II 
” 8  
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution provides in the Declaration of Principles and State Policies that 
the Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State. Yet, 
this avowed policy and principle is sometimes violated by the elements of the Armed 
Forces to the dismay of a frightened public. Rather than the gallant knights in the 
shining armour, soldiers are thus perceived as the villains or the enemies of the people. 
This image is strengthened every time there are alleged abuses of civilian rights 
by the military. Ironically, many of these atrocities being the result of simple language 
and cultural misunderstandings between the soldiers and the locals, could easily be 
avoided. But then, owing to the inadequate orientation of soldiers, conflicts such as 
these remain common in areas where cultural communities are affected. Many soldiers 
being unaware of local customs tend to frighten and offend the tribal populace. 
This bill seeks to minimize if not prevent any military-tribal conflict that might 
occur due to cultural and language differences, by requiring every officer and enlisted 
personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to undergo orientation course on the 
culture, language or dialect, way of living, habits and tradition of cultural communities 
living in the areas where they might be deployed or posted. 
Additionally, the orientation course shall emphasize the re-orientation of soldiers’ 
attitudes about their countrymen, their job as peace-makers instead of fighters; raising 
the self-esteem and morale of the soldiers by making them aware of the important role 
they play in the attainment of national security and enabling them to interact more 
humanely and civilly with the people in the country sides. 
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly urged. 
EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
"04 JLW 30 
1 
SENATE QYty9 
S. B.'No. t ~ e  
I 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING EVERY OFFICER AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED 
FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES TO UNDERGO AN ORIENTATION COURSE ON 
THE CULTURE, LANGUAGE, DIALECT, WAY OF LIVING, HABIT, TRADITION AND 
THE LIKE OF THE CULTURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE DEPLOYED OR 
TO BE POSTED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. 
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the Formed Forces of the 
Philippines (AFP) shall require every officer and enlisted personnel, prior to deployment 
to an area dominated by a cultural community or group to undergo an intensive 
orientation course on the culture, language, dialect, way of living, habits, traditions and 
the like of the cultural community living in that area. 
An area is considered dominated by a cultural community when they consist of 
more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total population. 
SECTION. 
2. The orientation course shall in addition to the matters mentioned 
in Section 1, emphasize the re-orientation of soldiers' attitudes about their duties and 
responsibilities toward their countrymen, their job as peace-makers instead of fighters; 
raise the self-esteem and morale of the soldiers by making them aware of the important 
role they play in the attainment of national security and enable them to interact more 
humanely and civilly with the public. 
SEC. 3. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, in coordination with other 
government agencies, shall be primarily responsible for formulating the necessary 
orientation module. 
The Department of Education, Office of Northern Cultural 
Communities (ONCC), 
Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA), Office of Southern Cultural 
Communities (OSCC) and other similar agencies shall render assistance to the Armed 
Forces of the Philippines (AFP). 


SEC. 4. The AFP shall come out with a general directive implementing the 
orientation course within sixty (60) days after effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 5. The AFP may deploy troops in areas dominated by cultural 
communities without going through the required orientation course in cases of 
emergency: Provided, That after the emergency has subsided and as soon as the 
situation permits the said troops shall undergo the required orientation course. 
A situation is considered an “emergency” when in the judgment of the AFP 
Command there is a possibility of widespread violence creating chaos and civil strife 
endangering life, property, the normal operations of the government and the 
enforcement of laws, or when there is an actual existing violence requiring instant 
military presence in the area to reinstate peace and order. 
SEC. 6. Any officer in the AFP who orders the deployment of any soldier or 
group of soldiers to be deployed without undergoing the required orientation course as 
provided under this Act shall be punished for dereliction of duty in accordance with the 
Revised Penal Code. 
Any soldier or group soldiers who knowingly and/or voluntarily allows himself or 
themselves to be deployed without undergoing the required orientation course shall also 
be punished for dereliction of duty in accordance with the Revised Penal Code. 
SEC. 7. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any available 
funds in the National Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the funds necessary for the 
effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 8. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which 
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,