Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8539

HOUSE BILL NO. _"*"

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

AN ACT
TO ENSURE THAT OLDER OR DISABLED PERSONS ARE PROTECTED FROM
INSTITUTIONAL, COMMUNITY, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT AND TO IMPROVE OUTREACH EFFORTS AND OTHER SERVICES
AVAILABLE TO OLDER OR DISABLED PERSONS VICTIMIZED BY SUCH
VIOLENCE

The Constitution, Article i, Section 11, provides:

The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full
respect for human rights.

The elderly have always been victims of moderate to severe abuse. Elderly abuse takes
on many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological (emotional) abuse,
neglect (intended or unintended) and financial exploitation.

Unfortunately, there are relatively few statistics and research studies regarding violence
against older or disabled persons. Public and professional awareness and identification
of elderly abuse is difficult because older or disabled persons are not tied into many
social networks such as schools or jobs, and may become isolated in their homes, which
can increase the risk of elderly abuse. Further, elderly abuse is severely underreported,
with only a fraction of cases reported, according to the most recent studies.

this bill seeks to ensure that older or disabled persons are protected
institutional, community, and domestic violence and sexual assault and to improve
outreach efforts and other services available to older or disabled persons victimized by
such violence.

Al

LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F./VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no 8539

oduced by HON. LUIS RAYM

“LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
TO ENSURE THAT OLDER OR DISABLED PERSONS ARE PROTECTED FROM
INSTITUTIONAL, COMMUNITY, AND DOMESTIC VICLENCE AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT AND TO IMPROVE OUTREACH EFFORTS AND OTHER SERVICES
AVAILABLE TO OLDER OR DISABLED PERSONS VICTIMIZED BY SUCH
VIOLENCE

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 “Older Filipinos’ Protection
From Violence Act.”

SECTION 2. Law School Clinical Programs on Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of the
Elderly. - The Secretary of Justice shall make grants to law school clinical programs for
purposes of funding the inclusion of cases addressing cases of elder abuse, neglect, and
exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault, against older or disabled
individuals.

SECTION 3. Training Programs for Law Enforcement Officers. - The Secretary shall
develop curricula and offer, or provide for the offering of, training programs to assist law
enforcement officers, prosecutors, and relevant officers of courts in recognizing,
addressing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of elderly abuse, neglect, and
loitation, including domestic violence and sexual assault, against older or disabled
dui

in

SECTION 4. Support Services. - The Secretary, in cooperation and coordination with
non-governmental organizations and the Department of Social Work and Development
shall establish domestic violence programs to encourage the development of programs,
including outreach, support groups, and counseling, targeted to victims of elderly



domestic abuse and establishment of domestic violence shelters, which shall include the
use of senior housing, nursing homes, or other suitable facilities or services when
appropriated as emergency short-term shelters or measures for older or disabled
individuals who are the victims of elderly abuse, including domestic violence and sexual
assault, against older or disabled individuals.

The Secretary shall make grants to nonprofit private organizations to support projects in
local communities, involving diverse sectors of each community, to coordinate activities
concerning intervention in and prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation,
including domestic violence, sexual assault, against older or disabled individuals.

The Secretary shall also make grants to develop and implement outreach programs
directed toward assisting older of disabled individuals who are victims of elder abuse,
neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault, against older
or disabled individuals, as well as programs directed toward assisting the individuals in
senior housing complexes, nursing homes, board and care facilities, and senior centers.
For purposes of this section, the term “domestic violence” means an act or threat of
violence, not including an act of self-defense, committed —

(A) By a current or former spouse of the victim;

(8) By a person related by blood or marriage to the victim;

(C) By a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabitated with the victim;

(D) By a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;

(E) By a person whois or has been in social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature
with the victim; or

(F) By a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim, or by any other person, if the
domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction of the victim provide for legal
protection of the victim from the person.

SECTION 5. Training for Health Professionals on Screening for Abuse, Neglect, and
Exploitation of the Elderly. — The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Assistant
Secretary, develop curricula and implement continuing education training programs for
adult protective service workers, health care providers, including home health care
providers, social workers, clergy, domestic violence service providers, including senior
centers, adult day care facilities, nursing homes, board and care facilities, and senior
housing, to approve their ability to recognize and address instances of elder abuse,
neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault, against older
or disabled individuals.

The Secretary shall develop and implement separate curricula and training programs for
medical students, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses.

SECTION 6. Funding. - There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or


unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary t

accordingly.

Section 9. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,