EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No
)
)
SENATE
480
t - .  
V’
C r.'- 
r f  I
'19 
JUL 15 
A1Q:44
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING 
LESBIAN, 
GAY, 
BISEXUAL, 
TRANSGENDER, 
QUEER, 
INTERSEXUAL, ASEXUAL, AND INDIVIDUALS OF VARIOUS SEXUAL AND 
GENDER ORIENTATIONS (LGBTQIA+) HELP AND PROTECTION DESKS IN  ALL 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE STATIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
TITLE V II OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 8551, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN 
AS 
THE 
"PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL 
POLICE 
REFORM 
AND 
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1998," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 11 Article II of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to value the 
dignity of every human person and guarantee full respect for human rights. Such 
commitment to human rights has been upheld through signing and acceding to a 
number of significant international treaties concerning human rights1.
Yet despite this commitment, the Philippines has yet to affirm the rights of 
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexual, Asexual, and Individuals of 
Various Sexual and Gender Orientations (LGBTQIA+) or guarantee the protection of 
LGBTQIA+ from discrimination and violence on the account of gender identity and 
expression. The Philippines did not express support for the United Nations Human 
Rights Council joint statements made in December 2006 and March 2011 which called 
on States to take steps to end acts of violence, criminal sanctions and related human 
rights violations committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or 
gender identity, among others1 2.
1 These international treaties and conventions include the following: International Convention on the Elimination o f All Forms o f Racial
Discrimination o f 1969, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1976, International Covenant on Economic, Social and 
Cultural Rights of 1976, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women o f 1981, Convention against Torture 
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatm ent or Punishment of 1987, Convention on the Rights o f the Child o f 1990, International 
Convention on the Protection o f the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members o f their Families of 2003 and Convention on the Rights of 
Persons with Disabilities of 2008.
2 United Nations' Human Rights Council. (2006 December 1). Joint Statement on Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and
Gender Idenbty. Geneva; Office o f the United NaUons High Commissioner for Human Rights.
United Nabons' Human Rights Council. (2011 March 22). Joint Statement Ending Acts of Violence and Related Human Rights Violations 
Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenbty. Geneva; Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.


Back home, many LGBTQIA+s become moving targets for discrimination and 
violence that affect their economic, social and physiological well-being. Yet in spite of 
this reality, there is an absence of government mechanism or intervention directed to 
monitor, let alone address, the incidents of discrimination, prejudice and even violence 
against the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community. Because of this, many LGBTQIA+ victims opt 
not to report the incident for fear of further harassment, prejudicial treatment, or more 
violent reprisal.
The Philippines should not condone an environment where the LGBTQIA+ 
community is "treated with contempt and violence by their fellow citizens while 
authorities empowered to protect them look the other way or, too often, even join in 
the abuse3."
This bill seeks to correct this onerous predicament by establishing LGBTQIA+ 
help and protection desks in all Philippine National Police (PNP) stations. These 
dedicated desks shall act on all cases involving crimes against chastity, sexual 
harassment, 
and abuses committed against LGBTQIA+s in the Philippines. To 
complement this help desk, the PNP is tasked to ensure the gender neutrality of its 
human resource processes, from the recruitment and selection to the promotion and 
deployment of police officers. Ultimately, this bill seeks to create a police organization 
that is able and eager to respond to any criminal or emergency incident, regardless of 
the gender orientation of the people involved.
In view of the foregoing, the swift passage of the proposed measure is earnestly
sought.
/mdg 1
1 a in to n , H. R. (2011 December 6). Remarks in Recognition o f International Human Rights Day. Geneva: United Nabons' Human Rights 
Councii.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
SENATE 
S. No. 
^ ^ 8 0
lOf't-.-I
*19 
JUL 15 
A10:44
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING 
LESBIAN, 
GAY, 
BISEXUAL, 
TRANSGENDER, 
QUEER, 
INTERSEXUAL, ASEXUAL, AND INDIVIDUALS OF VARIOUS SEXUAL AND 
GENDER ORIENTATIONS (LGBTQIA+) HELP AND PROTECTION DESKS IN  ALL 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE STATIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
TITLE V II OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 8551, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN 
AS 
THE 
"PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL 
POLICE 
REFORM 
AND 
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1998," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Title V II of Republic Act No. 8551, as amended, is hereby further
2 
amended to read as follows:
3 
"Title VII
4 
"CREATION 
OF 
WOMEN'S 
AND 
LESBIAN, 
GAY, 
BISEXUAL,
5 
TRANSGENDER, 
QUEER, 
INTERSEXUAL, 
ASEXUAL, 
AND
6 
INDIVIDUALS 
OF 
VARIOUS 
SEXUAL 
AND 
GENDER
7 
ORIENTATIONS (LGBTQIA+) HELP AND PROTECTION DESKS IN
8 
ALL POLICE STATIONS AND THE FORMUU\TION OF A GENDER
9 
SENSITIVITY PROGRAM"
10 
Sec. 2. Section 57 of Republic Act No. 8551, as amended, is hereby further
11 
amended to read as follows:
12 
"Sec. 57. Creation and Functions. -  The PNP shall establish
13 
women’s AND LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER,
14 
INTERSEXUAL, ASEXUAL, AND INDIVIDUALS OF VARIOUS
15 
SEXUAL AND GENDER ORIENTATIONS (LGBTQIA+) HELP AND
16 
PROTECTION desks in all police stations throughout the country to
17 
administer and attend to cases involving crimes against chastity, sexual
18 
harassment, abuses committed against women, [aed] children AND
19 
LGBTQIA+ and other similar offenses: Provided, That municipalities and
20 
cities presently without policewomen will have two (2) years upon the


1 
effectivity of this Act within which to comply with the requirement of this
2 
provision."
3 
Sec. 3. Section 58 of Republic Act No. 8551, as amended, is hereby further
4 
amended to read as follows:
5 
"Sec. 58. Prioritization o f Women for Recruitment -  Within the
6 
next five (5) years, the PNP shall prioritize the recruitment and training
7 
of women who shall serve in the women's desk. Pursuant to this
8 
requirement, the PNP shall reserve ten percent (10% ) of its annual
9 
recruitment, training, and education quota for women: PROVIDED,
10 
THAT NOTHING IN THIS TITLE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS A
11 
RESTRICTION FROM RECRUITING LGBTQIA+ INTO THE PNP
12 
REGULAR FORCE, EITHER THROUGH REGULAR RECRUITMENT
13 
OR LATERAL ENTRY PROGRAM."
14 
Sec. 4. Section 61 of Republic Act No. 8551, as amended, is hereby further
15 
amended to read as follows:
16 
"Sec. 
61. Non-prohibition for Promotion. -  Nothing in this title
17 
shall be construed as a restriction on the assignment of policewomen
18 
AND LGBTQIA+ POLICE OFFICERS to other positions in the PNP nor
19 
shall any provision[s] of this title be used for the non-promotion of a
20 
PNP female OR LGBTQIA+ personnel to higher position."
21 
Sec. 5. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. -  Unless otherwise provided in this
22 
Act, the Commission in coordination with the Philippine National Police and the
23 
Department of the Interior and Local Government, shall promulgate rules and
24 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
25 
Sec. 6. Separabiiity Clause. -  If any provision, section or part of this Act shall be
26 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impair
27 
any other provisions, sections or parts hereof.
28 
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations which
29 
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
30 
accordingly.
31 
Sec. 8. Effectivity. 
-  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
32 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official
33 
Gazette.
Approved,