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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _____ 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by  
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,  
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,  
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
DEFINING THE RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS OF HUMAN 
RIGHTS DEFENDERS, DECLARING STATE RESPONSIBILITIES AND 
INSTITUTING EFFECTIVE MECHANISMS FOR THE PROTECTION AND 
PROMOTION OF THESE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine government was one of the 48 original signatories to the Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.  The government later signed and ratified the 
multilateral treaties on human rights, namely, the International Covenant on Civil and 
Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.  
These official acts of the Republic of the Philippines supposedly signifies the government’s 
commitment that it will not only respect human rights but will also protect and promote 
these rights. 
However, human rights violations committed by elements of the State continue to 
plague the Philippines.  The international community, including the United Nations, has 
expressed serious concern over the systematic and continuing violations of human rights, 
including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.  The past immediate 
administrations and, unfortunately, up to the present, saw the rise in number and violence 
of tokhang killings, raids against people’s organizations, arrests and detention, and 
vilification campaigns, to name a few—all of which were attended by blatant violations of 
procedures and substantive law set by the very agencies conducting them as well as by law 
and the Supreme Court.   
It is within this context that the need for and the importance of human rights 
defenders—volunteers, the religious, paralegals, lawyers, journalists, anyone who takes on 
July 27, 2022
1:40 pm
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the task of promoting, striving for, protecting, and realizing human rights and fundamental 
freedoms—came to the fore. 
 
 
In July 2012, United Nations Special Rapporteurs Margaret Sekaggya, on human 
rights defenders, and Christof Heyns, on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary  executions, 
voiced their concern on the significant increase in the reports of killings and death threats 
against human rights defenders in the Philippines.  
 
 
Sekaggya said that “many of the cases involve individuals and organizations 
working to defend the right to a healthy environment…[D]isputes over land rights and 
campaigns against mining and dam projects infringing on the rights of local communities 
tend to be sensitive, and those defending such rights are often met with violence.”  Heyns 
commented that a number of the death threats and killings appear to be perpetrated by 
paramilitary groups and security forces both by the State and by corporate actors.  Both UN 
experts called on the Philippine government to take effective measures to protect the right 
to life and the rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  
 
 
Three years later, on September 22, 2015, the United Nations Special Rapporteurs 
on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, and on the situation of human 
rights defenders, Michel Forst, have likewise expressed serious concern about the 
increasingly pervasive insecurity and rising unlawful killings of human rights activists in 
the conflict-prone regions of the Philippines.  The Special Rapporteurs said that “Military 
occupation of civilian institutions and killing of civilians, particularly in places such as 
schools which should remain safe havens for children from this type of violence, are 
unacceptable,  deplorable and contrary to international human rights and international 
humanitarian standards.”  Tauli-Corpuz—herself a victim of red-tagging and terrorist-
labelling by her own  Philippine government—and Forst urged the Philippine government 
to launch an independent investigation on the killings of three indigenous peoples’ rights 
defenders in Lianga, Surigao del Sur.1 
 
 
The courageous band of human rights workers and advocates, from various sectors 
including the farmers, religious, women, trade unions, indigenous peoples and many other 
groups concerned with human rights, managed to document human rights atrocities and 
persevere in working for the protection of human rights during the darkest periods of 
Philippine history when fundamental freedoms were trampled by the very government that 
committed to protect these rights. 
 
These attacks on human rights defenders were by no means limited to the 
Philippines.  Despite the international recognition of what is known today as the 
International Bill of Human Rights, many countries not only continue to violate the rights 
of their people, but also attack human rights workers and advocates who criticize 
governments for human rights abuses. 
 
1 “Press release: Philippines: UN experts urge probe into killings of three Indigenous peoples’ rights 
defenders.” United Nations Human Rights, 22 September 2015. 
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2015/09/philippines-un-experts-urge-probe-killings-three-
indigenous-peoples-rights.    


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The international community, intending to protect an important cog in the 
mechanisms for the protection of human rights, agreed to respond to these attacks and 
promulgated a resolution intended to emphasize the rights and importance of human rights 
defenders.  In recognition of the valuable roles of human rights monitors, documentarists, 
rapporteurs, and advocates, the United Nations General Assembly, in its 85th Plenary 
Meeting on December 9, 1998, promulgated General Assembly Resolution A/RES/53/144 
or the “Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups, and Organs of 
Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental 
Freedoms,” or what is known as the “United Nations Declaration on Human Rights 
Defenders.” 
 
 
On December 17, 2015, the UN General Assembly in its 70th Session adopted the 
Resolution A/Res/70/161 on “Human rights defenders in the context of the Declaration on 
the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and 
Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom.”  The 
Resolution: 
 
• “strongly condemns the violence against and the targeting, criminalization, 
intimidation, torture, disappearance and killing of any individuals, including human 
rights defenders,” 
• “condemns all acts of intimidation and reprisal by State and non-State actors against 
individuals, groups and organs of society, including against human rights defenders 
and their legal representatives, associates and family members,” and 
• expresses grave concern “that national security and counter-terrorism legislation as 
well as measures in other areas, such as laws regulating civil society organizations, 
are in some instances misused to target human rights defenders or hinder their work, 
endangering their safety in a manner contrary to international law.”  
 
 
The 2015 Resolution reaffirms the primary responsibility of States “to protect all 
human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons” as it “calls upon all States to take 
all measures necessary to ensure the rights and safety of human rights defenders who 
exercise the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association, 
which are essential for the promotion and protection of human rights.”  It adds that 
“domestic law and administrative provisions and their application should not hinder, but 
enable the work of human rights defenders, including by avoiding any criminalization or 
stigmatization of the important activities and legitimate role of human rights defenders and 
the communities of which they are a part or on whose behalf they work.”  The Resolution 
further “urges States to acknowledge through public statements, policies or laws the 
important and legitimate role of individuals, groups and organs of society, including human 
rights defenders, in the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as 
essential components of ensuring their recognition and protection, including by 
condemning publicly all cases of violence and discrimination against human rights 
defenders, including women human rights defenders, underlining that such practices can 
never be justified.” 


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However, this weight accorded to human rights defenders by the international 
community grimly negated by the continued killings, disappearances, tortures, vilifications, 
persecutions, harassments, and other abuses against them. 
The Philippines is the second highest in killings of human rights defenders 
worldwide, according to the 2015 report from Front Line Defenders, or the International 
Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.  Our country is second to 
Colombia and the highest outside the Americas.  According to the report, the 31 killings of 
human rights defenders in the Philippines in 2015 make up almost 60% of the 52 reported 
in Asia and the Pacific. 2 
Human rights defenders in the Philippines face human rights violations themselves 
in the course of their work.  These violations  include killings, death threats, abductions  
and kidnappings, arbitrary  arrest  and  detention,  and  other  acts   of  harassment  and 
intimidation,  such  as defamation  campaigns  and the filing of trumped-up charges aimed 
at harassing human rights workers.  Their immediate family members, including their 
children, and their other relatives, are not spared, in the perpetrators’ hopes of preventing 
the human rights defenders from continuing their activities.  Human rights campaigns are 
affected in many regions in the country by restrictions on the activities and the persecution 
of human rights defenders leaving the people more vulnerable to human rights abuse. 
Worse, human rights defenders in the country have been tagged as “enemies of the 
state” or “communist-terrorists” by government and harshly dealt with as such. Not a few 
of them like Eden Marcellana, Eddie Gumanoy, and Benjaline Hernandez, were brutally 
slain.  From the time former Pres. Gloria Arroyo became president up to the end of her term 
in June 2010, there were a total of 1,206 victims of extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary 
executions (or EJKs) in the Philippines.  Three of them were teachers who stood up for the 
rights and welfare of their fellow teachers and members of marginalized sectors—Napoleon 
Pornasdoro, Leima Fortu, and Vitoria Samonte. Of the total number, 476 were human rights 
defenders (HRDs).  Of the 206 victims of enforced or involuntary disappearance, 68 were 
human rights defenders.  Scores from their ranks have been physically assaulted, tortured, 
treated inhumanely, cruelly and degradingly, and threatened, harassed, and intimidated.   
These violations were committed with impunity by government security forces in 
line with Arroyo’s so-called counterinsurgency program “Oplan Bantay Laya,” thus 
obfuscating the line between the armed opposition being waged by the Communist Party 
of the Philippines and the legal and democratic people’s organizations.  And the pattern of 
killings continues in the counterinsurgency programs of the subsequent adminstrations, 
“Oplan Kapayapaan,” “Oplan Kapanatagan,” and “Oplan Bayanihan.” 
2 Orante, Bea. “PH 2nd highest in killings of human rights defenders – watchdog.” Rappler, 7 January 
2016. http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/118249-philippines-second-highest-human-rights-defenders-
killings-report. 


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On November 22, 2018, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed 
Memorandum Order 32, instructing the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine 
National Police to ostensibly end the “sporadic acts of violence” in the provinces of Negros 
Occidental, Negros Oriental, Samar Island, and the Bicol Region.  The issuance of the 
memorandum came after the killing of nine sugarcane farmers in Sagay, Negros Occidental 
in October 20, 2018.  The fatalities, who included four women and two minors, belonged 
to the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW).  Human rights organization 
KARAPATAN-Negros allege that state agents are behind the massacre of farmers, in the 
same modus of human rights abuses committed against organized movements throughout 
the country. 
 
 
 
However, the barbarous attack in Sagay was not suppressed by the deployment of 
state agents, as in the directive of MO 32.  On the contrary, it was followed by a spate of 
killings and other human rights violations against personalities and members of the 
progressive movement in Negros.  Fourteen farmers, in what police operatives dubbed as 
Oplan Sauron were killed in one night, drug war tokhang-style, in Canlaon City, and the 
Manjuyod and Sta. Catalina towns in Negros Occidental.  A fact-finding mission revealed 
that the victims were summarily executed.  Twelve more farmers were arrested that same 
night. 
 
 
MO 32 trained its eye on the Bicol region mid-2019, marked with the killing of two 
human rights defenders on June 15, 2019 in Barangay Cabid-an, Sorsogon on June 15 , 
2019.  According to Karapatan, the slain workers were senior high school student Ryan 
Hubilla, 22 and Nelly Bagasala, 69, from their Sorsogon staff.  Karapatan said the incident 
came after its workers experienced periodic surveillance carried out by the military and the 
police. 
 
 
The cases of human rights abuses, particularly the killings of human rights workers 
and farmers in the target areas of MO 32, clearly show that the clear and present danger to 
the public does not come from non-state actors.  In all regions and provinces included in 
the memorandum, evidence point to state agents as those responsible. 
 
 
Women human rights defenders are particularly at risk, and other groups and 
categories of defenders include trade unionists, and those working for minorities’ and 
community rights, children’s rights, indigenous peoples’ rights, to name a few.  The rights 
they defend are civil and political rights—notably, freedom of expression and freedom of 
thought, conscience and association—as well as economic, social, and cultural rights, 
including collective rights, such as the right to food and access to natural resources. 
 
 
Considering the important role of human rights defenders and the Philippine 
government’s international commitment to promote, defend and protect human rights, and 
the continuing attack on the rights of the people and human rights defenders, it is imperative 
that the Congress should put into law that commitment as enshrined in the aforementioned 
UN General Assembly Resolutions.  It is necessary that the relevant provisions of the 
International Declaration are translated into a binding commitment not only to protect 
human rights but also those that work for the protection of these rights so that they may be 


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able to fulfill their important role in the promotion, protection and defense of human rights 
and fundamental freedoms. 
In this light, a law protecting human rights defenders and penalizing any violations 
of their rights in the pursuance of their advocacy must be immediately enacted.  
First filed in the House of Representatives by Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo 
during the 14th Congress, this bill was refiled in the 16th up to the 18th Congresses by the 
Representatives of the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan or Makabayan.  It was 
unanimously approved on Third Reading on January 17, 2022. 
This bill is refiled in a new Congress, when all eyes in the international community 
are on the Philippines for the bloody record of the previous president Rodrigo Duterte, and 
those of other past regimes, including the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.  Despite these, and in 
the memory and honor of those who fought and still fight for the rights of their fellow 
Filipinos, the expeditious approval of this bill is earnestly urged. 
________________________________ 
Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO 
ACT Teachers Party-List 
________________________________ 
Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS 
GABRIELA Women’s Party 
________________________________ 
Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
KABATAAN Party-List 


1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _____ 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by  
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,  
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,  
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
DEFINING THE RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS OF HUMAN 
RIGHTS DEFENDERS, DECLARING STATE RESPONSIBILITIES AND 
INSTITUTING EFFECTIVE MECHANISMS FOR THE PROTECTION AND 
PROMOTION OF THESE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “The Human Rights Defenders 
Protection Act of 2022.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State: 
(1)
To value the dignity of every human person and to recognize, respect, protect,
promote and fulfill the rights and fundamental freedoms of persons, individually or in
association with others, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, sexual orientation and
gender identity, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin,
property, birth or other status;
(2)
To give highest priority to the implementation of legislative enactments,
executive issuances and judicial decisions that guarantee respect, protection, promotion
and fulfillment of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
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(3)
To provide access to legal remedies and reparative measures including but not
limited to monetary compensation and psychosocial accompaniment and rehabilitation
to human rights violations victims;
(4)
To fully and strictly adhere to the principles and standards on human rights and
fundamental freedoms set by the 1987 Philippine Constitution and international human
rights instruments, jus cogens principles, including but not limited to the:
(a)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR);
(b)
Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and
Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Declaration on Human Rights Defenders);
(c)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR);
(d)
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(ICESCR);
(e)
Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment (CAT);
(f)
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against
Women (CEDAW);
(g)
Convention on the Rights of the Child;
(h)
International Labor Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles
and Rights at Work;
(i)
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant
Workers and Members of Their Families;
(j)
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance;
(k)
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
(l)
UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in
Rural Areas; and
(m)
General Comments and Resolutions of the United Nations General
Assembly and Human Rights Council to existing provisions of aforementioned
international conventions.


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SEC. 3. Construction in Favor of Human Rights Defenders. – All provisions of this 
Act shall be construed to achieve its objectives.  All doubts in the implementation and 
interpretation of these provisions shall be resolved in favor of the human rights 
defender. 
 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall 
mean: 
 
(1) 
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms - refers to rights or entitlements 
inherent in all human persons and freedoms recognized in or declared by international 
and regional human rights instruments and customary international law and by national 
laws that are consistent with the said instruments and law; 
 
(2) 
Human Rights Defender refers to any person who, individually or in association 
with others, acts or seeks to act to protect, promote or strive for the protection and 
realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms, at the local, national, regional, 
and international levels. Any bonafide member of a human rights organization shall be 
considered to be a human rights defender. Defenders can be of any gender, of varying 
ages, from all sorts of professional or other backgrounds. This includes defenders who 
work on women’s rights or on gender issues, environmental and land rights defenders, 
trade unionists and labor organizers and youth human rights defenders. Human rights 
defenders are not only found within non-government organizations and 
intergovernmental organizations but might also, in some instances, be government 
officials, civil servants or members of the private sector; 
 
(3) 
Human Rights Organization refers to a group, organization or association in the 
local, national, regional or international level, whether formal or informal, that strive 
for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 
 
(4) 
Human rights violation is any act of commission or omission by State actors 
acting under the orders of and/or with acquiescence of State actors, in violation of any 
human rights of any individual, group or organization, registered or otherwise, from 
which injury and damage to any individual, mental or physical, or property or reputation 
or privacy of any individual or organization shall be occasioned; 
 
(5) 
Government Agency refers to any department, bureau, office or unit of the 
National Government, or any of its branches and instrumentalities, or any political 
subdivision, as well as any government-owned or controlled corporation, including its 
subsidiaries, or other self-governing branch, commission or council of the Government. 
This shall include the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and 
their force multipliers acting under the direct control and supervision of the said 
uniformed personnel; 
 


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(6) 
Superior Officer shall mean the next government official who has supervisory 
or control powers over the head of the government agency to whom the subject head 
reports and shall include but not limited to the: President, Department Secretaries, Chief 
of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Commanding General or Rear 
Admirals of any service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Director General 
of the Philippine National Police; 
 
(7) 
Intergovernmental Organization refers to an organization established through a 
treaty or other instruments and mechanisms  in pursuit of common issues, concerns and 
interests; 
 
(8) 
Public Authority refers to any person or body performing a function of a public 
nature that is conferred or imposed by or pursuant to law, by popular election or 
appointment or delegated, contracted or procured by a governmental authority or 
agency; 
 
(9) 
Intimidation or Reprisal means any form of violence, threat, retaliation, de facto 
or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure, judicial harassment or any other arbitrary 
or abusive action or threat related to a person’s status, work or activity as a human rights 
defender, including proposed, attempted, or imputed work or activity directed at the: (i) 
human rights defender; (ii) the human rights defender’s associate (s); (iii) a legal or 
other representative of the human rights defender appointed to conduct his or her affairs 
or to otherwise act on his or her behalf; (iv) a family member or relative of the human 
rights defender, including common-law spouses and relatives by virtue of said common-
law relationship; (v) a group, association, organization, community or network, whether 
formal or informal, with which the human rights defender is associated; (vi) or the 
home, property or possessions of the human rights defender or any of the other persons 
or entities in items (ii) to (vi). 
 
SEC. 5. Diligence Required. – Any complaint or report of human rights violation shall       
be dealt with and acted upon with extraordinary diligence by concerned government 
personnel. 
 
 
Failure to dispense with the diligence required, within three days from reporting 
any violation of this Act shall hold the government personnel criminally, civilly and 
administratively liable. 
 
SEC. 6. Right to Promote and Protect Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. – 
Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to 
strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at 
the local, national, regional and international levels.  
 
SEC. 7. Right to Form Groups, Associations and Organizations. – Everyone, 
individually or in association with others, has the right to form, join, or associate with 


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and participate in local, national, regional, or international organizations, whether 
formal or informal and whether registered or unregistered, for the purpose of promoting 
and striving for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental 
freedoms. 
 
SEC. 8. Right to Solicit, Receive and Utilize Resources. – (1) Everyone, individually 
or in association with others, has the right to solicit, receive and utilize resources, from 
domestic and international organizations, including governmental, intergovernmental, 
philanthropic and private sources, for the express purpose of promoting and striving for 
the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 
 
(2) In pursuance of the right in subsection (1), freezing, sequestration or seizure by any 
bank or financial institution of the fund solicited from and released by the source is 
hereby prohibited. 
 
SEC. 9. Right to Seek, Receive and Disseminate Information. – (1) Everyone, 
individually or in association with others, has the right: 
 
(a) 
To know, seek, access, obtain, receive and hold information about all human 
rights and fundamental freedoms, including information regarding how these rights 
and freedoms are given effect in the legislative, judicial and administrative systems; 
 
(b) 
To know, seek access, obtain, receive and hold such information from 
business enterprises and other private actors as may be necessary for exercising or 
protecting, or assisting to exercise or protect, human rights or fundamental 
freedoms; 
 
(c) 
To freely publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and 
knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms; and 
 
(d) 
To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and 
in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and 
other means, to draw public attention to these matters. 
 
(2) The right in subsection (1) may be exercised orally, in writing, in print, in the 
form of art or through any other media, whether online or offline. 
  
SEC. 10. Right to Develop and Advocate for Human Rights Ideas. – Everyone, 
individually or in association with others, has the right to develop and discuss new ideas 
and principles which relate to human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to advocate 
their acceptance. 
          
SEC. 11. Right to Communicate with Non-governmental, Governmental and 
Intergovernmental Organizations. – Everyone, individually and in association with 


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others, has the right to freely communicate with non-governmental, governmental and 
intergovernmental organizations, including subsidiary bodies, mechanisms or experts 
with a mandate relevant to human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as with 
diplomatic representations.    
 
SEC. 12. Right to Access, Communicate and Cooperate with International and 
Regional Human Rights Bodies and Mechanisms. – In accordance with applicable 
international instruments and procedures, everyone, individually or in association with 
others, has the right to unhindered access to and to communicate and cooperate with 
international and regional human rights bodies and mechanisms, including treaty bodies 
and special procedures or special rapporteurs. 
          
SEC. 13. Right to Participate in Public Affairs. – (1) Everyone, individually or in 
association with others, has the right to participate effectively in the conduct of public 
affairs, including participation on a non-discriminatory basis in the government 
regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms. 
 
(2) The right in subsection (1) includes the right: 
(a) 
To submit to any public authority, or agency or organization concerned 
with public affairs, criticism on or proposals for improving its functioning with 
respect to human rights and fundamental freedoms;          
(b) 
To make recommendations to any public authority regarding legislative 
or regulatory changes relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms; 
(c) 
To draw to the attention of any public authority any aspect of its work that 
may hinder or impede the promotion, protection and realization of human rights 
and fundamental freedoms; 
(d) 
To call the attention of any public authority to any action or omission by 
any actor, private or public, that may involve or contribute to a violation of 
human rights or fundamental freedoms; and 
(e) 
To freely publish, impart or disseminate to others any information 
submitted to any public authority in the exercise of the rights set out in this Act. 
         
SEC. 14. Right to Peaceful Assembly. – (1) Everyone, individually or in association 
with others, has the right to meet or assemble peacefully as well as to participate in 
peaceful activities concerning human rights and fundamental freedoms, free from 
interference that is arbitrary or unlawful by public authorities and private actors, at the 
local, national, regional or international level. 
 


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(2) The right in subsection (1) includes the right to plan, organize, participate in and 
disseminate information regarding peaceful activities concerning human rights and 
fundamental freedoms, including demonstrations, protests, seminars and meetings, 
whether conducted in a public or private place.       
  
SEC. 15. Right to Represent and Advocate. – (1) Everyone, individually and in 
association with others, has the right to assist, represent or act on behalf of another 
person, group, association, organization or institution in relation to the promotion, 
protection and exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms, including at the local, 
national, regional and international levels. 
 
(2) The right in subsection (1) includes the right: 
 
(a) To complain about the policies and actions of public authorities with regard to 
violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, by petition or other 
appropriate means, to domestic judicial, administrative or legislative authorities or 
any other competent authority e.g. Commission on Human Rights, the Ombudsman; 
(b) To offer and provide professionally qualified legal counsel or other relevant legal 
or paralegal advice and assistance in defending human rights and fundamental 
freedoms; 
(c) To attend public hearings, proceedings and trials so as to form an opinion on 
their compliance with national law and human rights and fundamental freedoms; 
and 
(d) To submit communications and information of the type referred to in Section 10. 
SEC. 16. Right to Freedom of Movement. – (1) Everyone lawfully within the territory, 
or subject to the jurisdiction, including the power or effective control, of the Philippines 
shall, within its territory or place of jurisdiction, have the right to liberty of movement 
and freedom to choose his or her residence and the right to carry out his or her human 
rights activities in the entire territory or place of jurisdiction. 
 
(2) No one lawfully within the Philippine territory shall be expelled, by means of an 
individual or a collective measure, from its territory wholly or partially on account of 
his or her acts as a human rights defender. 
(3) No one shall be deprived of the right to enter or leave the country on account of his 
or her status, activities or work as a human rights defender. 
  
SEC. 17. Right to Privacy. – (1) Everyone, individually or in association with others, 
has the right to privacy. 
 


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(2) The right in subsection (1) includes the right of a human rights defender to protect 
his or her privacy, including through encryption, and be free from intrusion and 
interference that is arbitrary and unlawful in his or her family, home, places of work, 
possessions and correspondence, both online and offline. 
 
(3) “Intrusion and interference” under subsection (2) includes any form of surveillance, 
recording, within the purview of Republic Act No. 4200, otherwise known as “An Act 
to Prohibit and Penalize Wire Tapping and Other Related Violations of the Privacy of 
Communication, and for Other Purposes”, search and seizure in relation to his or her 
legitimate activity or work as a human rights defender. 
 
(4) The right to privacy extends to groups, organizations or associations. 
 
 
Any reported act of surveillance against a human rights defender shall be dealt 
with and acted upon with extraordinary diligence by concerned government personnel. 
Failure to act with extraordinary diligence for the identification and/or designation, 
position or assignment, if applicable, of the individual who is doing the act of 
surveillance within three days from reporting thereof, shall make the concerned 
government personnel criminally, civilly and administratively liable. 
 
SEC. 18. Right to be Secure in Educational Institutions. – (1) No member of the 
PhilippineNational Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), or the 
Citizens’ Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU) shall enter the premises of 
and/or conduct police or military operations in any educational institution without prior 
notification to, and free and informed consent by the student council and school 
authorities. 
 
(2) Detailed plan or design of proposed police or military operations shall be given by 
the PNP, AFP, or CAFGU to the student council and school authorities for review. The 
student council and school authorities shall have the right to deny permit and to bar 
entry of members of the PNP, AFP, or CAFGU. 
 
(3) No member of the PNP, AFP, or CAFGU shall interfere with peaceful protest 
actions by student human rights defenders within educational institutions.  
 
(4) No human rights defender who is a student, faculty, staff, or employee of an 
educational institution shall be subjected to custodial investigation without prior 
notification to the concerned student council and school authorities of the educational 
institution. 
 
(5) The service of search or arrest warrant on any human rights defender who is a 
student, faculty, staff, or employee of an educational institution shall be done after prior 
notification to the concerned student council and school authorities of the educational 
institution.  


9 
 
 
(6) The arrest or detention of any human rights defender who is a student, faculty, staff, 
or employee of an education institution shall, by the fastest means of communication, 
be reported immediately by the responsible head of the unit of the PNP, AFP, or 
CAFGU effecting the arrest or detention to the concerned student council and school 
authorities of the educational institution.  
 
SEC. 19. Right Against Intimidation or Reprisal. – No person shall be subjected, 
individually or in association with others, to any form of intimidation or reprisal on the 
grounds of or in relation to his or her status, activities or work as a human rights 
defender. 
  
 
Any reported act of threat and intimidation against a human rights defender, 
including through mobile phone, land phone or the internet shall be dealt with and acted 
upon with extraordinary diligence by the concerned government personnel. Failure to 
act with extraordinary diligence for the identification and/or designation, position or 
assignment, if applicable, of the individual who is the author of the threats and acts of 
intimidation within three days from reporting thereof, shall make the concerned 
government personnel criminally, civilly and administratively liable. 
                                
SEC. 20. Right Against Defamation, Stigmatization and Vilification. – No person 
shall be subject to any form of defamation, stigmatization, or other harassment, whether 
offline or online, and whether by public authorities or private actors, in connection with 
his or her status, activities or work as a human rights defender. 
  
 
Any reported act of defamation, stigmatization, false labeling, name calling, 
false accusation of any offense, or any other kind of vilification of a human rights 
defender shall be dealt with and acted upon with extraordinary diligence by the 
concerned government personnel. Failure to act with extraordinary diligence for the 
identification and/or designation, position or assignment, if applicable, of the individual 
who is the author of the defamation, stigmatization and vilification within three days 
from reporting thereof, shall make the concerned government personnel criminally, 
civilly and administratively liable. 
                                                                         
SEC. 21. Right to Exercise Cultural Rights and to Development of Personality. - 
 
 
 
(1) Consistent with Article 18 (1) of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, 
everyone, individually or in association with others, has the right to the unhindered 
exercise of his or her cultural rights in his or her activities and work as a human rights 
defender and to the free and full development of his or her personality, 
 
(2) The right in Subsection (1) includes the right to challenge and change traditional 
customs and practices that violate human rights and fundamental freedoms. 


10 
 
 
SEC. 22. Right to Effective Remedy and Full Reparation. –  
 
(1) Everyone, individually or in association with others, has the right to an effective 
remedy and full reparation, both monetary and nonmonetary, in the event of a violation 
of the rights in this Chapter II or a breach of obligations under Chapter III of this Act. 
 
(2) Anyone whose rights have been violated or who has been adversely affected by a 
breach of obligations has the right to obtain such effective remedy and full reparation 
from the appropriate government agency or court of competent jurisdiction. 
 
(3) Any of the following may file a complaint with the competent court or tribunal 
relating to the violation of rights under a breach of obligations under Chapter III of this 
Act: 
 
(a) A human rights defender; 
(b) An association of the human rights defender; 
(c) A legal or other representative of the human rights defender appointed to conduct 
the affairs of or to otherwise act on behalf of the human rights defender; 
(d) A family member of the human rights defender; 
(e) A group, association or organization with which the human rights defender is 
associated; or 
(f) Any person acting in the public interest and consistently in pursuit of the 
purposes of this Act. 
SEC. 23. Right to establish a sanctuary to human rights victims and/or their families. 
– Everyone, individually and in association with others, has the right to establish 
sanctuaries for any human rights violation victim and/or their immediate families.  
  
SEC. 24. Limitation on the Rights of Human Rights Defenders. – In exercising his or 
her rights in Chapter II of this Act, a human rights defender, individually or in 
association with others, shall be subject only to limitations that are prescribed by law, 
in accordance with international human rights obligations and standards, are reasonable, 
necessary and proportionate, and are solely for the purpose of securing due recognition 
of and respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of others and meeting 
the reasonable requirements of public order and general welfare in a democratic society.  
 
SEC. 25. Obligation to Respect, Promote, Protect, and Fulfill the Rights of Human 
Rights Defenders. – Public authorities shall take all necessary measures to ensure: (1) 


11 
 
that the human rights and fundamental freedoms in Chapter II of this Act are effectively 
guaranteed and protected; (2) that all laws, policies and programs of government are 
consistent with the rights in Chapter II of this Act; and (3) that human rights defenders 
are able to undertake their activities and work in a safe and enabling environment free 
from restriction.  
 
SEC. 26. Obligation to Facilitate the Activities and Work of Human Rights 
Defenders. – Public authorities shall take all necessary measures to facilitate and protect 
the exercise of the rights in Chapter II of this Act, which measures include the obligation 
to: 
 
(1) permit and facilitate access, in accordance with the law, to places where persons are 
deprived of liberty; 
 
(2) permit and facilitate access to places and to information required by human rights 
defenders to exercise their rights under Chapter II of this Act in accordance with the 
law; 
 
(3) provide information about violations of human rights or fundamental freedoms that 
may have been committed within the territory or subject to the jurisdiction, including 
the power or effective control of the State; 
 
(4) develop and implement policies and measures to promote, support and enhance the 
capacity of human rights defenders to protect and promote human rights and 
fundamental freedoms; and 
 
(5) publicly recognize the role, function, and activities and work of human rights 
defenders as legitimate and important. 
  
SEC. 27. Obligation to Provide Free Access to Materials Relating to Human Rights 
and Fundamental Freedoms. – Public authorities shall make freely available and 
accessible both offline and online: 
 
(a) International human rights instruments; 
(b) The Constitution, national laws and regulations; 
(c) Research, studies, reports, data, archives and other  information and materials 
within the possession of public  authorities that relate to human rights and 
fundamental freedoms; 
(d) Government reports and information submitted to international human rights 
bodies and mechanisms; 


12 
 
(e) Reports and communications of international human rights bodies and 
mechanisms involving the country’s compliance with international treaty 
obligations; 
(f) Documents and information related to the decisions or activities of the 
Commission on Human Rights and other national authorities with competence in 
the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 
(g) Documents and information relevant to and/or related to the reported human 
rights violation. Failure to provide for the official copy the said documents and 
information or general denial of its existence shall amount to an admission of the 
existence and due execution thereof; and 
(h) All such other information as may be necessary to secure or enable the exercise 
of any human right or fundamental freedom under Chapter II or access to remedy 
for violation of any such right. 
  
SEC. 28. Obligation not to Disclose Confidential Sources. – (1) Public authorities shall 
not disclose or require disclosure of the identity of sources used by human rights 
defenders. 
 
(2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1), public authorities may disclose the identity of 
sources used by human rights defenders if both the relevant source and the concerned 
human rights defender give informed consent in writing to such disclosure or if so 
required by an independent and impartial tribunal in accordance with international 
standards. 
  
SEC. 29. Obligation to Prevent and to Ensure Protection from Intimidation or 
Reprisal. – Public authorities shall take all necessary measures to ensure the prevention 
of, and protection from any intimidation or reprisal by any other public or private actor. 
These shall include, but not limited to, protection measures established under pertinent 
laws. 
  
SEC. 30. Obligation to Penalize Intimidation or Reprisal. – Any public authority or 
private actor who is found guilty of committing intimidation or reprisal against a person 
on the grounds of or in connection with his or her status, work, activities as a human 
rights defender, shall be subject to penalties as herein provided, in addition to 
administrative and/or civil sanctions which take into account the gravity of the offense 
upon the discretion of the court or competent authority. 
 
SEC. 31. Obligation to Refrain from Derogatory and Unfounded Labeling. – (1) 
Under no circumstance shall public authorities engage in false, unfounded and 


13 
 
derogatory labeling of human rights defenders including but not limited to identifying 
them as “red”, “communist”, “terrorist” or “enemies of the State”; (2) Public authorities 
shall immediately expunge or rectify such labeling as part of the non-monetary 
reparation to victims referred to in Section 20 (2) of Chapter II and Section 32 of 
Chapter III of this Act. 
  
SEC. 32. Obligation to Ensure Protection from Arbitrary or Unlawful Intrusion and 
Interference. –  
 
(1) Public authorities shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of 
human rights defenders from arbitrary or unlawful intrusion and interference in his or 
her family, home, places of work, possessions and correspondence, both online and 
offline. 
 
(2) Intrusion and interference in subsection (1) includes any form of surveillance, 
recording, search and seizure in relation to any person’s legitimate activity or work as 
a human rights defender without his or her consent. 
 
SEC. 33. Obligation not to Participate in Violating Human Rights and Fundamental 
Freedoms. – All public authorities are mandated not to participate, by acts of 
commission or omission, in violating human rights and fundamental freedoms. 
Subordinate employees have the right and duty to refuse any order from their superiors 
to participate in acts that contravene their duty to protect, uphold and promote human 
rights and fundamental freedoms, and shall not be subject to any administrative 
sanctions as a consequence of such refusal. 
 
SEC. 34. Obligation to Conduct Investigation. - Whenever there is reasonable ground 
to believe that a human rights defender has been killed, disappeared, tortured, ill-treated, 
arbitrarily detained, threatened or subject to a violation of any of the rights in Chapter 
II of this Act, whether by a public authority or private actor, the State must ensure that 
a prompt, thorough, effective, independent and impartial investigation is conducted 
with extraordinary diligence and is prosecuted under existing applicable laws, including 
but not limited to RA 9745, the Anti-Torture Act, RA 10353, the Anti-Enforced or 
Involuntary Disappearance Act, and RA 7438, An Act Defining Certain Rights of 
Person Arrested, Detained or Under Custodial Investigation as well as the Duties of the 
Arresting, Detaining and Investigating Officers, and Providing Penalties for Violations 
Thereof. Presumption of regularity in the performance of duty by the offending public 
authority shall not be invoked. 
  
SEC. 35. Obligation to Ensure Effective Remedy and Full Reparation. – Public 
authorities shall take all necessary measures to ensure that an effective remedy and full 
reparation are available and provided for violations of the rights in Chapter II and for 
breach of the obligations in Chapter III of this Act.  
 


14 
 
SEC. 36. Obligation to Enforce and Institutionalize Command Responsibility. – 
Government agencies shall enforce and institutionalize command responsibility and 
impose sanctions against errant superior in both military and civilian agencies as 
provided under existing laws and executive issuances.  
 
SEC. 37. Obligation to Adopt Human Rights Based Governance. – Public authorities 
shall adopt the human rights based approach to governance and development including 
in counter-insurgency and anti-terror programs and policies.  
 
SEC. 38. Obligation to Strengthen Witness Protection Program. – The Commission 
on Human Rights shall strengthen its witness protection program and provide a safe 
place of refuge for high risk human rights defenders, more particularly those who have 
filed formal complaints against high ranking public authorities.  
 
 SEC. 39. Obligation to Respect the Principle of Non-refoulement. – No person shall 
be forcibly returned, expelled or extradited to another State where there are substantial 
grounds to believe that the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the person are in 
danger of being violated.  
 
SEC. 40. Obligation to Promote and Facilitate Human Rights Education. – All 
government agencies shall promote, facilitate and adequately resource teaching, 
training and education about human rights and fundamental freedoms to all persons 
within the country’s jurisdiction. Teaching, training and education programs shall 
include information about this Act and the important and legitimate work of human 
rights defenders. 
 
SEC. 41. Penalties. – 
 
(a) For violation of Sections 6 to 22 of this Act. – The penalty of twelve (12) years 
and one (1) day to fifteen (15) years of imprisonment and a fine of Three Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (₱300, 000.00) without privilege of parole shall be imposed upon 
any State actor who violates any of the rights of a human rights defender defined in 
Sections 5 to 16 of this Act.  Non-State actor/s acting upon orders of and/or with 
acquiescence of State actors for the violation of any of the rights of a human rights 
defender defined under these sections shall be deemed in conspiracy with the said 
State actor/s. 
(b) For destroying, altering, or falsifying records and document. – The penalty of 
ten (10) years and one (1) day to twelve years (12) of imprisonment and a fine of 
One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (₱150,000.00) shall be imposed upon any State 
actor who impede, obstruct, or influence any preliminary investigation, 
administrative investigation and/or petition by altering, destroying, mutilating, 


15 
 
concealing, covering up, falsifying, or making any false entries in any record, 
document, or specimen whereof, relative to any matter involving any human rights 
defenders, defenders or organizations or activities. Non-State actor/s acting upon 
orders of and/or with acquiescence of State actors for the destruction, alteration or 
falsification of any record and document relevant to and/or related to any human 
rights violation shall be deemed in conspiracy with the said State actor/s.  
(c) For any other violations of this Act. – The penalty of eight (8) years and one (1) 
day to ten (10) years of imprisonment and a fine of One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(₱100,000.00) or shall be imposed upon any individual who violates any other 
provisions of this Act.  
SEC. 42. Violations of this Act as aggravating circumstances. -  Any violations of any 
provisions of this Act committed on the occasion of a commission of a crime defined 
in any penal laws shall be considered an aggravating circumstance in the imposition of 
the penalty in said crime.   
 
SEC. 43. Creation and Composition of the Human Rights Defenders Protection 
Committee. – (1) There shall be an independent collegial body to be known as the 
Human Rights Defenders Protection Committee composed of one Chairperson and six 
Members, herein referred to as the Committee. The Chairperson shall be selected by the 
Commissioners of the Commission on Human Rights from among themselves in an en 
banc session. The six members shall be jointly nominated by two representatives each 
of Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (Karapatan), the 
National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), the National Council of Churches of the 
Philippines, Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Free Legal 
Assistance Group (FLAG), and the National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and 
Peace of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines in a meeting called for this 
purpose. 
 
(2) The aforementioned nominees shall be appointed by the Commission on Human 
Rights in an en banc session. 
(3) The composition of the Committee shall have a balanced gender representation on 
the basis of the principles of equality and non-discrimination and adequate 
representation of ethnic, cultural and minority groups. 
 
(4)  The Committee shall be attached to the Commission on Human Rights for 
administrative and budgetary purposes only. 
 
(5) The Committee shall organize itself within thirty (30) days from the completion of 
the selection process of the Chairperson and Members of the Committee as herein 
provided in Subsection (1), and shall thereafter organize its Secretariat. 
  


16 
 
SEC. 44. Qualifications of the Committee Members. – The Members of the Committee 
shall possess the following qualifications: 
 
(1) Of high moral character, recognized probity, competence, and integrity; 
 
(2) Of known independence in making decisions and taking stances on issues and 
concerns pertaining to the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental 
freedoms; 
 
(3) Must have a deep, thorough and enlightened knowledge and understanding of human 
rights and fundamental freedoms and the role, work, and protection needs of human 
rights defenders; and 
 
(4) At least two (2) members including the Chairperson must be members of the 
Philippine Bar who have been engaged in the practice of law for at least seven (7) years. 
 
SEC. 45. Term of Office. – The Chairperson and Members of the Committee shall be 
designated once for a term five (5) years only. Of those first designated, three Members 
shall serve for five (5) years, two (2) Members for four (4) years, and the last two 
Members shall hold office for three (3) years. Succeeding Chairpersons and Members 
shall be designated for a term of not more than five (5) years.  Designation to any 
vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term of the predecessor.  
 
SEC. 46. Functions of the Committee. – The Committee shall exercise the following 
functions: 
 
(1) 
Protect human rights defenders from intimidation and reprisals; 
(2) 
Ensure accountability for acts of intimidation and reprisal; 
(3) 
Facilitate and promote interagency and inter-department coordination to prevent, 
protect from, investigate, and ensure accountability for acts of intimidation or reprisal; 
(4) 
Investigate on its own or on complaint by any party all forms of violations of 
human rights and fundamental freedoms of human rights defenders; 
(5) 
Publicly acknowledge and promote the legitimate and important role, activities 
and work of human rights defenders; 
(6) 
Consult regularly and work closely with human rights defenders in the 
implementation of this Act; 
(7) 
Monitor existing and proposed legislation, assess their impact or potential impact 
on the status, activities and work of human rights defenders, and propose amendments 


17 
 
and/or remedial measures or block their passage if the measures shall to a large extent 
adversely affect the human rights defenders and their work and activities; 
(8) 
Prepare and submit reports and communications on the situation of human rights 
defenders to relevant international and regional human rights bodies and mechanisms; 
(9) 
Monitor and carry out periodic reviews of the implementation of this Act, the 
first of which shall be conducted one year after its effectivity. 
(10) 
Submit annual reports on the situation of human rights defenders and the status 
of implementation of this Act to the Office of the President of the Senate and the Office 
of the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
(11) 
Make recommendations to relevant authorities on the appropriate measures to be 
taken to promote a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders, mitigate 
and prevent the risks they face, and address the root causes of violations against human 
defenders; and 
(12) 
Perform other relevant functions as may be necessary to attain the objectives of 
this Act. 
  
SEC. 47. Training and Vetting. – All persons involved in the Committee, including 
security and law enforcement officials, shall be appropriately vetted and shall receive 
training on human rights and fundamental freedoms and the situation and protection 
needs of human rights defenders prior to the commencement of the involvement, 
together with continuing training designed to ensure full and effective implementation 
of the Act. 
  
SEC. 48. Implementing Rules and Regulations. –  
 
(1) Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Committee, together with 
Karapatan, NUPL, NCCP, PAHRA, FLAG, and CBCP-NASSA in consultation with 
other human rights organizations and individual human rights defenders of known 
probity, shall jointly promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the 
effective implementation of this Act and shall ensure the full dissemination of the Act 
and the IRR to the public. 
 
(2) In implementing this Act and in formulating the corresponding rules and regulations 
the following guiding principles shall be strictly adhered to: 
 
(a) Adherence to the rule of law is the ultimate safeguard against violations of 
human rights and fundamental freedoms; 


18 
 
(b) Empowerment of human rights defenders is enhanced by their active 
participation in formulating, implementing, and evaluating protection programs 
for human rights defenders; 
(c) Periodic assessments of risks, vulnerability or conflict help identify protection 
needs of human rights defenders giving particular attention to those of women 
and others’ who are at increased risks; 
(d) Keeping and maintaining confidentiality of the personal data collected on human 
rights defenders and those referred to in Sec. 20 (3) upholds their right to privacy 
and security of person; 
(e) Continuous training of the members of the Committee Secretariat on human 
rights and fundamental freedoms, the root causes of their violations, and the 
work and protection needs of human rights defenders help sustain their 
commitment to the objectives of the Act; 
(f) Independent and effective operation of the Committee and its Secretariat requires 
sustained adequate resources; 
(g) Transparent, aboveboard, and equitable resource allocation and disbursement 
help ensure maximum protection to human rights defenders and their 
constituencies particularly those of higher risks and vulnerabilities; 
(h) Risks and challenges faced by women and LGBT human rights defenders and 
those working on women’s and LGBT rights and gender issues demand special 
attention; 
(i) Risks and challenges faced by environmental and land rights defenders should 
be taken into consideration; 
(j) Generating support from a strong, independent, and effective national human 
rights institution and from the general public enhances and contributes to the 
effective work of human rights defenders; 
(k) Open access to the United Nations and international human rights bodies 
contributes to a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders to 
work in. 
  
SEC. 49. Suppletory Applications. – The applicable provisions of the Revised Penal 
Code shall have suppletory application insofar as they are consistent with the provisions 
of this Act. 


19 
 
  
SEC. 50. Appropriations. – The amount of Fifteen Million Pesos (P15,000,000.00) is 
hereby appropriated for the initial implementation of this Act. Subsequent funds 
necessary for the continuing implementation of this Act shall be provided for in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
  
SEC. 51. Separability Clause. – If for any reason any part or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall remain and continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 52. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations 
and other issuances or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 53. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or the Official Gazette, 
which shall not be later than seven (7) days after the approval thereof. 
 
Approved,