FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to protect minors from indecent and immoral materials 
transmitted through electronic mail and other means of computer technology by 
penalizing violators of such acts. 
Article 14, Section. 10 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the 
importance of Science and Technology for national development. In the age of 
Globalization, in order for a country and its citizens to compete in the global arena, 
technological advancements are vital and necessary. The internet, world wide web and 
other technological advancements have allowed business transactions and 
communication to cross geographic and national borders in a matter of seconds. 
Everything and everyone are within reach with a click of a mouse button. 
Because of the quick changes in technology, it has become a challenge to keep up 
with the innovations. Most of these advancements have been utilized by others for 
fraudulent and illegal activities such as internet scams and distribution of pornography. 
Schools have included computer classes in their curriculum thus making the 
children of today computer and internet savvy. Unfortunately, children are not aware 
of the predators that lurk within the world wide web. Just as they are protected from 
the physical dangers, children should also be protected from virtual menaces. 
This measure seeks to safeguard the welfare of children through regulating the 
transmission of indecent and immoral materials such as pornography and penalizing 
the violators of the provisions of the Act. 
Actions such as transmitting, offering and attempting to transmit communication 
that contains indecent materials to a minor and providing access to transmission of said 
materials to a minor shall be punishable by law. Violators shall be imposed the penalty 
of imprisonment of not more than six years 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
7
LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


) 
) 
1 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
S E N A T E  
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
TO PUNISH TRANSMISSION OF INDECENT MATERIALS 
BY COMPUTER TO MINORS 
Be it enacted by the ‘Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Computer Pornography 
Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to provide special 
protection to every minor from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, and 
discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to their development. 
Toward this end, the State shall enact measures to prevent the exposure of 
minors to indecent materials. 
SECTION 3. Definitions. - As used in this Act 
1. The term remote computer facility means a facility that 
a. Provides to the public computer storage or processing services by 
means of an electronic communications system; and 
b. Permits a computer user to transfer electronic or digital material from 
the facility to another computer; 
2. The term electronic communications service means any wire, radio, 
electromagnetic. Photo, optical, or photo electronic system for the 
transmission of electronic communications and any computer facility or 
related 
electronic equipment for 
the electronic storage of 
such 
communications, that permits a computer user to transfer electronic or digital 
material from service to another computer; and 
3. The term electronic bulletin board service means a computer system, 
regardless of whether operated for commercial purposes, that exists primarily 
to provide remote or on-site users with digital images, or that exists primarily 
to permit remote or on-site users to participate in or create on-line discussion 
groups or conferences. 


4. Indecent materials means obscene literature or indecent or immoral plays, 
scenes, acts, or shows, whether live or in film which 
a. glorify criminals or condone crimes; 
b. serve no other purpose but to satisfy the market of violence, lust or 
pornography; 
c. offend any race or religion; 
d. tend to abet traffic in and use of prohibited drugs; AND 
e. are contrary to law, public order, morals, good customs, established 
policies, lawful order, decrees and edicts. 
SECTION 4. Punishable Acts. 
1. Transmission 
by 
remote 
computer 
facility 
operator, 
electronic 
communications service provider, or electronic bulletin board service 
provider. A remote computer facility operator, electronic communications 
service provider, electronic bulletin board service provider who, with 
knowledge of the character of the material, knowingly - 
a. transmits or offers or attempts to transmit from the remote computer 
facility, electronic communications service, or electronic bulletin board 
service provider a communication that contains indecent material to a 
person under 18 years of age; or 
b. cause or allows to be transmitted from the remote computer facility, 
electronic communications service, or electronic bulletin board a 
communication that contains indecent materia1 to a person under 18 
years of age or offers or attempts to do so; 
2. Permitting access to transmit indecent material to a minor. - any remote 
computer facility operator electronic communications service provider, or 
electronic bulletin board service provider who willfully permits a person to 
use a remote computing service. Electronic communications service or 
electronic bulletin board service that is under the control of that remote 
computer facility operator, electronic communications service provider, or 
electronic bulletin board service provider, or electronic bulletin service 
provider, to knowingly or recklessly transmit indecent material from another 
remote computing service, electronic communications service, or electronic 
bulletin board service to a person under 18 years of age. 
SECTION 5. Penalty. Any person who violates the provisions of this Act shall be 
imposed the penalty of imprisonment of not more than 6 years, or fine not exceeding 
five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), or both at the discretion of the court. 
SECTION 6. 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 7. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected 
shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)'days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,