FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN~T.e 
S. No. 
~~81 
'\', 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiag~ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The advancements in technology have made access to information a cinch with the mere 
touch of a button. Indeed, one can learn what is happening on the other side of the globe by 
accessing the Internet, perhaps man's most important communication tool ever. Vital 
information can be accessed, exchanged and viewed through this sophisticated technology. 
Unfortunately, what good intentions the inventors had in mind, and good uses and 
purposes that internet offers can also be distorted for their own ends by unscrupulous elements 
that lurk in society. 
What used to be mail-order bride schemes have become more sophisticated and 
accessible e-mail order bride schemes. The Philippines, unfortunately, has not been spared fi'om 
this plague that has been touted as another version of human trafficking. Filipino women, hoping 
to escape the clutches of poverty, have been easy prey to syndicates offering these services, like 
one sells a piece of meat. 
At the height of the mail order bride fever, Republic Act 6955 was enacted in 1990 to 
declare unlawful, and thus provide for penalties for, the practice of matching Filipino women for 
marriage to foreign nationals on a mail-order basis and similar practices. Philippines law 
classifies this scheme as illegal and not Imly a form of human smuggling but also as a ploy for 
sex trafficking. R.A. 6955 however has not anticipated its evolution into the e-mail bride scheme. 
Gabriela, a left-leaning women's group has said in its online primer on sex trafficking: 
"These international prostitution syndicates capitalize on the internet and the email to advertise 
Filipinas as 'pen pals' to circumvent the law banning the system of mail-order-bride." 
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This piece of legislation aims to broaden the scope of unlawful and punishable schemes 
of matching Filipino women to foreign nationals. It does not condone cross-cultural marriages 
because such are not the problem. The problem is that there are syndicates that use these 
schemes to recruit women into prostitution. 
This bill also charges the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of 
Transportation and Communication (DOTC), and the National Commission on the Role of 
Women (NCRFW) with the implementation ofthe provisions of this measure. 
This is a Senate counterpart bill to one filed in the House of Representatives by Rep. 
Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon.! 
1 This bill was originally filed during the 141h Congress I" Regular Session 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REl?UBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENAJJ"'.,. 
S.No. 
~~~l 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago MeEiVEfi fill: €-. 
1 
AN ACT 
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BROADENING THE SCOPE OF UNLAWFUL PRACTICES OF MATCHING FILIPINO 
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WOMEN FOR MARRIAGE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS TO INCLUDE VARIOUS 
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SCHEMES MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE INTERNET. AMENDING FOR THIS 
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PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6955 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 6955 is amended to read as follows: 
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"SEC. 2. Pursuant thereto; it is hereby declared unlawful: 
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(a) For a person, natural or juridical, association, club or any other entity 
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to commit, directly or indirectly, any of the following acts: 
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(l) To establish or carryon a business which has for its 
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purpose the matching of Filipino women for marriage to foreign 
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nationals (either) on a mail-order basis (or) through personal 
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introduction OR THROUGH E-MAILS OR WEBSITES IN THE 
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INTERNET; 
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(2) .To advertise, publish, print or distribute, or cause the 
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advertisement, publication, printing or distribution of any 
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brochure, flier or any propaganda material, INCLUDING THOSE 
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DISTRLBUTED AND MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 
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INTERNET WHICH ARE calculated to promote the prohibited 
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acts in the preceding subparagraph; 
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(3) To solicit, enlist or in any manner attract or induce any 
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Filipino woman to become a member in any club or association 
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whose objective is to match women for marriage to foreign 
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nationals (either) on mail-order basis (or) through personal 
introduction OR THROUGH E-MAILS OR WEB SITES IN THE 
INTERNET for a fee; 
(4) To use the postal service AND THE INTERNET to 
promote the prohibited acts in subparagraph I hereof. 
(b) For the manager or officer-in-charge or advertising manager of 
any newspaper, magazine, television of any newspaper, magazine, 
television or radio station, or other media INCLUDING INTERNET 
WEB SITES 
AND 
OTHER 
SCHEMES 
MADE 
AVAILABLE 
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THROUGH THE WORLDWIDE WEB, or of an advertising agency, 
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printing company or other similar entities, to knowingly allow or consent 
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to, the acts prohibited in the preceding paragraph." 
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SECTION 2. A new section is hereby added after Section 4 ofR.A. No. 6955 as follows: 
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"SEC. 5A. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. -
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THE 
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA), THE DEPARTMENT 
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OF 
TRANSPORTATION 
AND 
COMMUNICATION 
(DOTC), 
THE 
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NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE ROLE OF FILIPINO WOMEN 
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(NCRFW), AND AT LEAST THREE (3) REPRESENTATIVES FROM NON-
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GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs), WHICH ARE ENGAGED IN 
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ASSISTING VICTIMS OF MAIL-ORDER BRIDE AND OTHER SCHEMES, 
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SHALL BE CHARGED WITH CARRYING OUT THE 
PROVISIONS 
OF 
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THIS ACT AND SHALL FORMULATE ITS IMPLEMENTING RULES AND 
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REGULATIONS WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS 
AFTER THE EFFECTIVITY 
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OF TillS ACT." 
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SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any part hereof, is held invalid or unconstitutional, 
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the remainder of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and SUbsisting. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, nIle or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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