SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SFNJ,\,1Ji:32 
s. No. 
i;;::ih. 
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Introduced by Senator Mirimn fkfensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTION 28 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9147, ALSO KNOWN AS 
TI-IE WILDLIFE RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION ACT 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 16 provides: 
"Section 16. The State shall protect and advance the right of the 
people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and 
hnrmony of nature." 
Early this year, it W!lS reported th~t several Chinese fish<;nnen were captured with 
500 live and dead turtles in their boat, 60 nautical miles from Palawan. The fishermen 
were arrested and charged for violating the Philippine Wildlife Act and Philippine 
Fisheries Code. In November 20 J 4. the regional trial court of Palawan fOlll1d them guilty 
and ordered each fisherman to pay a fine of $100,000 each for poaching in Philippine 
waters plus P,120,000 ($2,666) each for taking wildlife. Despite the seemingly hefty fine, 
the penalty is still not commensurate to the damage they have done to Philippine wildlife. 
Among the 500 turtles seized, several were female. The death of female sea turtles could 
hamper the population growth of this endangcred species. 
According to news reports, sea turtles are considered valuable in other countries 
and are sold at high prices despite being endangered species. This bill seeks to strengthen 
the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act by increasing the penalties for 
those who kill, traffic, or sell, among others, Philippine wildlife. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS Of THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
.} I': 32 
S. No. 
f.'Il.'h 
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lntrodllced by Senatq1' Miriam Dcfel1;;o1' Santiago 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
AN ACT 
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AMENDING SECTION n OF REPUBf.lC AeTNO. 9J47, ALSO KNOWN AS 
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THE WILDLIFE RESOURCES CONSERVA nON AND PROTECTION ACT 
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SECTION 1. Section 28 of Republic Act No. 9147, also known as the Wildlife 
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Resources Conservation and Protection Act. is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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"Section 28. Penalties for Violations ofthis Act. .. 
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for illegal acts under paragraphs (c) and (d) of the immediately 
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preceding section, an imprisonment of en-e--(-li-tllBmfl---ffi--eig!J+-fl\j Y6ars 
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[SIX (6) MONTHS TO TWELVE (12) YEARS] and/or a fine of five 
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thousand pesos (~5,OOO.OO) to Five million pesos (F5,OOO,OOO.OO) shall be 
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imposed. 
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for illegal acts under paragraph (e), the following penalties and/or 
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fines shall be imposed: 
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a. 
imprisonment of t'NO (2) Y6ar& and on6 (1) day to four (41 
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years [FOUR (4) YEARS AND ONE (1) DAY TO SIX (6) YEARS] 
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and/or a fine of Five thousand pesos (f!5,OOO.OO) to =Fhree hundred thousand 
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j3ese&~WG,GGM\B [TWO MILLION (F2,OOO,OOO.OO) PESOS], if 
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inflicted or undertaken against species listed as critical; 
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b. 
imprisonment of-ooe-fl-ryool'-AAa-ene-8+4ay to two (2) years 
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[TWO (2) YEARS AND ONE (1) DA Y TO FOUR (4) YEARS] and/or a 
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finc of Two thousand pesos (P2.000.00) to 'Hve-hBOOreEl--iliousand pesos 
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W200,O~ [ONE MILLION (Fl,OOO,OOO.OO) PESOS], if inflicted or 
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undertaken against endangered spr'cies; 
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c. 
imprisonment of sffi-fe)-rHentbs-and-Etn~--fl+-day-te-e~E+1 
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)'WI' [ONE (1) YEAR AND ONE (1) DAY TO TWO (2) YEARS] and/or 
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a fine of One thousand pesos (PI ,000.00) to Gfie-htlfidred--t-housaml-pooes 
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tp-l-Go,OOMO) [FIVE HUNDRED THOlJSAND (P500,OOO.OO) PESOS], 
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if inflicted or undertaken against vulnerable species; 
II 
d. 
imprisonment of ooo--fl} month and---ene- (I) day to Six-te1 
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IllBH{hs [SIX (6) MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY TO ONE (1) YEAR] 
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and/or a fine of Five hundred pesos (P500.00) to Fi-fty-thBtlSafld--pesos 
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~O,OQ\hOG-) [ONE HlJNDRED THOUSAND (P100,OOO.OO) PESOS], if 
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inflicted or undertaken against species listed as threatened specics; and 
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For illegal acts under paragraphs (t) and (g) of thc immediately 
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preceding section, the following penalti('s and/or tines shall be imposed: 
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a. 
imprisonment of t-we (2) years and one--fB-4ay-4Er-fouF.t4) 
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yeat'S-.aru:l-a--ftooef'+hlt4y-tHollsand pe-se&-fI2~G,{)OO.OO)-te-+Hree--fHmd-rOO 
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thousand 
peses---(-P~O,oo(hOO) [SIX YEARS AND ONE DAY TO 
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TWELVE YEARS AND A FINE OF FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND 
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I)ESOS (P500,OOO) TO TEN MILLION PESOS (PlO,OOO,OOO)] , if 
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inflicted or undertaken against species listed as critical; 
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b. 
imprisonment of one-(-1-:17oof-fH'id-BfHl-t1) day to two ~yeaf& 
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and a fine of TwsRty--tReltsand---j7eses--tP--2G;GG(.}A.J{)j--te-l=wo hltndred 
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theltsand pesos (P200,OOO.OO) [FOUR (4) YEARS AND ONE DAY TO 
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SIX YEARS AND A FINE OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS 
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(PI00,OOO) TO FIVE MILLION PESOS (PS,OOO,OOO)], if inflicted or 
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undertaken against endangered sp~cies: 
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c. 
imprisonment of sil( (6) months and one (1) day to one (1) 
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y-ear and a -.fffie---ef--Tett- -#!etmfll'l4- pesos EFW)~OO)--te-GRe-flundred 
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t.flelts-atW-j70Ses-fP+{)O,OOO.OO) fONE (1) YEAR AND ONE (1) DAY TO 
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TWO (2) YEARS AND A FINE OF TWENTY THotJSAND PESOS 
I I 
(P20,OOO.OO) 
TO 
FIVE 
HUNDRED 
THOUSAND 
PESOS 
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(P500,OOO.OO)1, if inflicted or undertaken against vulnerable species; 
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d. 
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months and a fine 4+~ve-th+msand--pe-sos-(-p-3,GOO~OO}4e-Fift-y-theusaHEl 
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peses--(P50,OO(h(.}O) [SIX (6) MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY TO ONE (1) 
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YEAR AND A FINE OF TEN THOUSAND PESOS (PIO,OOO.OO) TO 
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ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (PI00,OOO.OO)], if inflicted or 
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undertaken against species as other threatened species; and 
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e. 
imprisonment of :en (10) days ttHltte-(+)-month--and a fine of 
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One thfmsand pesos (Pl,OOO~-e.five tholtsand peso;; (P5,OOO.OO-) [ONE 
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(1) MONTH AND ONE (1) DAY TO SIX (6) MONTHS AND A FINE 
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OF FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (PS,OOO.OO) TO FIFTY THOUSAND 
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PESOS (PSO,OOO.OO)], if inflicted or undertaken against other wildlife 
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species: Providerl, That in case of paragraph (t'), where the acts were 
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perpetuated through the means of inappropriate techniques and devices, the 
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maximum penal1y herein provided shall be imposed. PROVIDED 
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FURTHER, THAT IF THE ACTS WERE PERPETUATED BY A 
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SYNDICATE OR A GROUP OF THREE OR MORE PEOPLE, 
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THEN THE MAXIMUM PENALTY HEREIN PROVIDED SHALL 
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ALSO BE IMPOSED. 
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The fines herein prescribed shall be increased by at least ten percent 
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(10%) [TWENTY PERCENT (20%)1 every three (3) years to compensate 
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for inOation and to maintain the deterrent function of such fines." 
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SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. .. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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exeClltive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
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or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 3. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect GHeen (J 5) days after 
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its puhlication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/maml 
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