Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1425

HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced by Representative Harlin Cast. Abayon

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to minimize iff not prevent any military-tribal conflict that might occur due
to cultural and language differences, by requiring every officer and enlisted personnel of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines to undergo orientation course on the culture, language or
dialect, way of living, habits and tradition of cultural communities
might be deployed or posted.

ing in the areas where they

This measure was previously filed by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito-Estrada in the 15"
Congress, Passage of this Bill is earnestly sought now in the 16" Congress.

a

HARLIN CAST. ABAYON
Representative
First District of Northem Samar


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1425

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Harlin Cast, Abayon

ANACT
REQUIRING EVERY OFFICER AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE
ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES TO UNDERGO AN ORIENTATION
COURSE ON THE CULTURE, LANGUAGE, DIALECT, WAY OF LIVING,
HABIT, TRADITION, AND THE LIKE OF THE CULTURAL COMMUNITIES
WHERE THEY ARE DEPLOYED OR TO BE POSTED

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

SECTION 1, Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) shall require every officer and enlisted personnel, prior to deployment to an area
dominated by a cultural community or group to undergo an intensive orientation course on the
culture, language, dialect, way of living, habits, traditions and the like of the cultural community
living in that area. An area is considered dominated by a cultural community when they consist
of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total population

SEC. 2. The orientation course shall in addition to the matters mentioned in Section 1, emphasize
the re-orientation of soldier's attitudes about their duties and responsibilities toward their
countrymen, their job as peace-makers instead of fighters; raise the self-esteem and morale of the
soldiers by making them aware of the important role they play in the attainment of national
security and enable them to interact more humanely and civilly with the public.

SEC. 3. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, in coordination with other government agencies,
shall be primarily responsible for formulating the necessary orientation module, The Department
of Education, Office of Northern Cultural Communities (ONCC), Office of Muslim Affairs
(OMA), Office of Southern Cultural Communities (OSCC) and other similar agencies shall
render assistance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

SEC. 4, The AFP shall come out with a general directive implementing the orientation course
within sixty (60) days after effectivity of this Act


SEC. 5, The AFP may deploy troops in areas dominated by cultural communities without going
through the required orientation course in cases of emergency: Provided, That after the
emergency has subsided as soon as the situation permits the said troops shall undergo the
required orientation course. A situation is considered an "emergency" when in the judgment of
the AFP Command there is a possibility of widespread violence creating chaos and civil strife
endangering life, property, the normal operations of the government and the enforcement of laws,
or when there is an actual existing violence requiring instant military presence in the area to
reinstate peace and order.

SEC. 6. Any officer in the AFP who orders the deployment of any soldier or group of soldiers to
be deployed without undergoing the required orientation course as provided under this Act shall
be punished for dereliction of duty in accordance with the Revised Penal Code. Any soldier or
group soldiers who knowingly and/or voluntarily allows himself or themselves to be deployed
‘without undergoing the required orientation course shall also be punished for dereliction of duty
in accordance with the Revised Penal Code.

SEC. 7, There is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any available funds in the National
‘Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the funds necessary for the effective implementation of this
Act.

SEC. 8. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 9, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of
general circulation

Approved,