Republic of the Whilippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8529
HOUSE BILL NO. _"*

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F, VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
TO COMBAT ABUSE AND INCREASE PENALTIES FOR CRIMES AGAINST
SENIORS

The Constitution, Article Il, Section 5, provides:
The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and
property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the
enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.

Older victims of violent crime are almost twice as likely than younger victims to be
abused, robbed, or assaulted at or in their own homes.

As the number of older Filipinos is growing both numerically and proportionally in the
country, this bill seeks to develop strategies for preventing and punishing crimes that

target or otherwise disproportionately affect seniors by collecting appropriate data to
measure the extent of crimes committed against seniors and determine the extent of

domestic and elder abuse of seniors.
LUIS RAYMI RAY” UY FUERTE, JR.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 8529

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
TO COMBAT ABUSE AND INCREASE PENALTIES FOR CRIMES AGAINST
SENIORS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Senior's Safety Act.”

SECTION 2. Purpose. — The purpose of this Act is to develop strategies for preventing
and punishing crimes that target or otherwise disproportionately affect seniors by
collecting appropriate data to measure the extent of crimes committed against seniors
and determine the extent of domestic and elder abuse of seniors.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purpose of this Act, the term :

(A) “Crime” means any criminal offense under the Penal Code and special laws; and
(B) “Senior” means an individual who is more than fifty five (55) years of age.

SECTION 4. Study of Crimes against Seniors. -

(A) In General. - The Secretary of Justice shall conduct a study relating to crimes
against seniors in order to assist in developing new strategies to prevent and otherwise
reduce the incidence of those crimes.

(B) Issues Addressed. — The study conducted under this section shall include an analysis
of —
(1) The nature and type of crimes perpetrated against seniors, with special focus
on-
(a) The most common types of crimes that affect seniors;


(b) The nature and extent of elder abuse inflicted upon seniors;
(c) The nature and extent of health care fraud and abuse targeting seniors;
(2) The risk factors associated with seniors who have been victimized;
(3) The manner in which the criminal justice systems respond to crimes against
seniors;
(4) The feasibility of establishing and maintaining a centralized computer database
on the incidence of crimes against seniors that will promote the uniform identification
and reporting of such crimes;
(6) Crimes targeting or disproportionately affecting seniors;
(6) Crime risk factors for seniors, including the times and locations at which crimes
victimizing seniors are most likely to occur,
(7) Specific characteristics of the victims of crimes who are seniors, including age,
gender, race or ethnicity and socio-economic status;
(8) The nature and extent of crimes targeting seniors, such as health care fraud; and
(9) Other effective ways to prevent or reduce the occurrence of crimes against
seniors.

(C) Report. — Not later than eighteen (18) months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Justice shall submit to the House of Representatives and the Senate a
report describing the results of the study under this section.

SECTION 5. Increased Penalties Based on the Age of the Victim. - The Department of
Justice shi

(A) Review existing sentencing guidelines and recommend the possibility of increased
penalties for persons convicted of offenses in which the victim was a senior in
appropriate circumstances, given the serious economic and physical harms associated
with criminal activity targeted at seniors due to their particular vulnerability;

(8) Consult with individuals or groups representing seniors, law enforcement agencies,
victims organizations, and the judiciary, as part of the review described in this section;

(C) Account for any aggravating or mitigating circumstances that may justify exceptions
in order to provide sentencing enhancements;

Not later than one (1) year after the promulgation of this Act, the department shall submit
to Congress a report on issues relating to the age of crime victims, which shall include
any recommendations of the department relating to any revision or modification of
penalty levels, including statutory penalty, for offenses involving seniors.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision shall remain valid and
subsisting.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. -— Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulations contrary to or


inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,