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November 19, 2024
10:33 am




Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Joseph Gilbert F. Violago 
AN ACT  
IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION 
AND DISCRIMINATION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 7610, AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the “Special 
Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act”, is 
hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 9. Obscene Publications and Indecent Shows. – Any person who shall 
hire, employ, use, persuade, induce or coerce a child to perform in obscene 
exhibitions and indecent shows, whether live or in video, pose, or model in 
obscene publications or pornographic materials or to sell or distribute the said 
materials shall suffer the penalty of [prision mayor] RECLUSION 
TEMPORAL in its medium period. 
“If the child used as a performer, subject or seller/distributor is below twelve 
(12) years of age, the penalty shall be [imposed in its maximum
period] RECLUSION PERPETUA.
“Any ascendant, guardian, or person entrusted in any capacity with the care 
of a child who shall cause and/or allow such child to be employed or to 
participate in an obscene play, scene, act, movie or show or in any other acts 
covered by this section shall suffer the penalty of [prision mayor] 
RECLUSION TEMPORAL in its [medium] MAXIMUM period.” 
SECTION 2. Section 10 of the same Act as amended, is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
“SEC. 10. Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and 
Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child’s Development. – 
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“(a) Any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse, cruelty or 
exploitation or be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child’s 
development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree 
No. 603, as amended, but not covered by the Revised Penal Code, as 
amended, shall suffer the penalty of [prision mayor] RECLUSION 
TEMPORAL in its minimum period. 
 
“(b) Any person who shall keep or have in his company a minor, twelve (12) 
years or under or who is ten (10) years or more his junior in any public 
or private place, hotel, motel, beer joint, discotheque, cabaret, pension house, 
sauna or massage parlor, beach and/or other tourist resort or similar places 
shall suffer the penalty of [prision mayor] RECLUSION TEMPORAL  in 
its [maximum] MEDIUM period and a fine of not less than [Fifty thousand 
pesos (P50,000)] FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000.00): 
Provided, That this provision shall not apply to any person who is related 
within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity or any bond recognized 
by law, local custom and tradition, or acts in the performance of a social, 
moral or legal duty. 
 
“(c) Any person who shall induce, deliver or offer a minor to any one 
prohibited by this Act to keep or have in his company a minor as provided in 
the preceding paragraph shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its 
[medium] MAXIMUM period and a fine of not less than [Forty thousand 
pesos (P40,000)] FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P400,000.00): 
Provided, however, That should the perpetrator be an ascendant, stepparent 
or guardian of the minor, the penalty to be imposed shall be [prision 
mayor]RECLUSION TEMPORAL in its [maximum] MEDIUM period, a 
fine of not less than [Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000)] FIVE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000.00), and the loss of parental authority over 
the minor. 
“THE  OFFENDER  SHALL  LIKEWISE  UNDERGO  A 
REEDUCATION AND REORIENTATION PROGRAM ON CHILD 
PROTECTION TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT. 
 
“(d) Any person, owner, manager or one entrusted with the operation of any 
public or private place of accommodation, whether for occupancy, food, 
drink or otherwise, including residential places, who allows any person to 
take along with him to such place or places any minor herein described shall 
be imposed a penalty of prision mayor in its [medium] MAXIMUM period 
and a fine of not less than [Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000)] FIVE 
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000.00), and the loss of the 
license to operate such a place or establishment. 
 


“(e) Any person who shall use, coerce, force or intimidate a streetchild or 
any other child to: 
“(1) Beg or use begging AS a means of living; 
“(2)Act as conduit or middlemen in drug trafficking or pushing; or 
 
“(3) Conduct any illegal activities, shall suffer the penalty of [prision 
correccional in its medium period] RECLUSION TEMPORAL to reclusion 
perpetua.” 
 
SECTION 3. Section 16 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended 
to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 16. Penal Provisions. – 
 “(a)Any employer who violates Sections 12, 12-A, and Section 14 of this 
Act, as amended, shall be penalized by imprisonment of [six (6) months] 
ONE (1) YEAR and one (1) day to six (6) years or a fine of not less than 
[Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00] ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND 
PESOS (P100,000.00) but not more than [Three hundred thousand pesos 
(P300,000.00)] FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P400,000.00) 
or both at the discretion of the court. 
“(b)Any person who violates the provision of Section 12-D of this Act or the 
employer of the subcontractor who employs, or the one who facilitates the 
employment of a child in hazardous work, shall suffer the penalty of a fine 
of not less than [One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00)] TWO 
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P200,000.00) but not more than One 
million pesos (P1,000,000.00), or imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) 
years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years, or both such fine and 
imprisonment at the discretion of the court. 
“(c) Any person who violates Sections 12-D(1) and 12-D(2) shall be 
prosecuted and penalized in accordance with the penalty provided for by 
[R.A. 9208 otherwise known as the 'Anti-trafficking in Persons Act of 2003'] 
SECTION 12 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10364 OR THE 'EXPANDED 
ANTI-TRAFFICKINGN PERSONS ACT OF 2012': Provided, That such 
penalty shall be imposed in its maximum period. 
“(d) Any person who violates Section 12-D(3) shall be prosecuted and 
penalized in accordance with R.A. 9165, otherwise known as the 
'Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002': Provided, That such penalty 
shall be imposed in its maximum period. 
“(e) If a corporation commits any of the violations aforecited, the board of 
directors/trustees and officers, which include the president, treasurer and 
secretary of the said corporation who participated in or knowingly allowed 


the violation, shall be penalized accordingly as provided for under this 
Section. 
“(f) Parents, biological or by legal fiction, and legal guardians found to be 
violating Sections 12, 12-A, 12-B and 12-C of this Act shall pay a fine of not 
less than [Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00)] ONE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00) but not more than [One hundred 
thousand pesos (P100,000.00)] THREE 
HUNDRED 
THOUSAND 
PESOS (P300,000.00), or be required to render community service for 
not less than [thirty (30) days] THREE (3) MONTHS but not more than 
one (1) year, or both such fine and community service at the discretion of the 
court: Provided, That the maximum length of community service shall be 
imposed on parents, [or] legal guardians OR ADULT CAREGIVERS 
WHO HAVE CUSTODY OF THE CHILD AND who have violated the 
provisions of this Act three (3) times: Provided, further, That in addition to 
the community service, the penalty of imprisonment of [thirty (30) days] 
THREE (3) MONTHS but not more than one (1) year or both at the 
discretion of the court, shall be imposed on the parents or legal guardians 
who have violated the provisions of this Act more than three (3) times. 
“(g) The Secretary of Labor and Employment or his/her duly authorized 
representative may, after due notice and hearing, order the closure of any 
business firm or establishment found to have violated any of the provisions 
of this Act more than three (3) times. He/she shall likewise order the 
immediate closure of such firm or establishment if: 
 
“(1) The violation of any provision of this Act has resulted in the death, 
insanity or serious physical injury of a child employed in such establishment; 
or 
“(2) Such firm or establishment is engaged or employed in prostitution or 
in obscene or lewd shows. 
 
“(h) In case of such closure, the employer shall be required to pay the 
employee(s) the separation pay and other monetary benefits provided for by 
law.” 
SECTION 4. Section 20 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 20. Discrimination. – Children of indigenous cultural communities 
shall not be subjected to any and all forms of discrimination. 
 
“Any person who discriminates against children of indigenous cultural 
communities shall suffer a penalty of [arresto mayor] PRISION 
CORRECCIONAL in its [maximum] MEDIUM period and a fine of not less 
than [Five thousand pesos (P5,000)] FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS 
(P50,000.00) nor more than [Ten thousand pesos (P10,000)] ONE 


HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00). 
 
“THE 
OFFENDER 
SHALL 
LIKEWISE 
UNDERGO 
A 
REEDUCATION AND REORIENTATION PROGRAM ON THE 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CULTURE OF THE PHILIPPINES, TO BE 
CONDUCTED 
BY 
THE 
NATIONAL 
COMMISSION 
ON 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OR THE PHILIPPINE TASK FORCE FOR 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS.” 
 
SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations.  – Within one hundred eighty 
(180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Labor and Employment 
in coordination with the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, concerned 
agencies in the public sector and other stakeholders in the private sector, shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. 
 
Such rules and regulations shall take effect upon their publication in two (2) national 
newspapers of general circulation. 
 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, memorandum 
orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, ordinances, or parts thereof, 
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby deemed repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,