FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S.B. NO. 
Introduced by Senate President Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Victims of acts constituting violence against women and their children 
as enumerated under Republic Act No, 9262 may experience emotional and 
behavioral effects such as emotional withdrawal, denial or minimization of the 
abuse, impulsivity or aggressiveness, apprehension or fear, helplessness, 
anger, anxiety or hyper vigilance, disturbance of eating or sleeping patterns, 
substance abuse, depression suicide, or post traumatic stress disorder. The 
impact of domestic violence on victims can thus result in acute and chronic 
mental health problems. Because of these negative effects on the victim of 
domestic violence, investigation may not go as smoothly as possible since the 
victims are often hesitant to disclose the abuse. 
Thus, the presence of 
someone, who can give moral support to the victim in coping up with the 
emotional and behavioral effects of domestic violence, is really needed. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to amend R. A. 9262, otherwise known as the 
“Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004” by granting the 
victim of domestic violence an additional right to choose the person fo be 
present during any investigation or meeting in relation to said domestic 
violence. 
Corollary thereto, the prosecutors, court personnel, Barangay 
officials and Law Enforcers shall be mandated to inform the victim of his or her 
right provided under the proposed measure. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill.is respectfully requested. 
MANNYVI LAR 
Senate Pre ident 
k 


,,:r,,, 29 ;i ;: 
1; 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
J 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
I ,Ai 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
I929 
S.B. NO. __ 
Introduced by Senate President Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
GRANTING THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE RIGHT TO 
CHOOSE 
THE 
PERSON 
TO 
BE 
PRESENT 
DURING 
ANY 
INVESTIGATION OR MEETING IN RELATION THERETO, AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN ACT OF 2004” AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and 
House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
9262, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST 
SECTION 1.. Section 29 of R. A. No. 9262, otherwise know as the 
“Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004” is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 29. - Duties of Prosecutors/Court Personnel. - 
Prosecutors and court personnel should observe the 
following duties when dealing with victims under this Act: 
a) communicate with the victim in a language 
understood by the woman or her child; and 
b) inform the victim of her/his rights including THE 
RIGHT TO HAVE A PERSON OF HIS OR HER 
CHOOSING 
TO 
BE 
PRESENT 
AT 
ANY 
INVESTIGATION 
OR 
MEETING 
RELATIVE 
THERETO, legal remedies available and procedure, 
and privileges for indigent litigants.” 
Section 30 of the same law is hereby amended to 
SEC. 2. 
read as follows: 
, 
“SEC. 30. 
Duties of Barangay Official and Law 
Enforcers. - Barangay officials and law enforcers shall have 
the following duties: 
(a) respond immediately to a call for help or request 
for assistance or protection of the victim by 
entering the dwelling if necessary whether or not a 


protection order has been issued and ensure the 
safety of the victim/s; 
’ (b) confiscate any deadly weapon in the possession of 
the perpetrator or within plain view; 
(c) transport or escort the victim/s to a safe place of 
their choice or to a clinic or hospital; PROVIDED, 
THAT, IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE VICTIM SHALL 
BE INFORMED OF HIS OR HER RIGHT TO 
THE TRANSPORTING OR ESCORTING; 
CHOOSE THE PERSON TO BE PRESENT DURING 
(d) assist the victim in removing personal belongings 
from the house; 
(e) assist the barangay officals and other government 
officers and employees who respond to a call for 
help; 
ensure the enforcement of the Protection Orders 
issued by the Punong Barangay or by the courts; 
(8) arrest the suspected perpetrator even without a 
warrant when any of the acts of violence defined 
by this Act is occurring, or when he/she has 
personal knowledge that any act of abuse has just 
been committed, and there is imminent danger to 
the life or limb of the victim as defined in this Act; 
and 
(f) 
(h) immediately report the call for assessment or 
assistance 
of 
the 
DSWD, 
Social 
Welfare 
Department 
of 
LGUs 
or 
accredited 
non- 
government organizations (NGOs). 
Any barangay official or law enforcer who fails to 
report the incident shall be liable for a fine not exceeding Ten 
Thousand Pesos 
(Pl0,OOO.OO) or whenever applicable 
criminal, civil or administrative liability.” 
SEC: 3. Section 35 of the same Act is hereby amended to 
read as follows: 
“SEC. 35. Rights of Victims. - In addition to their 
rights under existing laws, victims of violence against women 
and their children shall have the following rights: 
(a) to be treated with respect and dignity; 
(b) to avail of legal assistance from the PA0 of the 
Department of Justice (DOJ) or any public legal 
assistance office; 
to be entitled to support services from the DSWS 
and LGUs; 
(c) 


(d) to be entitled to all legal remedies and support as 
provided for under the Family Code; and 
to be informed of their rights and the services 
available to them including their right to apply for 
a protection order and TO CHOOSE THE PERSON 
TO BE PRESENT DURING ANY INVESTIGATION 
OR MEETING IN RELATION THERETO.” 
(e) 
SEC. 4. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby 
shall contihue in full force and effect. 
SEC. 5. All laws, decrees, or rules inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation. 
Approved,