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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 950 
) 
) 
) 
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'1 0 
JUL -8 AlO 57 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
When the Sexual Harassment Law was enacted in 1995, it only considered the 
traditional means of sending communications: verbal or oral, written statements, facial 
and body language. Today, new forms of communication are of widespread use: short 
messaging 
service 
(SMS) 
system 
or text 
messaging 
service 
provided 
by 
telecommunications companies to both land line and cellular phone users and the 
Internet system. 
The use of cellular phones, Internet and electronic mails has reached 
unprecedented heights. 
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) 
estimated that there are around 9 million Filipino cellular phone users. By the end of 
2000, the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Internet Society 
estimated that about million citizens have access to electronic mails and Internet. The 
statistics show that these new forms of communication have become the avenue for 
transmission of ideas and concepts. 
But like every system, the new communication system is barraged with unwanted 
text messages and garbage-type electronic mails in the form of smutty text statements, 
lewd and sexist messages, graphic and lurid remarks. In fact, an ordinary cellular phone 
user receives at least 2 to 3 text messages with sexual underpinning daily. 
This bill updates the Sexual Harassment Law by expanding the coverage to 
include text message, electronic mail or communication produced by similar means, 
pushing sexual advances or lurid remarks or messages which are by their nature vulgar, 
smutty, sexist, malicious and those that appeal to prurient interest. 
With its enactment, it is hoped that texters or internet users will become more 
cautious in sending messages and would practice intelligent discretion with the use of 
new comT)1unication facilities. 
. 
Early approval of the bill is earnestly sought. 
MAa1~ M. LAPllk 
Senator 


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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
1 Q .JUl -8 1110:57 
SENATE 
S. No. 950 
" 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE DEFINITION OF THE CRIME OF 
SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY INCLUDING UNWANTED TEXT MESSAGES, 
ELECTRONIC 
MAIL 
OR 
COMMUNICATIONS 
ADOPTING 
SIMILAR 
MEANS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7877, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAW· 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assemble: 
SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act 7877 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"SEC. 
3. 
Work 
Education 
or Training-related 
Sexual 
Harassment. - Work, education or training-related sexual harassment is 
committed by an employer, employee, manager, supervisor, agent of the 
employer, teacher, instructor, professor, coach, trainor, or any other 
person who, having authority, influence or moral ascendancy over another 
in a work or training or education environment, demands, requests or 
otherwise requires any sexual favor from the other, regardless of whether 
the demand, request or requirement for submission is accepted by the 
object of said Act. IT LIKEWISE INCLUDE THE SENDING OF TEXT 
MESSAGES, ELECTRONIC MAIL OR SIMILAR OTHER MEANS, THAT 
TAKES THE FORM OF SEXUAL ADVANCES OR LURID REMARKS, 
CAUSING EMBARMSSMENT TO THE RECEIVER OR BY THEIR 
NATURE MAY QUALIFY AS VULGAR, SMUTTY, SEXIST OR 
MALICIOUS. 
a. 
In a work-related or employment environment, sexual 
harassment is committed VERBALLY, IN WRITING OR THROUGH THE 
USE 
OF 
TELEPHONE, 
CELLULAR 
PHONE, 
FAX 
MACHINE, 
ELECTRONIC MAIL OF SIMILAR MEANS when: 
1. 
The sexual favor is made as a condition in the hiring or in the 
employment, re-employment or continued employment of said individual, 
or in granting said individual favorable compensation, terms, condition, 
promotions, or privileges; or the refusal to grant the sexual favor results in 
limiting, segregating or classifying the employee which in any way would 
discriminate, deprive or diminish employment opportunities or otherwise 
adversely affect said employee; 
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2. 
The above acts would impair the employee's rights or 
privilege under existing labor laws; or 
3. 
The above acts would result in an intimidating, hostile, or 
offense environment for the employee. 
b. 
In an education or training environment, sexual harassment 
is committed THROUGH ORAL, WRITIEN OR WITH THE USE OF 
TELEPHONE, CELLULAR PHONE, FAX MACHINE, ELECTRONIC 
MAIL OR OTHER SIMILAR MEANS: 
1. 
Against one who is under the care, custody or supervision of 
the offender; 
2. 
xxx 
3. 
xxx 
4. 
xxx 
SEC. 2. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the application 
of such provision to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any reason, the other 
provisions or their application to other persons or circumstances not affected thereby 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 3. 
Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, regulations 
and issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
amended accordingly. 
SEC. 4. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2