FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1320 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The institutionalization of the use of "emergency lines" in other parts of the world 
has greatly prevented unauthorized persons from loitering around an area which are 
undergoing operations by the Police, Fire, Medical and Rescue organizations. It has 
facilitated smooth operation within and around the cordoned area through radial control 
and management of people and space. 
The purpose of the emergency line is to cordon off an area where Police, Fire, 
Medical and Rescue organizations are operating. 
, 
In the case of the Police, the use of this mechanism serves to preserve the crime 
scene. Police officers within the area are required to clearly display their police badges 
should they be officers on duty, prevent other crimes that may occur in the area, protect 
bystanders and limit access by unauthorized personnel such as, but not limited to, 
bystanders, officers not on duty, newspaper reporters and photographers. 
For the Fire Department, the use thereof will give ample freedom of movement to 
ensure the best possible means of controlling or extinguishing fire; prevent criminals 
from carting away fire equipment; and prevent looting and lOitering. But more than 
these, the line may serve as indicator of a specific area where injured persons may be 
placed for easy access by medical personnel. 
For Medical and Rescue Organizations, the use of the line would make ensure 
that the victim has enough room to breath and for the medics to stabilize the victim's 
condition through first aid application without undue interference and disruption. The 
line would also help prevent the loss of the victim's personal belongings and valuable 
rescue equipment. 
In these times, there is an urgent need to effectively manage emergency 
situations in the country. Our long response times during earthquakes, fires, floods, 
collapse of buildings and other calamities are but manifestations of our ill-prepared 
emergency response management. With this simple line, interference would be 
lessened and thereby enhance rescue and emergency operations among concerned 
agencies. 
Passage of this measure is urgently requested. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.13 2 0 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE USE OF THE POLICE, FIRE OR RESCUE/DISASTER 
LINE AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION. 1. Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Police, Fire or 
Rescue/Disaster Line Act." 
SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
are hereby defined as follows: 
(a) 
Crime Scene - The place where the crime is committed and the immediate 
vicinity where forensic evidence may be searched or found. 
(b) 
Forensic Evidence - The physical evidence requiring forensic examination and 
evaluation before it can be used as evidence in court or in any judicial or quasi-judicial 
proceeding. 
(c) 
Scene of Crime Operations (SO CO) - The mandated functions and activities of 
police forensic personnel such as the scientific collection, handling, preservation and 
processing of evidence in the crime scene. 
(d) 
SQene of Crime Operations Team (SOCO Team) - The forensic evidence 
response team engaged in the evidence collection process who should be the only 
persons allowed to enter the crime scene in order to prevent the destruction, alteration 
or contamination of evidence. The team is composed of forensic specialists/experts 
including the forensic photographer, evidence custodian, among others. 
SEC. 3. 
Line Specifications. - There 'shall be established a police, fire or 
rescue/disaster line which is three-inch (3") wide, of yellow plastic material and of 
unlimited length to be used to cordon off the crime scene or a designated area during 
police, fire or rescue/disaster operations. The plastic should be made of tough quality 
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lightweight material, with a neon-light effect for visibility. 
The following shall be 
inscripted in black paint on the line: 
(A) 
For the Police Line: 
"POLICE LlNE .... DO NOT CROSS .... BAWAL TUMAWID. ... UNDER PAIN OF 
PENALTY FOR VIOLATION THEREOF .... " 
(8) 
For Fire Line: 
"FIRE LlNE .... DO NOT CROSS .... BAWAL TUMAWID .... UNDER PAIN OF PENALTY 
FOR VIOLATION THEREOF .... " 
(C) 
For RescuelDisaster Line: 
"RESCUE LlNE .... DO NOT CROSS .... BAWAL TUMAWID .... UNDER PAIN OF 
PENALTY FOR VIOLATION THEREOF .... " 
SEC. 4. Purposes of the Police, Fire or Rescue/Disaster Line. - A three (3)-
meter radius from the site of the operations corresponding to the perimeter area where 
a crime incident or disaster occurred shall be cordoned off by the emergency police, fire 
or rescue/disaster line. 
In furtherance thereto, the line shall have the following 
purposes: 
(A) 
For police investigative bodies -
(1) 
To preserve vital protected forensic evidence in the crime scene; 
(2) 
To allow freedom of movement for the SOCO team; 
(3) 
To protect bystanders from stray bullets in case of a firefight between the 
police and the criminal elements; and 
(4) 
To observe standard operating procedures (SOPs) or protocol in the proper 
recording, collection, preservation and handling of evidence from the crime scene by 
the SOCO team. 
(8) 
For firefighters -
(1) 
To prevent potential looters from lOitering around the fire scene; 
(2) 
To allow freedom of movement for the firefighters and their firefighting 
equipment; and 
(3) 
To protect onlookers from being physically hurt. 
(C) 
For medical/disaster rescue teams -
(1) 
To ensure that the victim has enough room to breathe and is not unnecessarily 
affected by the overcrowding; 
(2) 
To allow freedom of movement for medical/rescue teams; and 
(3) 
To prevent potential looters from loitering around the area. 
SEC. 5. Penalty Clause. - Any unauthorized person who shall cross the 
police, fire or rescue/disaster line shall be immediately arrested for the act of 
obstruction of justice and shall be punished with a fine of not less than Five thousand 
pesos (P5,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months or both, such fine 
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and imprisonment at the discretion of the court: 
Provided, however, That any 
unauthorized person who, without having to cross a police, fire or rescue/disaster line, 
refuses to leave the vicinity of the crime scene when ordered to do so shall be 
immediately imposed a fine of Three hundred pesos (P300.00) by the duty officer. 
If the offender is an unauthorized police, military or law enforcement person 
who is not part of the SOCO team, he/she shall be promptly arrested and charged both 
administratively and criminally for violation of this Act. 
A higher penalty should be imposed for violation of any of the prohibited 
acts hereof, if the violation produces harm, damage or serious consequence in the 
investigation or conduct of police, fire or rescue/disaster operation. 
SEC. 6. Information Campaign. - The Department of the Interior and Local 
Government (DILG) in coordination with the Department of Education, private business 
enterprises and government and non-government organizations shall formulate and 
implement a public information campaign on the establishment and use of police, fire or 
rescue/disaster line. 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the approval of this Act, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 
shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, rules or regulations which are 
inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or 
repealed accordingly. 
. SEC. 10. 
Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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