FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SEN~T,f 
S.No. HIS! 
,. 
10 Jlll 22 P5 :48 
;-t,h 'y=' 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Agri-bioterrorism is the act of knowingly or maliciously using biological agents as 
weapons against the agricultural industry and the food supply. It would be an attack against one 
of the Philippines' most vital industries Imd is certainly a cause for concern as it is currently not 
contemplated in law as a crime. An attack against the agricultural industry would be financially 
devastating and would have the effect of severely reducing the public's faith in the quality of the 
food supply, whether the food was grown in the Philippines or elsewhere. 
The economic damages caused by the accidental outbreaks of animal disease, such as the 
foot-and-mouth disease, bird flu, and mad cow disease are immense. Additionally, the deliberate 
introduction of fungi, bacteria, or pests could have an equally destructive effect. Given that a 
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significant percent of the popUlation already suffer from hunger and malnourishment, any 
bioterrorism attack would affect millions of lives, jobs and cause severe dislocations in the 
Philippines food supply. Hence, this bill seeks to define and penalize the crime of agri-
bioterrorism. I 
1 This bill was originally filed during the 141h Congress 1" Regular Session 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1951 
10 JUl 22 P5 :.18 
'i ·~.IV,.~~ / 
...... '"'~ .. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF AGRI-BIOTERRORISM 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Crime of Agri-Bioterrorism. - A person is guilty of agri-bioterrorism when, 
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with intent (0 intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a unit of 
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government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a unit of government, he or she: 
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(A) Designs, develops and utilizes a process or processes to genetically alter plant life 
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used for human consumption with the intent to render said plant life toxic or unsuitable for 
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human or livestock consumption; 
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(B) Intentionally introduces an animal virus, pathogen, or bacteria which would 'kill 
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livestock or render the by products of such livestock unusable for human consumption; 
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(C) Intentionally defiles, corrupts or alters the food or farm product with the intent to 
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sicken or kill persons or animals; or 
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(D) Intentionally manufactures, designs, or alters genetic material to result in a pathogen, 
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virus or bacteria capable of disrupting or destroying the food or farm product. 
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SECTION 2. Penalties. - Any person committing an act which constitutes agn-
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bioterrorism as defined in the previous section shall be punishable by a penalty of imprisonment 
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ranging from reclusion temporal to life imprisonment, or a fine ranging from Five Hundred 
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Thousand Pesos (P500,OOO.OO) to One Million Pesos (PI,OOO,OOO.OO), or both, at the discretion of 
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the court, taking into consideration all attending circumstances. 
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SECTION 3. Aggravating Circumstances. - The penalties described in the previous 
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section shall be imposed in the maximum if the act of agri-bioterrorism results in the following 
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circumstances as a result of the victim's consumption or use of the altered or contaminated 
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agricultural, livestock, food or farm product: 
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(A) Death; 
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(B) Insanity or psychological damage the same; and 
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(C) Permanent physical disfigurement or permanent disability. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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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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