1 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1068 
Introduced by Rep. MARIA RACHEL J. ARENAS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution declares that the Philippines is a democratic 
and republican state in which sovereignty resides in the People and all governmental 
emanates therefrom; while Article II, Section 7 of the Constitution requires the Philippines 
to pursue an independent foreign policy, where the paramount consideration in foreign 
relations shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right 
to self-determination. Together, these provisions affirm the external sovereignty of the 
Philippine state, exercised by the people, their duly elected representatives, and public 
agencies and officers for the common good of the nation.  
Foreign interference, foreign malign influence, and foreign covert influence pose 
significant threats to this sovereignty, by facilitating the deception, manipulation or 
coercion of the sovereign Filipino people and their duly elected representatives; or by 
weakening the capability of public agencies and officers to carry out governmental acts. 
Although these problems are by no means new, contemporary developments such as the 
increase of international commerce, the resurgence of geopolitical competition, and, 
especially, the development of new technologies and media of social communication have 
both increased the number of ways they can affect the Philippine body politic and 
enhanced the magnitude of their effect. As noted in a landmark 2024 study of the Ateneo 
July 2, 2025
8:44 am


2 
Policy Center concerning foreign interference activities in the Philippines1, “the most likely 
targets of malign tactics are the Philippines’ electoral, legislative, and sub-national 
governance processes”, while “[t]country’s current geopolitical context and domestic 
vulnerabilities render it likely susceptible to these unique forms of statecraft.” 
Therefore, it is necessary to enact a comprehensive legal framework that would 
enable the government to effectively address foreign interference, foreign malign 
influence, and foreign covert influence and thus defend the external sovereignty of the 
Philippines. such a legal framework should include not only penalties for foreign 
interference, foreign malign influence, and foreign covert influence, but also measures to 
increase the ability of the Filipino people to resist deception, manipulation or coercion, 
and measures to reduce the vectors by which such deception, manipulation or coercion 
may be carried out. Such a framework should take into account existing laws such as 
Batas Pambansa Blg. 39 and Republic Act No. 6713, while building on them in light of 
new circumstances and increased challenges. 
At the same time, that legal framework should be nuanced and calibrated to protect 
the natural rights and civil liberties of the People, including their Constitutionally-
guaranteed freedom to express and publish their opinions, even those opinions that 
disagree with the positions of the government. It should also protect legitimate foreign 
influence activities that promote the Constitutionally-recognized goals of international 
amity and cooperation; and it should protect those sovereign and diplomatic immunities 
established under international convention and customs. As noted in the same 2024 study 
of the Ateneo Policy Center, a law without these calibrations and protections, might 
adversely affect legitimate activities such as development work, negatively impact 
relations with international organizations, and fall afoul of the Constitution. 2  
Therefore, this proposed law seeks to establish robust measures to protect 
external sovereignty against foreign interference, foreign malign influence, and foreign 
covert influence, while establishing substantive and procedural safeguards against the 
abuse of those measures. Most fundamentally, it makes a careful distinction between 
foreign interference, which involves measures that go beyond mere communication and 
are hence not covered by Constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech; and foreign 
influence, which involves activities limited to communication, and whose derogation would 
require a clear and present danger of a substantive danger. As to the latter, the proposed 
law requires only transparency for non-malicious foreign influence, punishes as foreign 
malign influence only such communications with clear proof of malice, and imposes a 
prior notice requirement for the imposition of penalties.  
1 Ong, Rommel Jude et al., Strengthening Democratic Governance: Countering Malign Foreign Influence and 
Interference in the Philippines, 04 December 2024. Available online at 
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5086709, published online on 14 February 2025. 
2 Ong, Rommel Jude et al., Strengthening Democratic Governance: Countering Malign Foreign Influence and 
Interference in the Philippines, 04 December 2024. Available online at 
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5086709, published online on 14 February 2025. 


3 
The proposed law would also require a clearance from the Department of Foreign 
Affairs for the execution of foreign arrangements, to ensure their alignment with national 
security and foreign policy, following the model of foreign jurisdictions like Australia which 
share both the Philippines’ security concerns and its democratic institutions. This controls 
one vector of foreign influence without outright prohibiting or punishing legitimate national 
or subnational agency relations with foreign entities. Furthermore, the bill mandates the 
implementation of education campaigns for the general public and capacity-building for 
government officers, particularly those in sensitive positions, to enhance their capacity to 
resist and counter foreign interference and malign influence operations effectively. It also 
vests the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Foreign Affairs with the 
mandate and structures to implement its provisions, in coordination with the National 
Intelligence Coordinating Agency. 
In sum, the proposed law provides a robust and detailed framework to protect the 
sovereignty of the Filipino people and nation, while protecting the values which give 
meaning and purpose to that sovereignty, in accordance with natural, Constitutional, and 
international law. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MARIA RACHEL J. ARENAS 
Representative 
3rd District of the Province of Pangasinan 


4 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1068 
Introduced by Representative MARIA RACHEL J. ARENAS 
AN ACT  
TO REGULATE FOREIGN INFLUENCE AND ADDRESS COVERT, UNDESIRABLE, 
AND MALIGN FOREIGN INFLUENCE AND FOREIGN INTERFERENCE, FOR THIS 
PURPOSE INSTITUTING RESILIENCY MEASURES AND INSTITUTIONAL 
REFORMS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Chapter I.  
Introductory Provisions 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Foreign Influence and 
1 
Interference Act of 2025”. 
2 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. –  It is the policy and purpose of the Philippines to 
3 
defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security: to pursue an 
4 
independent foreign policy consistent with its international obligations and its commitment 
5 
to the rules-based order; and to uphold and protect the decisional autonomy and self-
6 
determination of the Filipino People and their duly elected representatives. 
7 
To this end, this Act aims to ensure that all foreign influence activities directed at the 
8 
Filipino People and their duly elected representatives are transparent and made in good 
9 
faith and to effectively address foreign or foreign-supported political activities that 
10 
constitute malign and undesirable influence, or that rise to the level of interference, within 
11 
the framework of the Constitution and the rule of law, in a manner that guarantees the 
12 


 
5 
protection of natural rights and civil liberties of all persons, as well as the political rights 
1 
of the Filipino People. 
2 
 
Chapter II.  
3 
Definitions  
4 
 
 
SEC. 3. Definition of Foreigner. – Foreigner shall mean: 
5 
 
a. A natural person who is not a Philippine citizen; 
6 
b. An association or group of natural persons, not organized or incorporated under 
7 
Philippines law, when more than 50% of the members are natural persons who 
8 
are not Philippine citizens, or  
9 
c. A stock corporation, not organized or incorporated under Philippine law, when 
10 
more than 50% of the stock is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by 
11 
natural persons who are not Philippine citizens. 
12 
 
 
SEC. 4. Definition of Foreign Principal. – A Foreign Principal shall refer to a 
13 
foreigner as defined under the preceding Section, or an entity or group controlled by 
14 
foreigners, including: 
15 
 
a. A foreign government, or a territorial unit, organ, agency, or instrumentality of a 
16 
foreign government, or an officer of a foreign government, or any other entity 
17 
whose act is proven to be directed or controlled by a foreign government, or any 
18 
other entity whose act is attributed to a foreign government under the customary 
19 
law of state responsibility; provided that, an entity that functions as a 
20 
government over a territory, or any other entity that exercises constituent 
21 
government functions, whether or not is recognized by the Government of the 
22 
Philippines as a state or government, shall be deemed a foreign government; 
23 
b. A foreign political party or political organization; 
24 
c. A foreign armed group, including a group labeled as a liberation movement or 
25 
rebel group;  
26 
d. A public international organization, inter-governmental organization, or coalition 
27 
of governments; and 
28 
e. A foreign or transnational corporation, organization, association, or joint venture, 
29 
whether or not organized for political ends, that engages in political influence 
30 
activities directly or through its agents. 
31 
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, religious, charitable, or educational institutions, 
32 
organizations or associations, international assistance or development agencies, and 
33 
international relief organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross 
34 
shall not be considered Foreign Principals under this Act unless they engage in partisan 
35 
political activity in the Philippines or directed at Filipinos. 
36 
 
 


 
6 
 
 
SEC. 5. Definition of Foreign Influence Activity. – 
1 
 
1. Foreign influence activity refers to any act of oral, written, video, audio, or other 
2 
communication of a verbal, linguistic, or symbolic character that seeks or 
3 
reasonably tends to prevail upon, indoctrinate, convert, induce, persuade, or 
4 
in any other way influence any agency or official of the Philippine Government, 
5 
or any section of the public within the Philippines concerning the domestic or 
6 
foreign policies of the Philippines, or for the political or public interests, policies, 
7 
or relations of a foreign principal. Foreign influence activity includes lobbying 
8 
and political propaganda. 
9 
 
2. The foreign influence activity covered under this Act does not include 
10 
representation or assistance given by legal counsel to their client in trials, 
11 
investigations, or inquiries, including in hearings in aid of legislation; or the 
12 
ordinary conduct of foreign relations activity by diplomatic officers. 
13 
 
 
SEC. 6. Definition of Malign Foreign Influence Activity. – 
14 
 
For the purpose of this Act, malign foreign influence activity shall mean foreign influence 
15 
activity on behalf of a foreign principal where the following two elements are present: 
16 
 
1. It is carried out for the malign purpose of manipulating, disrupting, infiltrating, 
17 
obstructing, or controlling the internal or external policies or affairs of the 
18 
Philippines; and  
19 
 
2. It is characterized by any of the following:  
20 
 
a. The activity involves the communication of false information; or 
21 
b. The activity consists of the communication of any classified information 
22 
unless the information was previously declassified or was previously 
23 
broadcast to the public by a person who is not connected to the person 
24 
carrying out the activity or her/his foreign principal; or 
25 
c. The activity involves the communication of any highly sensitive or 
26 
privileged information, unless the information was previously broadcast 
27 
to the public by a person who is not connected to the person carrying out 
28 
the activity or her/his foreign principal; or 
29 
d. The activity involves the communication of information that is treated as 
30 
sensitive or confidential under the Digital Privacy Act or other laws and 
31 
regulations, or the unauthorized disclosure of identifiable private 
32 
information or doxxing of any person unless the information was 
33 
previously broadcast to the public by a person who is not connected to 
34 
the person carrying out the activity or her/his foreign principal; 
35 


 
7 
e. The activity involves the communication of statements or utterances that 
1 
promote disobedience, whether violent or civil, to the Constitution, laws, 
2 
administrative rules, or judicial decisions of the Philippines; provided that, 
3 
statements or utterances that favor or oppose amendment, revision, 
4 
reform, or change in the Constitution, laws, administrative rules, or 
5 
judicial decisions by lawful means shall not be deemed malign;  
6 
f. The activity involves the communication of ideas, positions, or ideologies 
7 
contrary to the State Principles and Policies contained in Article II of the 
8 
Constitution; or 
9 
g. The activity involves communicating statements or utterances that 
10 
advocate, advise, instigate, or promote social, political, religious, or 
11 
ideological dissent, disorder, civil riot, or conflict involving the use of force 
12 
or the overthrow of the government of the Republic of the Philippines. 
13 
 
There shall be a rebuttable presumption of malign purpose above upon presentation of 
14 
proof that: 
15 
 
3. The influence activity is manipulating, disrupting, infiltrating, obstructing, or 
16 
controlling the internal or external policies or affairs of the Philippines, or  
17 
3. There is a clear and present danger that the influence activity will manipulate, 
18 
disrupt, infiltrate, obstruct, or control the internal or external policies or affairs of 
19 
the Philippines; or 
20 
3. The influence activity was carried out for a Foreign Principal of Concern; 
21 
provided that, the person carrying out the influence activity must have been 
22 
previously informed in writing or through publication that the foreign principal 
23 
that s/he is acting for is a Foreign Principal of Concern. 
24 
 
 
SEC. 7. Definition of Foreign Interference Activity. –  Foreign interference activity 
25 
refers to any activity beyond mere communication of a verbal, linguistic, or symbolic 
26 
character, such as activities using physical, mechanical, electronic, economic, financial, 
27 
organization, or juridical means, that seeks or reasonably tends to manipulate, disrupt, 
28 
infiltrate, obstruct, or control the internal or external policies or affairs of the Philippines. 
29 
 
 
SEC. 8. Definition of Foreign Arrangement. – 
30 
 
1. A foreign arrangement refers to any arrangement, agreement, contract, 
31 
understanding, or undertaking, whether or not in writing, whether or not it is 
32 
legally binding, between a foreign principal as defined under this Act and—: 
33 
 
a. An agency or instrumentality of the Philippine Government, including 
34 
a regional government, a local government unit, a government-
35 
owned or controlled corporation, or a state university or college;  
36 
b. A political party or other political organization; 
37 


 
8 
c. A private corporation, association, or entity that operates, owns, or 
1 
controls critical infrastructure, or that operates an educational 
2 
institution, media organization, or advertising agency, or that 
3 
otherwise provides goods or services relevant to the national 
4 
sovereignty, territorial jurisdiction, national security, public order, or 
5 
self-determination of the Philippines, or that has access to classified, 
6 
sensitive or privileged information relevant to the national 
7 
sovereignty, territorial jurisdiction, national security, public order, or 
8 
self-determination of the Philippines. 
9 
 
2. An arrangement, agreement, contract, understanding, or undertaking entered 
10 
into by any party, that does not fall under the definition of a foreign arrangement 
11 
in the preceding paragraph but is executed to implement the foreign 
12 
arrangement, or which is made as a consequence of the foreign arrangement, 
13 
shall be referred to as a subsidiary arrangement under this Act. 
14 
 
 
SEC. 9. Definition of a Person with Sensitive Access. – A Person with Sensitive 
15 
Access shall mean any public officer who has security clearance to access or handle 
16 
information or matter classified as Secret or Top Secret; and any other person, including 
17 
a contractor or consultant, who otherwise has access to information or matter classified 
18 
as Secret or Top Secret or to highly sensitive information or matter, including a member 
19 
of a confidential staff of a public officer with security clearance to access information or 
20 
matter classified as Secret or Top Secret. 
21 
 
 
SEC. 10. Definition of Classified and Sensitive Matter and Information. – 
22 
 
1. For the purpose of this Act, classified matter shall mean printed, written, or 
23 
digital documents, drawn or painted matter, sound recordings, photographs, 
24 
films, equipment, projects, books, reports, articles, notes, letters, drawings, 
25 
sketches, plans, photographs, recordings, machinery, models, apparatus, 
26 
devices, and all other products or substances, whether of physical, digital or 
27 
other nature, including information transmitted orally, which has been 
28 
classified by the head of a department or by any other person authorized to 
29 
classify a matter, as: 
30 
 
a. Top Secret, applicable to information or matter, the unauthorized 
31 
disclosure of which would cause exceptionally grave damage to the 
32 
nation, politically, economically, or from a securing aspect;  
33 
b. Secret, applicable to information or matter the unauthorized 
34 
disclosure of which would endanger national security, cause serious 
35 
injury to the interest or prestige of the nation or any governmental 
36 
activity, or would be of great advantage to a foreign country; 
37 
c. Confidential, applicable to information or matter the unauthorized 
38 
disclosure of which, while not endangering the national security, 
39 


 
9 
would be prejudicial to the interest or prestige of the nation or any 
1 
government activity, or would cause administrative embarrassment 
2 
or unwarranted injury to an individual or would be of advantage to a 
3 
foreign nation; or 
4 
d. Restricted, applicable to information or matter which requires special 
5 
protection other than that determined to be Top Secret, Secret, or 
6 
Confidential, including compilations of data or items which 
7 
individually may be unclassified but which in the aggregate warrant a 
8 
classification. 
9 
 
2. For the purpose of this Act, highly sensitive information or matter shall mean 
10 
printed, written, or digital documents, drawn or painted matter, sound 
11 
recordings, photographs, films, equipment, projects, books, reports, articles, 
12 
notes, letters, drawings, sketches, plans, photographs, recordings, machinery, 
13 
models, apparatus, devices, and all other products or substances, whether of 
14 
physical, digital or other nature, including information transmitted orally, which 
15 
has not yet been classified as Top Secret or Secret but may be classifiable as 
16 
such. 
17 
 
 
SEC. 11. Definition of a Foreign Principal of Concern. – A foreign principal of 
18 
concern shall mean any of the following: 
19 
 
a. A foreign government or other foreign principal that has declared war against 
20 
the Philippines, or against which the Philippines has declared the existence of 
21 
war, or that has seized any part of the Philippine territory using armed force, 
22 
or that is waging armed conflict against the Philippines; 
23 
b. A foreign government or other foreign principal that conducts or supports or 
24 
sponsors, or has declared its intent to conduct or support or sponsor, acts 
25 
contrary to the national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security, public 
26 
order, or self-determination of the Philippines, or publishes or implements 
27 
policies contrary to the national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national 
28 
security, public order, or self-determination of the Philippines; or 
29 
c. A foreign government or other foreign principal that conducts or supports or 
30 
sponsors, or publicly declares its intent to conduct or support or sponsors acts 
31 
that constitute international crimes, transnational crimes, acts of terrorism, or 
32 
acts contrary to public international law. 
33 
 
 
SEC. 12. Other Definitions. – The following terms are defined thereunder for the 
34 
purpose of this Act.  
35 
 
a. “Foreign Agent” shall refer to any person who falls under the definition of a 
36 
foreign agent under Batas Pambansa Blg. 39.  
37 
b. “Lobbying” refers to the act of meeting or communicating with a public officer, 
38 
an agency or instrumentality of the Government, a political party or 
39 


 
10 
organization, or a candidate or nominee in an election, to influence any 
1 
process, decision, or outcome, or to represent the interests of any person that 
2 
process, decision or outcome;  
3 
c. “National Bureau of Investigation” shall mean the agency renamed under 
4 
Executive Order No. 94, Series of 1947, which shall hereinafter be referred to 
5 
as “NBI”; 
6 
d. “National Intelligence Coordinating Agency” shall mean the agency 
7 
established under Executive Order No. 246, Series of 1987, which shall 
8 
hereinafter be referred to as “NICA”. 
9 
e. "Political propaganda" refers to any oral, visual, graphic, written, pictorial, or 
10 
other communication or expression that seeks in any reasonable degree to 
11 
prevail upon, indoctrinate, convert, induce, or in any other way influence a 
12 
person or any section of the public within the Philippines with respect to the 
13 
political or public interests, policies, or relations of a Foreign Principal or with 
14 
respect to the foreign policies of the Philippines. 
15 
 
 
Chapter III.  
16 
Protective Measures in Relation to General Foreign Influence Activity 
17 
 
Subchapter III-A.  
18 
Protective Measures Against Covert Foreign Influence 
19 
 
 
SEC. 13. Modification of Agency to Administer Batas Pambansa Blg. 39. – The 
20 
provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 39 are hereby amended to change all references to 
21 
the Minister of Justice into references to the National Bureau of Investigation. 
22 
 
 
SEC. 14. Ground to Disallow or Cancel Registration under Batas Pambansa 
23 
Blg. 39. – A new Section 5-A is hereby intercalated into Batas Pambansa Blg. 39 that will 
24 
state as follows: 
25 
 
“Section 5-A. Ground to Disallow or Cancel Registration 
26 
 
“1. After due investigation with notice and hearing, the National 
27 
Bureau of Investigation shall reject the registration of a foreign 
28 
agent, or shall cancel the same, in the following cases: 
29 
 
a. When the registrant is a public officer or employee; 
30 
b. When the registrant is a former public officer or employee, 
31 
with access to information that is classified Secret or Top 
32 
Secret, up to the sixth year after the date of her/his 
33 
resignation or separation from the position that gave 
34 
her/him such access, unless the National Intelligence 
35 


 
11 
Coordinating Agency has given her/him clearance to act as 
1 
a foreign agent; 
2 
c. When the registrant is a supplier to the Philippine 
3 
Government of goods or services, under a procurement 
4 
contract, contract of service, contract of consultancy, legal 
5 
retainer, or otherwise, and by reason thereof has access to 
6 
information that is classified Secret or Top Secret, up to the 
7 
third year after the termination of the contract that gave 
8 
her/him such access, without prejudice to such reasonable 
9 
safeguards or ethical wall as may be provided in the rules 
10 
of the NBI, unless the National Intelligence Coordinating 
11 
Agency has given her/him clearance to act as a foreign 
12 
agent;  
13 
d. When the registrant, for any other reason, has regular 
14 
access to information about the Philippine Government that 
15 
is classified Secret or Top Secret, without prejudice to such 
16 
reasonable safeguards or ethical guardrails as may be 
17 
provided in the rules of the NBI, unless the National 
18 
Intelligence Coordinating Agency has given her/him 
19 
clearance to act as a foreign agent; 
20 
e. When the registration would be otherwise inimical to the 
21 
national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national self-
22 
determination of the Philippines  
23 
 
“2. The registrant may refute the reasons in a written protest, or appeal the 
24 
decision to the Secretary of Justice, within fifteen (15) days from receipt of 
25 
the notice. If the protest or appeal is denied, the subject shall thereafter be 
26 
forbidden to act as a foreign agent” 
27 
 
 
SEC. 15. Termination of Registration under Batas Pambansa Blg. 39. – A new 
28 
Section 9-A is hereby intercalated into Batas Pambansa Blg. 39 that will state as follows: 
29 
 
“Section 9-A. Termination of Registration 
30 
 
“1. Any person who has ceased to act or be engaged to act as a foreign 
31 
agent may file a deregistration statement with the NBI not less than 
32 
fifteen (15) days and not more than sixty (60) days after the date it has 
33 
ceased to act or be engaged to act as a Political Agent for a Foreign 
34 
Principal 
35 
 
“The deregistration statement shall be under oath and shall state the 
36 
erstwhile foreign agent’s registry number, the fact that it has ceased to 
37 
act or be engaged to act as a foreign agent, and the date of such 
38 
cessation. A copy of documents evidencing such termination, such as 
39 


 
12 
a contract document showing the end date of the engagement, shall be 
1 
attached to the statement.  
2 
 
“Within thirty (30) days from the filing of a deregistration statement, the 
3 
NBI shall issue to the registrant a Certificate of Deregistration as a 
4 
Foreign Agent and shall remove the registrant from the registry. 
5 
However, if the NBI determines, after investigation, that the registrant 
6 
has continued to act as a foreign agent after the date specified in the 
7 
previous paragraph, the NBI shall, within thirty (30) days from the filing 
8 
of a deregistration statement, issue a notice to the registrant stating that 
9 
it declines to issue the Certificate of Deregistration and to remove the 
10 
registrant from the registry, and explaining the reasons therefor. The 
11 
registrant may refute the reasons in a written protest, or appeal the 
12 
decision to the Secretary of Justice, within fifteen (15) days from receipt 
13 
of the notice.  
14 
 
2. The NBI may issue a notice canceling the Certificate of Registration of a 
15 
Political Agent for a Foreign Principal and explaining the reasons therefor, if it 
16 
determines, after investigation, that any bases to deny registration under this 
17 
law has become applicable to the registrant, or that the registrant has 
18 
submitted any false statement, or that the registrant has failed to comply with 
19 
the Sections 5 and 9 of this law without excusable cause. The registrant may 
20 
refute the reasons in a written protest, or appeal the decision to the Secretary 
21 
of Justice, within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the notice. 
22 
 
 
SEC. 16. Transparency Requirement during Influence Activities. – 
23 
 
1. Any person who conducts lobbying or political influence activity for a Foreign 
24 
Principal must expressly disclose at the beginning of every communication, 
25 
meeting, media, exchange, or other political influence activity for that Foreign 
26 
Principal, in a language understandable to the audience, conversation partner, or 
27 
consumer of the political influence activity,  
28 
 
a. The fact that s/he is carrying out political influence activity for a Foreign 
29 
Principal.  
30 
b. The name of her/his Foreign Principal,  
31 
c. The date and other details of her/his registration under Batas Pambansa 
32 
Blg. 39, and 
33 
d. The purpose of the communication, meeting, media, exchange, or other 
34 
political influence activity. 
35 
 
2. Every person who conducts lobbying or disseminates political propaganda or 
36 
carries out lobbying or political influence activity, whether or not it is doing the 
37 
same for a Foreign Principal, and who also directly or indirectly receives funding 
38 
or funding support in money or in kind from a Foreign Principal, must expressly 
39 


 
13 
disclose at the beginning of every communication, meeting, media, exchange, or 
1 
other political influence activity the fact that it has received such funding or 
2 
funding support from a Foreign Principal, and the name of the Foreign Principal. 
3 
 
3. If, after due investigation in coordination with the NICA, the NBI determines that 
4 
any person required to make a disclosure has failed to disclose under this 
5 
Section, it shall issue a Transparency Notice directed to the audience or 
6 
conversation partner, or consumer of the political influence activity, informing 
7 
them of the information required to have been disclosed under the preceding 
8 
paragraphs. 
9 
 
4. This Section shall not apply in the case of: 
10 
 
11 
a. Private and non-political activities in furtherance of the bona fide trade or 
12 
commerce of a Foreign Principal;  
13 
b. Activities in furtherance of bona fide charitable, religious, scholastic, 
14 
academic, artistic or scientific pursuits; 
15 
c. The legal representation of a Foreign Principal before any court or 
16 
government agency: Provided, legal representation in this instance does 
17 
not include attempts to influence or persuade government personnel or 
18 
officials other than in the course of their ordinary official business. 
19 
 
 
SEC. 17. Report on Foreign Funding or Funding Support. – 
20 
 
1. Any natural or juridical person or other entity that conducts lobbying or 
21 
disseminates political propaganda in the interests of another natural or juridical 
22 
person or other entity, and who directly or indirectly receives funding or funding 
23 
support in money or in kind from a Foreign Principal, of whatever amount, even 
24 
if such funding or funding support is not for the purpose of conducting political 
25 
influence activities for the Foreign Principal, must submit a verified report to the 
26 
NBI setting out the following: 
27 
 
a. The name of the Foreign Principal; 
28 
b. The amount or value of the funding or the amount or value obtained 
29 
through the funding support; 
30 
c. The purpose of the funding or funding support; 
31 
d. The date in which the funding or funding support was received, or the 
32 
period covered by the funding or funding support; 
33 
e. The name of the person(s) who received the funding or funding support, 
34 
which may be the person who regularly conducts lobbying; or 
35 
disseminates political propaganda, or a member of her/his family to the 
36 
fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or her/his business partner, 
37 
joint venture partner, a partner or associate in a professional partnership, 
38 
or secretary, or counsel, or de facto representative. 
39 
 


 
14 
 
 
 
2. For the purpose of this Section, 
1 
 
a. Receipt of funding shall include receipt of grants, gifts, donations, loans, 
2 
forbearance, or any other means by which the beneficial or nominal 
3 
ownership or possession of currency, credit, or their equivalents, or 
4 
tangible or intangible or moveable or immovable property, or the use or 
5 
occupancy thereof, is permanently or temporarily transferred to the 
6 
recipient; 
7 
b. Receipt of funding support shall include giving of a recommendation, 
8 
endorsement, letter of support, guarantee, surety, comfort letter, or other 
9 
written or unwritten act that does not in itself give funding but enables the 
10 
beneficiary to obtain funding as defined from other sources. 
11 
c. Indirect receipt of funding includes receipt by a member of the family of a 
12 
person covered under this Section to the fourth civil degree of 
13 
consanguinity or affinity, and receipt by their business partner, joint venture 
14 
partner, a partner or associate in a professional partnership, or secretary, 
15 
or counsel, or de facto representative. 
16 
 
3. The NBI shall maintain a register of persons who have been recipients of funding 
17 
from Foreign Principals, which shall be fully accessible to the intelligence and law 
18 
enforcement agencies at any time, and which shall be accessible to the public 
19 
under reasonable safeguards it may set. 
20 
 
 
SEC. 18. Prior Notification Requirement. – 
21 
 
1. No person shall be investigated or prosecuted for any violation of Batas 
22 
Pambansa Blg. 39 or the preceding Section 17 of this Act unless the NBI has 
23 
privately notified that person in writing of its failure to comply with the relevant 
24 
provision, and has instructed that person to make the necessary filing or 
25 
disclosure within thirty (30) days, and that person has culpably failed or refused 
26 
to comply with the instruction without excusable reason within thirty (30) days 
27 
from receipt of the communication. 
28 
 
2. Within thirty (30) days from receipt of the communication from the NBI under the 
29 
preceding paragraph, a person who received the written notification may protest 
30 
in writing the notification. If the NBI reiterates its notification, said person may 
31 
appeal to the Secretary of Justice. The protest and appeal shall toll the period 
32 
under the preceding paragraph. 
33 
 
 
 
 


 
15 
 
 
 
Subchapter III-B 
1 
Obligations of Persons with Sensitive Access in Relation to Foreign Influence 
2 
Activities 
3 
 
 
SEC. 19. Obligations for Persons with Sensitive Access During Meetings with 
4 
Foreign Agents. – 
5 
 
1. No Person with Sensitive Access may engage in any meeting or consultation 
6 
concerning or discussing any matter relating to the national security, national 
7 
sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national self-determination of the Philippines, 
8 
with a person who conducts lobbying or political influence activity for a Foreign 
9 
Principal, or otherwise falls under the definition of a foreign agent under Batas 
10 
Pambansa Blg. 39, without requiring evidence of registration as a foreign agent 
11 
under Batas Pambansa Blg. 39. 
12 
 
2. When a Person with Sensitive Access learns that a person s/he is meeting or 
13 
consulting for another purpose also intends to conduct lobbying or political 
14 
influence activity for a Foreign Principal, s/he must stop the meeting or 
15 
consultation and demand that a person s/he is meeting or consulting produce the 
16 
evidence of registration as a foreign agent under Batas Pambansa Blg. 39. 
17 
 
 
SEC. 20. Recording of Meetings. –  
18 
 
1. A Person with Sensitive Access is hereby permitted to make an audio, video, or 
19 
other record of any meeting or consultation or conversation s/he may have with 
20 
a person who conducts lobbying or political influence activity for a Foreign 
21 
Principal or otherwise falls under the definition of a foreign agent under Batas 
22 
Pambansa Blg. 39, or with any representative of a foreign power or other Foreign 
23 
Principal concerning or discussing any matter relating to the national security, 
24 
national sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national self-determination of the 
25 
Philippines. The making or possession of such record may be made without the 
26 
consent of everyone present at the meeting, notwithstanding the provisions of 
27 
laws on wiretapping and privacy, including Republic Act No. 4200 and Republic 
28 
Act No. 10173. 
29 
 
2. The record may be submitted only to the NICA, the NBI, the Department of 
30 
Foreign Affairs, and the lawful superiors of the Person with Sensitive Access; 
31 
provided that, in the case of any proceeding arising from or connected to the 
32 
meeting, the record may be submitted to the judicial, quasi-judicial, or 
33 
administrative tribunals or bodies with jurisdiction over the proceeding after due 
34 
measures have been taken to remove or otherwise secure its classified or 
35 


 
16 
sensitive content; provided further, that if the foreign agent or representative or 
1 
the Foreign Principal or any agent thereof publicizes the meeting or any record 
2 
thereof, including for the purpose of prejudicing the Philippines or the Person with 
3 
Sensitive Access, the Person with Sensitive Access may likewise publicize the 
4 
meeting or any record thereof as a countermeasure after all its classified or 
5 
sensitive content has been redacted by or under the supervision of the NICA. 
6 
 
 
SEC. 21. Submission of Contact Report. –  
7 
 
1.   Within seven (7) days after s/he engages in a meeting or consultation with a 
8 
foreign agent, or with any representative of a foreign power or other Foreign 
9 
Principal, if the meeting discussed or was concerned with any matter relating 
10 
to national security, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national self-
11 
determination, a Person with Sensitive Access must submit, by secure means 
12 
as appropriate, a written and signed Contact Report to the security officer of 
13 
her/his department or agency, or to the security officer of the department or 
14 
agency with which s/he has a contract or arrangements enabling access to 
15 
classified or other sensitive access or information, or to the head of such 
16 
department or agency if there is no security officer 
17 
 
2.  The Contact Report shall state the following: 
18 
 
a. The names of the foreign agents; 
19 
b. The evidence of their registration under Batas Pambansa Blg. 39; 
20 
c. The name of the foreign principal;  
21 
d. The purpose or subject of the meeting or consultation; 
22 
e. The date and place of the meeting or consultation; 
23 
f.  A summary of the discussion; and 
24 
g. Recommended steps, if any. 
25 
 
3. Said Contact Report shall be submitted together with the audio, video, or 
26 
other recording of the meeting, if any.  
27 
 
3. Copies of all Contact Reports submitted to the security officer or head of a 
28 
department or agency shall be transmitted, by secure means as appropriate, 
29 
to the NBI and the NICA within fifteen (15) days after the end of each month; 
30 
provided that, a Contact Report shall be sent by courier within seventy-two 
31 
(72) hours or sooner if it contains actionable information or other information 
32 
that requires immediate attention. 
33 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
17 
 
Chapter IV  
1 
Protective Measures against Malign Foreign Influence Activities 
2 
 
 
SEC. 22. Prohibition of Malign Foreign Influence Activities. –  
3 
 
1. No person may engage in malign foreign influence activity as defined under this 
4 
Act. 
5 
 
2. No person shall be investigated or prosecuted for the offense of engaging in 
6 
malign foreign influence activity under this Act unless: 
7 
 
a. S/he has been privately notified in writing by the NBI that s/he has made 
8 
communications that constitute malign foreign influence activity as defined 
9 
under this Act, with the instruction to take down the media or to cease the 
10 
series of communications constituting malign foreign influence activity under 
11 
this Act; and  
12 
b. S/he has either culpably refused to take down the media whose publication, 
13 
broadcast, or communication constitutes malign foreign influence activity 
14 
under this Act within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the communication 
15 
from the NBI; or has continued the series of communications constituting 
16 
malign foreign influence activity under this Act; or has resumed the series 
17 
of communications or re-published the media constituting malign foreign 
18 
influence activity; or has published media or made communications with 
19 
content substantially identical to that of the discontinued series of 
20 
communications or the media taken down. 
21 
 
3. Within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the communication from the NBI under 
22 
the preceding paragraph, a person who received the written notification may 
23 
contest or dispute in writing the characterization of media or communications as 
24 
malign; provided that, s/he must nonetheless take down the media whose 
25 
publication, broadcast, or communication was notified from the NBI, or must 
26 
cease the series of communications characterized as constituting malign foreign 
27 
influence activity under this Act, until such time that the NBI reverses its 
28 
characterization of the same. 
29 
 
 
SEC. 23. Malign Foreign Influence Activity by Person with Immunities. – When 
30 
the person who engages in malign foreign influence activity is a diplomatic officer or other 
31 
person with immunities and privileges under international law, s/he may be expelled as 
32 
Persona Non-Grata from the Philippines within seven (7) days after the Secretary of 
33 
Foreign Affairs finds, upon the recommendation of the NBI in coordination with the NICA, 
34 
that s/he has engaged in malign foreign influence activity. 
35 
 
 


 
18 
 
Chapter V.  
1 
Protective Measures Against Foreign Interference Activities  
2 
 
 
SEC. 24. Prohibition of Foreign Interference Activities. – No person shall, for or 
3 
on behalf of or under the direction of a Foreign Principal, engage in foreign interference 
4 
activities as defined in this Act. The following shall constitute interference activities: 
5 
 
a. Acts that interfere with, prevent, or oppose the exercise of the legal rights and 
6 
powers of the Philippines; 
7 
b. Exercise of law enforcement or other sovereign powers within Philippine territory 
8 
or jurisdiction, without the express written permission of the Philippine 
9 
Government;  
10 
c. Coercion, intimidation, harassment, or surveillance of persons within Philippine 
11 
territory or jurisdiction, whether or not such persons are nationals of or domiciled 
12 
in the Philippines;  
13 
d. Acts that constitute crimes against national security and the law of nations, 
14 
including espionage, or crimes against public order;  
15 
e. Hacking and other acts of electronic nature that interfere with the functioning, 
16 
integrity, or confidentiality of government or non-government systems;  
17 
f. Direct or indirect participation in any partisan or electoral activity, including: 
18 
1) Aiding any candidate or political party;  
19 
2) Aiding any person or any group engaged in or organized to engage in any 
20 
campaign effort for or against any candidate or political party or any effort 
21 
to affect the result of a plebiscite or referendum;  
22 
3) Taking part in or influencing in any manner any election, plebiscite, or 
23 
referendum; or  
24 
4) Contributing to or making any expenditure in connection with any election 
25 
campaign, partisan political activity, or effort to affect the result of a 
26 
plebiscite or referendum;  
27 
g. Organization or support of any group, including any association of students, 
28 
professionals, or other persons, that aims to directly or indirectly carry out the 
29 
activities under the preceding items of this Section; and 
30 
h. All other acts that are contrary to the national sovereignty, territorial integrity, 
31 
national security, public order, or self-determination of the Philippines. 
32 
 
 
SEC. 25. Foreign Interference by Person with Immunities. – When the person 
33 
who engages in foreign interference activities is a diplomatic officer or another person 
34 
with immunities and privileges under international law, s/he may be expelled as Persona 
35 
Non-Grata from the Philippines within forty-eight hours after the Secretary of Foreign 
36 
Affairs finds, upon the recommendation of the NBI in coordination with the NICA, that s/he 
37 
has engaged in malign foreign influence activity. 
38 
 
39 
 


 
19 
 
Chapter VI. 
1 
Regulation of Foreign Arrangements 
2 
 
 
 SEC. 26. Policy on Foreign Relations. – It is hereby made the policy of the 
3 
Philippines that: 
4 
 
1. In view of the incidence of political warfare and hybrid warfare in the current 
5 
situation of the international order, all potential vectors of foreign influence and 
6 
foreign interference are matters of national security, including foreign 
7 
arrangements as defined under this Act, and must be subject to regulation, 
8 
monitoring, control, and supervision by the National Government.   
9 
 
2. All foreign political relations activities must be conducted by, or under the 
10 
supervision and control of the President of the Philippines and, under her/his 
11 
control as Executive, the Department of Foreign Affairs, subject to and in 
12 
execution of the rules, standards, principles, policies and parameters set by law; 
13 
provided that, the other Departments of the Executive may conduct activities 
14 
relating to foreign political entities within their mandates subject to supervision 
15 
and review by the Department of Foreign Affairs.  
16 
 
3. All forms of institutional, fiscal, regional, and local autonomy, and all freedom of 
17 
contract, are limited by the Constitution and laws and do not extend to foreign 
18 
political relations. Any activity that constitutes foreign political relations activity 
19 
is extraneous to institutional, fiscal, regional, and local autonomy and liberty of 
20 
contract, and shall be entirely subject to the supervision and control of the 
21 
President of the Philippines as chief architect of foreign policy and, under her/his 
22 
control as Executive, the Department of Foreign Affairs, subject to and in the 
23 
execution of the rules, standards, principles, policies, and parameters set by 
24 
law. 
25 
 
 
SEC. 27. Restriction on Foreign Arrangements. –  
26 
 
1. No person shall negotiate, enter into, or implement a foreign arrangement, 
27 
including through a subsidiary arrangement. as these are defined under this Act 
28 
unless the Department of Foreign Affairs has issued written permission covering 
29 
the foreign arrangement.  
30 
 
2. This requirement will apply to all foreign arrangements made by all Branches of 
31 
Government, Constitutional Commissions and other constitutional bodies, and 
32 
regional and local governments, and to all foreign arrangements made by 
33 
private entities. 
34 
 


 
20 
3. Any foreign arrangement that is made without the prior written permission of the 
1 
Department of Foreign Affairs shall be unenforceable unless and until the 
2 
Department of Foreign Affairs grants the required written permission. 
3 
 
 
SEC. 28. Withdrawal of Permission. – The Department of Foreign Affairs shall 
4 
withdraw permission to negotiate or enter into a foreign arrangement, or order the 
5 
termination of a foreign arrangement if s/he learns that any of the indicia in the preceding 
6 
Section is, or has become, present. 
7 
 
Any foreign arrangement that is subject to a withdrawal of permission or order of 
8 
termination under this Section shall become immediately unenforceable. Any action for 
9 
specific performance, mandamus, mandatory injunction, or other proceeding intended to 
10 
compel the continued performance of that foreign arrangement shall be dismissed. 
11 
 
 
SEC. 29. Previously Executed Foreign Arrangements. – Within thirty (30) days 
12 
after the effectivity of this Act, all persons who are parties to arrangements that constitute 
13 
foreign arrangements under this Act shall apply with the Department of Foreign Affairs for 
14 
permission post facto to execute and implement the same. 
15 
 
The application shall be deemed granted if the Department of Foreign Affairs does not 
16 
expressly deny it within one year after the effectivity of this Act; provided that, this is 
17 
without prejudice to the authority of the Department of Foreign Affairs to withdraw 
18 
permission to negotiate or enter into a foreign arrangement, or order the termination of a 
19 
foreign arrangement, under the preceding Section. 
20 
 
The foreign arrangements covered by this Section shall remain enforceable during the 
21 
pendency of the application. 
22 
 
 
SEC. 30. Registry of Foreign Arrangements. – The Department of Foreign Affairs 
23 
shall maintain a physical and online registry of foreign arrangements which shall be 
24 
accessible to the public. 
25 
 
 
SEC. 31. Coordination with Other Agencies. – The Department of Foreign Affairs 
26 
shall coordinate with the NICA, the NBI, the Department of National Defense, and the 
27 
Department of Interior and Local Government on all decisions made under this 
28 
Subchapter. 
29 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
21 
 
Chapter VI 
1 
Other Measures to Address Foreign Influence and Foreign Interference 
2 
 
 
SEC. 32. Capacity-Building. – All officers and employees of government agencies 
3 
and instrumentalities, of government-owned or controlled corporations with original 
4 
charter, and of government-owned or controlled corporations without original charter or 
5 
their subsidiaries, as well as individual contractors or consultants of the same under job 
6 
order or service contracts, shall receive appropriate training on how to detect, refute, and 
7 
combat any malign foreign influence and foreign interference, and, in the case of public 
8 
servants, on how to carry out their obligation under Section 4(f) of Republic Act No. 6713 
9 
to maintain and defend Philippine sovereignty against foreign intrusion. 
10 
 
 
SEC. 33. Education. – The Commissioner on Higher Education, the Department of 
11 
Education, and, where applicable, the Technical Education and Skills Development 
12 
Authority, shall provide appropriate training on how to exercise Philippine civic values, 
13 
especially as contained in Article II of the Constitution, how to uphold Philippine national 
14 
positions on international issues affecting national sovereignty, territorial integrity, 
15 
jurisdictional rights, and self-determination, and how to detect, refute, and combat any 
16 
malign foreign influence and foreign interference, through incorporation into, 
17 
enhancement of, or substitution for the courses required under Republic Act No. 11476,  
18 
Republic Act No. 10086, or Republic Act No. 1425, or otherwise as may be appropriate. 
19 
 
 
SEC. 34. Other Measures to Address Malign Foreign Influence and Foreign 
20 
Interference. – In addition to the measures provided in the above chapters of this Act, 
21 
the relevant Departments shall, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, 
22 
carry out other appropriate steps or measures to prevent, counteract, and address Malign 
23 
Foreign Influence and Foreign Interference directed at or within the Philippines, or 
24 
directed at or against Filipino persons, associations or entities within or outside the 
25 
Philippines, including through appropriate information measures carried out or directed 
26 
by the Presidential Communications Operations Office, the Philippine Information 
27 
Agency, or other appropriate agency, and appropriate cyber, technical or other measures 
28 
carried out or directed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines or other appropriate 
29 
agencies; provided that, such measures must be lawful under the Constitution and 
30 
international law, without prejudice to lawful countermeasures or other acts permitted 
31 
under general international law. 
32 
 
 
SEC. 35. Diplomatic Measures to Address Foreign Influence and Foreign 
33 
Interference. – In addition to the measures provided in the above chapters of this Act, 
34 
the Department of Foreign Affairs shall carry out appropriate acts of diplomacy or para-
35 
diplomacy to address Foreign Malign Influence and Foreign Interference directed at or 
36 


 
22 
within the Philippines, or directed at Filipino persons, associations or entities within or 
1 
outside the Philippines. 
2 
 
 
Chapter VI 
3 
Institutional Reforms 
4 
 
 
SEC. 36. Structures in the Department of Foreign Affairs. – In addition to the 
5 
offices enumerated under Book IV, Title I, Chapter 2, Section 5 of Executive Order No. 
6 
292, or the Administrative Code of 1987, and other applicable provisions of law, there is 
7 
hereby created within the Department of the Foreign Affairs, under the direct supervision 
8 
of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Office for Foreign Security, which shall carry out 
9 
on behalf of the Department of the Foreign Affairs the duties vested under this Act, shall 
10 
conduct the research, information gathering, and analysis necessary to fulfill those 
11 
functions, and shall perform such other functions as may be vested or delegated by the 
12 
Secretary of Foreign Affairs.   
13 
 
 
SEC. 37.  Structures in the National Bureau of Investigation. – 
14 
 
1. There is hereby created within the National Bureau of Investigation the Office of 
15 
the Deputy Director for National Security Investigations, which shall direct and 
16 
supervise, under the control of the Director, investigations of crimes against 
17 
national security and the law of nations, including espionage, crimes against 
18 
public order, and violations of this Act. 
19 
 
2. There is hereby created within the National Bureau of Investigation, under the 
20 
Office of the Deputy Director for National Security Investigations, the Counter 
21 
Influence and Interference Division, which shall investigate violations of this Act, 
22 
motu proprio or upon referral by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the 
23 
Department of National Defense, the NICA, or other relevant agencies. 
24 
 
 
Chapter VII.  
25 
Implementation and Safeguards 
26 
 
 
SEC. 38. Implementing Rules. – The implementing rules and regulations of this 
27 
Act shall be prepared jointly by the NICA, the NBI, and the Department of Foreign Affairs, 
28 
in coordination with the Office of the President, the Department of Justice,  the 
29 
Department of National Defense, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, 
30 
and the National Security Council Secretariat, and after due consultation with the 
31 
committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives on foreign affairs and 
32 
national defense, shall be issued within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act. 
33 
However, every provision of this Act shall be effective and shall create binding rights and 
34 


 
23 
duties immediately upon its effectivity, and even before the issuance of its implementing 
1 
rules and regulations. 
2 
 
 
 SEC. 39. Report to Congress. – 
3 
 
1. The NICA, the NBI, together with the Office of the President, the Department of 
4 
Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice,  the Department of National Defense, 
5 
the Department of the Interior and Local Government, shall submit an annual 
6 
report on the implementation of this Act on the 15th day of March to the committees 
7 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives on foreign affairs and national 
8 
defense, and such other reports as the said committees may require, and shall 
9 
answer questions on the same at committee hearings or meetings for this purpose. 
10 
All such committee hearings or meetings shall be held in secure executive 
11 
sessions with only the committee members, the resource persons, and not more 
12 
than two committee staff present. 
13 
 
2. The annual report under the preceding paragraph, and any other report submitted 
14 
to Congress under this Act, the committee hearings or meetings made under 
15 
secure executive sessions, and any report on or record thereof, shall be classified 
16 
as Secret. No person shall handle or read the annual report, and no person shall 
17 
attend the committee hearings or meetings thereon, who has not received security 
18 
clearance on at least Secret level. No person shall disclose any matter discussed 
19 
in the annual report or in the committee hearings or meetings to any person except 
20 
with written authorization of both the President of the Philippines and, as 
21 
appropriate, the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House.  
22 
 
 
SEC. 40. Classification of Processes and Proceedings. – All processes, 
23 
proceedings, reports, and decisions made in relation to this Act, including budget 
24 
preparation or accountability procedures by the Department of Budget and Management, 
25 
audits conducted by the Commission on Audit, preliminary investigation under the 
26 
Department of Justice or the Office of the Ombudsman, and trial before the courts, shall 
27 
be classified Confidential. No person shall take an official part in these processes, 
28 
proceedings, reports, and decisions as budget officer, auditor, prosecutor, judge or 
29 
justice, or as staff thereof, who has not received security clearance on at least a 
30 
Confidential level; provided that, a higher security clearance level may be required in 
31 
relation to specific processes and proceedings. 
32 
 
 
SEC. 41. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
33 
this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Department of 
34 
Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, the Department of National Defense, the 
35 
Department of the Interior and Local Government, the National Security Council 
36 
Secretariat, the NBI, and the NICA, and other agencies concerned. Thereafter, such 
37 
amount shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
38 


 
24 
 
 
 SEC. 42. Recognition of International Immunities. – No provision of this Act shall 
1 
be deemed to affect the immunity under international law of persons conferred immunities 
2 
and privileges under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Vienna 
3 
Convention on Consular Relations, and other norms of international law, including the 
4 
complete immunity of diplomatic agents from the criminal jurisdiction of the host state 
5 
regardless of their activities or the purpose thereof, without prejudice to the power of the 
6 
Philippines to exercise the power of expulsion. 
7 
 
 
SEC. 43. Protection of Rights and Liberties. –  
8 
 
1. No provision of this Act shall be deemed to permit or justify the undue 
9 
infringement of natural, civil, and political rights and liberties, nor any 
10 
derogation whatsoever of the non-derogable guarantees under Article 4 of 
11 
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 
12 
 
2. Any uncertainty on the interpretation of this Act, and any doubt as to whether 
13 
an activity covered by this Act is punishable, shall be resolved in favor of 
14 
freedom of speech and expression, free exercise of religious, ideological, and 
15 
political belief, and opinion, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly 
16 
and association. 
17 
 
 
SEC. 44. Prohibition against Abuse of the Act. -- No person shall, on the basis 
18 
of the inclusion of any person or entity in the registries created under this Act, impose or 
19 
use against them any legal, administrative, civil, or political restriction, discrimination, or 
20 
sanction, nor any informational tools such as tagging, shaming, or doxxing, or any 
21 
measures not expressly mandated under this Act. 
22 
 
 
Chapter VIII.  
23 
Penal Provisions  
24 
 
 SEC. 45. Penalties. – 
25 
 
1. The penalty of prision mayor minimum and a fine between five million pesos 
26 
and twenty million pesos shall be imposed upon any person who commits the 
27 
offense of engaging in foreign interference activities in violation of Section 24 
28 
of this Act. 
29 
 
2. The penalty of prision correccional medium and a fine between one million 
30 
pesos and five million pesos shall be imposed upon any person who commits 
31 
the offense of engaging in malign foreign influence activities in violation of 
32 
Section 22 of this Act. 
33 


 
25 
 
3. The penalty of arresto mayor maximum and a fine between one hundred 
1 
thousand pesos and one million pesos shall be imposed upon any person 
2 
who violates Sections 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 27, or 45 of this Act. 
3 
 
 
SEC. 46. Priority of Other Laws and Ne Bis in Idem. –  
4 
 
1. If any person has been charged with a crime or offense under any other 
5 
statute, any proceeding relating to the same facts under this Act shall be 
6 
suspended.  
7 
 
2. If any person has been charged for a crime or offense under any other statute, 
8 
and s/he has been convicted or acquitted for the same or the trial therefor 
9 
was terminated with prejudice or otherwise dismissed without her/his 
10 
consent, any proceeding relating to the same facts under this Act shall be 
11 
barred. 
12 
 
3. If any person has been charged for a crime or offense under this Act, and 
13 
s/he has been convicted or acquitted for the same or the trial therefor was 
14 
terminated with prejudice or otherwise dismissed without her/his consent, 
15 
s/he may not be charged for a crime or offense relating to the same facts 
16 
under any other statute; provided that, this shall not bar prosecution for any 
17 
crime against national security and the law of nations or for any crime against 
18 
public order under Revised Penal Code, or for any offense constituting 
19 
espionage under Commonwealth Act No. 616 or the Revised Penal Code, or 
20 
for any offense under Republic Act No. 10169 or Republic Act No. 11479.  
21 
 
 
SEC. 47. Jurisdiction. – The State shall exercise jurisdiction over persons 
22 
suspected or accused of the offenses of malign foreign influence activity or foreign 
23 
interference activity defined and penalized in this Act, regardless of where the crime is 
24 
committed, provided, any one of the following conditions is met: 
25 
 
a. The accused is a Filipino citizen; 
26 
b. The accused has conducted malign foreign influence activity or foreign 
27 
interference activity directed at a Filipino citizen; 
28 
c. The accused conducted malign foreign influence activity or foreign interference 
29 
activity with effects inside Philippine territory or its maritime zones, including if it 
30 
is done through online media, transmissions or other activities that may be 
31 
heard, viewed, read, or otherwise consumed within Philippine territory; or 
32 
d. The accused conducted malign foreign influence activity or foreign interference 
33 
activity that adversely affected Philippine national interests. 
34 
 
 


 
26 
 SEC. 48. Inclusion as Predicate Offense. – The offenses of malign foreign 
1 
influence activity and foreign interference activity under this Act are hereby made 
2 
predicate offenses under Republic Act No. 9160 as amended.   
3 
 
 
Chapter IX.  
4 
Concluding Provisions 
5 
 
 
SEC. 49. Separability Clause. – Should any portion or provision of this Act be 
6 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected 
7 
thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
8 
 
SEC. 50. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
9 
regulations, or other issuances or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this 
10 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
11 
 
SEC. 51. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
12 
in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
13 
 
 
Approved, 
14 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MARIA RACHEL J. ARENAS 
Representative 
3rd District of the Province of Pangasinan