” RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines fs
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.2356

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS FROM HAVING THEIR MONEY INVOLUNTARILY
COLLECTED AND USED FOR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES BY A CORPORATION,
ORGANIZATION OR GROUP

Individuals who are part of a group, corporation, or an organization are beholden to the
wishes of the group which they belong to. There have been cases where fees are
collected involuntarily from them for the purpose of funding activities of a political nature.

There is no law prohibiting collections of this kind. The absence of legislation has left the
individual and without remedy to seek redness from this form of extortion.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

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LUIS R IND “LRAY/’ Ff. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8366
HOUSE BILL NO. We

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Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

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AN ACT
TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS FROM HAVING THEIR MONEY INVOLUNTARILY
COLLECTED AND USED FOR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES BY A CORPORATION,
ORGANIZATION OR GROUP

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act may be cited as “Protection from Involuntary
Collection Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to
protect any individual by prohibiting the use of their money involuntarily collected from
them for political activities.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purpose of this Act, the following terms shall

mean:

(A) “Labor organization” means any union or association of employees which exists in
whole or in part for the purpose of collective bargaining or of dealing with employees
concerning terms and conditions of employment;

(B) “Corporation” means an entity organized under the Corporation Code, including
government-owned and controlled corporations;

(C) ‘Religious group” means any non-profit or non-stock association of individuals
belonging to any religious denomination or having the same faith or belief;

(D) “Civic group” means any club or association of individuals created or established for
the purpose of delivering public or conducting activities benefiting the common
good;

(E) “People’s organization” means any bona fide association of citizens with


demonstrated capacity to promote the public interest and with identifiable leadership,
membership, and structure;
(F) “Non-Government Organization,” also known as private voluntary organizations or
voluntary agencies, are private, non-profit, non-stock organizations or corporations,
engaged in long-term activities, contributing to the welfare of communities or social
sector such as but not limited to: community organizing, community education,
sectoral development, humanitarian or charity work, disaster relief, family planning,
physical, psychological and social rehabilitation: environmental concerns, human
rights promotion and protection, and social amelioration;
“Government Organization” pertains to national or local agencies under the
Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary branches of government; and
(H) “Political Activities” includes any communications or other activities which involve
carrying on propaganda, attempting to influence legislation, or participating in any
political campaign or political party.

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SECTION 4. Prohibition. - Except with the separate, prior, written, and voluntary
authorization of each individual, which shall remain in effect until revoked and may be
revoked any time, it shall be unlawful:

(A) For any labor organization to collect from or assess its members or non-members
any dues, fees, or other payments, of any part of such dues, fees, or other payments
will be used for political activities;

(B) For any corporation to collect or assess from its stockholders or employees any
dues, fees, or other payments if any part of such dues, fees, or other payments will
be used for political activities;

(C) For any religious group or organization to collect or assess from its members and
employees any dues, fees, or other payments if any part of such dues, fees, or other
payment will be used for political activities;

(D) For any civic group or organization to collect or assess from its members, volunteers,

and employees and dues, fees, or other payments if any part of such dues, fees, or

other payments will be used for political activities;

For any people's organization to collect or assess from its members and volunteers

any dues, fees, or other payments if any part of such dues, fees, or other payments

will be used for political activities;

For any sectoral group or organization to collect or assess from its members any

dues, fees, or other payments if any part of such dues, fees, or other payments will

be used for political activities;

(G) For any government organization to collect or assess from its members any dues,

fees, or other payments if any part of such dues, fees, or other payments will be

used for political activities;

For any person or other organizations, group, or association who exert control, in

whatever form, over other individuals such as landlords, militant groups, and the like

to collect any amount of money for political activities.

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SECTION 5. Penalty. — A penalty in the amount of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos
(P50,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than three (3) months or both shall be
imposed to the guilty officer or officers, leader or leaders, employees, members, or


volunteers of any organization, corporation or association who violated any provision of
this Act.

SECTION 6. Disclosure of Purpose. — The labor, civic, religious, government or
non-government, sectoral or people's organizations and corporations shall specifically
inform in writing the individuals concerned, of the purpose or purposes for which any
amount of money shall be collected, especially if they are being collected for political
activities, and not conceal their true purpose by incorporating it with other dues, fees, or
other payments that can be legitimately collected from the said individuals.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. — If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree, or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivitiy Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,