FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, director of the National Center for Disease Prevention and 
Control of the Department of Health, said that the Philippines at present ranked 6th among 
countries with highest reported incidents of rabies in the world. Although this is an improvement 
from its 3rd position in 2000, still, according to statistics 350 to 400 Filipinos die because of 
rabies annually. This number is unacceptable since rabies is a neglected disease that is 100 
percent fatal but 100 percent preventable. 
There already are several measures to prevent the spread of the disease such as the 
Anti-rabies Act of 2007 (Republic Act 9482), which states that dogs must be vaccinated annually 
and registered with the local government units. It also prohibits pet owners from allowing their 
dogs to roam outside their house. However, none so far focuses on responsible ownership of 
dogs. 
This bill subjects the owner of the dog to damages. In doing so, it would encourage dog 
owners to act responsibly in taking their dogs out in public and in allowing interactions between 
their dogs and people on their property. This will reduce the number of serious injuries resulting 
from dog bites, and it will also prevent the spread of rabies. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
-. . 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
l:J(;'f 1; 
, I :  '-, 
.! 
Second Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
IN RELATION TO THE LIABILITY OF OWNERS FOR DOG BITES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representutives of the Philippines in Congress 
assern bled: 
SECTION 1. Liability of owner for dog bites. The owner of any dog is liable for 
damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place, or lawfidly in a 
private place, including the property of the owner of such dog. A person is lawfully upon the 
private property of such owner when such person is on such property in the performance of any 
duty imposed upon him by law, or when he or she is on such property upon the invitation, 
express or implied, of the owner. 
SECTION 2. Exceptions. Nothing in this Act shall authorize the bringing of an action 
against any government entity or instrumentality using a dog in military or police work if the bite 
or bites occurred while the dog was defending itself from an annoying, harassing or provoking 
act, or assisting an employee of the entity or locality in any of the following: 
(A) In the apprehension or holding of a suspect where the employee has a reasonable 
suspicion of the suspect's involvement in criminal activity; 
(B) In the investigation of a crime or a possible crime; 
(C) In the search for Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential 
Chemicals; 
(D) In the execution of a warrant; 
(E) In the deEense of a peace officer or another person. 
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SECTION 3. Exception to Section 2. Section two of this Act shall not apply in any 
case where the person who sustained the bite or bites was not a party to, nor suspected to be a 
party in, the act or acts that prompted the use of the dog in the military or police work. The 
owner of the dog shall not be liable if the dog was coming to the aid or defense of a person 
during the commission or attempted commission of a crime or offense upon the owner or 
custodian or upon the property of the owner or custodian of the dog. 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly. 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 6. EfSectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in the Oficiul Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation, 
Approved, 
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