISED RULES OF COURT. 
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SEC. 5. The Department of Justice shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
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regulation to implement this Act. 
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SEC. 6. 
If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, 
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the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and 
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subsisting. 
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SEC. 7. 
All laws, executive orders, decrees, rules, regulations, ordinances, 
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or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby 
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repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 8. 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days upon its complete 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) general newspapers of national 
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circulation. 
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Approved, 
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