Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 8505, otherwise known as 
the "Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998" through the provision of rape 
and sexual assault kits in every police precinct throughout the country. 
The rape and sexual assault kits will be used by medical personnel for gathering and 
preserving physical evidence to aid the criminal investigation and prosecution of a 
suspected assailant. Their selection, procurement, distribution, and proper handling 
and storage, will be regulated by the PNP and the Department of Health (DOH).   
Witness testimonies will never have to be the sole piece of evidence in the victim’s 
favor since most of the time it is only the rape victim who can competently testify about 
the horrendous act itself 
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
May 22, 2023
11:39 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTION 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8505, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE "RAPE VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ACT OF 1998", BY 
MANDATING THE AVAILABILITY OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS IN IN 
EVERY POLICE PRECINCT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE IMMEDIATE MEDICAL 
OR PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF VICTIMS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8505, otherwise known as the "Rape Victim 
Assistance and Protection Act of 1998", is hereby amended to read as follows:  
"Section 4. Duty of the Police Officer. - Upon receipt by the police of the 
complaint for rape, it shall be the duty of the police officer to: 
(a)
Immediately refer the case to the prosecutor for inquest/investigation if
the accused is detained; otherwise, the rules of court shall apply;
(b)
Arrange for counselling and medical services for the offended party; and
(c)
Immediately make a report on the action taken.
It shall be the duty of the police officer or the examining physician, who must 
be of the same gender as the offended party, to ensure that only persons 
expressly authorized by the offended party shall be allowed inside the room 
where the investigation or medical or physical examination is being conducted. 
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For this purpose, a women's desk must be established in every police precinct 
throughout the country to provide a police woman to conduct investigation of 
complaints of women rape victims. In the same manner, the preliminary 
investigation proper or inquest of women rape victims must be assigned to 
female prosecutor or prosecutors after the police shall have endorsed all the 
pertinent papers thereof to the same office. 
 
EVERY POLICE PRECINCT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY MUST BE 
PROVIDED WITH RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS IN SUFFICIENT 
NUMBERS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE IMMEDIATE MEDICAL OR 
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE VICTIM BY THE EXAMINING 
PHYSICIAN WHENEVER NECESSARY. THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL 
POUCE (PNP), IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 
(DOH), SHALL SET THE REGULATIONS FOR THE SELECTION, 
PROCUREMENT, DISTRIBUTION, AND PROPER HANDLING AND 
STORAGE OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS." 
 
Sec. 2. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 3. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act, or the application 
thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the 
remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby. 
 
 
Sec. 4. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.  
 
Approved,