NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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of ti)i' *■ IV I’ttu'j>
*22 NQV29 P2 36
SENATE
S. No. 1565
RECEIVED BY.
Introduced by SENATOR FRANCIS "TOL" N. TOLENTINO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MANDATORY BASIC MILITARY AND POLICE TRAINING 
PROGRAM TO ALL STUDENTS IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIGHER AND 
TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II on the Declaration of Principles and State Policies of the 1987 
Constitution of the Philippines provides:
Sec. 4. The prime duty of the government is to serve and 
protect the people. The government may call upon the people to 
defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be 
required, under conditions provided by law, to render personal, 
military or civil service.
Sec. 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in 
nation building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, 
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the 
youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement 
in public and civic affairs."


In addition, on the responsibility of all educational institutions, Article XIV, 
Section 3(2) of the Constitution provides:
They are mandated to inculcate patriotism and nationalism, 
foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, appreciation of 
the role of national heroes in the historical development of the 
country, teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical 
and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, 
encourage critical and creative thinking, broaden scientific and 
technological knowledge, and promote vocational efficiency.
This bill seeks to include in all public and private higher and technical vocational 
level curricula subjects that will introduce the students to basic military and police 
training program to increase their awareness of the country's need for human 
resources in times of war, calamities and disasters, national or local emergencies, and 
in support to the Government's law enforcement strategy against crimes and other 
civic obligations.
The proposed bill provides safeguards for the protection of all higher and 
technical vocational students against abuses such as bribery, corruption, graft, hazing, 
sexual harassment, and others which had become the concern of the public in the 
past. With this proposed measure, the youth - the hope of our motherland - will 
rekindle in their hearts their love of country and fellow citizens, nationalism and 
patriotism, and will once again make their mark in the annals of history.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
TOL" N. TOLENTINO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 1565
of f'lf fetivetarj’
'22 NOV 29 P2 36
RECElVtO BY;
Introduced by SENATOR FRANCIS "TOL" N. TOLENTINO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MANDATORY BASIC MILITARY AND POLICE TRAINING 
PROGRAM TO ALL STUDENTS IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIGHER AND 
TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Basic Military and
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Police Training For All Higher and Technical Vocational Students Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to recognize the
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role of the youth in nation building and to promote and protect their physical,
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intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and
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nationalism, develop their moral character and personal discipline, and encourage
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their involvement in public and civil affairs. Towards this end, the State shall include
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in all higher and technical vocational curriculum such subjects that will introduce the
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students to basic military and police training and will increase their awareness to the
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country's need for human resources in times of war, calamities and disasters, and
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national or local emergencies. This also supports the Government's law enforcement
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strategy against crimes and other civic obligations.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - In this Act, the term:
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(a) 
Appeals Board - refers to the appellate body that 
has jurisdiction to hear appeals on the findings and 
recommendations of any local investigating body.
(b) 
Basic Military Training Program - refers to the 
training program under the command of the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines (AFP) which shall include, but not limited to, basic 
military science subject, basic training on relief and rescue 
operations during disaster or calamities; and basic training in the 
operation and maintenance of essential government or private 
utilities in the furtherance of overall mission.
(c) 
Basic Police Training Program - refers to the training 
program under the command of the Philippine National Police 
(PNP), which shall include, but not limited to, basic training on 
law enforcement, disaster preparedness, traffic management, 
rule of law, and civil rights.
(d) 
Clustered Training Unit - refers to two or more 
educational institutions that are strategically grouped together for 
the purpose of holding Basic Military and Police Training classes 
in one location.
(e) 
Investigative Body - refers to an independent body 
that is tasked to investigate any complaint or allegation of abuse, 
violence or corruption in any clustered training unit or any 
educational institution implementing the Basic Military and Police 
Training.
(f) 
Private Educational Institutions - refer to 
educational institutions maintained and administered by private 
individuals or groups.
(g) 
Public Educational Institutions - refer to educational 
institutions that are established and administered by the 
government.


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Sec. 4. Coverage. - The conduct of mandatory basic military and police
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training shall apply to all students of higher and technical vocational educational
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institutions both public and private.
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Sec. 5. Establishment of the Basic Military and Police Training
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Program in all Public and Private Educational Institutions. - The Commission
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on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development
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Authority (TESDA), in coordination with the Department of National Defense (DND)
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and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), shall establish as
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part of their basic curriculum a mandatory two (2)-year Basic Military and Police
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Training Program for students of all baccalaureate degree courses and of at least two
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years technical vocational courses who are enrolled in public and private higher and
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technical vocational educational institutions. Students who fail to undergo the
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mandatory Basic Military and Police Training Program in accordance with this Act shall
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not be qualified for graduation. Students of higher and technical vocational institutions
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undergoing the Basic Military and Police Training Program shall not be subject to
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military or PNP law and shall be recognized as civilians in law.
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Sec. 6. Purposes and Objectives. - The Basic Military and Police Training
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Program instituted as part of the curricula shall be administered in accordance with
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the following purposes and objectives:
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(a) To enhance the students' consciousness in the
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ethics of service, patriotism and nationalism, respect for human
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rights, appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical
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development of the country, strengthen ethical and spiritual
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values, develop personal discipline and leadership and to
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encourage creative thinking for scientific and technological
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development;
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(b) To motivate students to undergo further training
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in national defense preparedness or civil-military operations;
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(c) To encourage students to be active participants and
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volunteers for the development and improvement of health,


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education, ecology and environmental protection, human and 
civil-rights awareness, and law enforcement;
(d) 
To prepare the students during actual disaster 
response operations on needs assessment, improved skills for 
search, rescue and relief operations, and early recovery activities; 
and
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To integrate capacity-building activities 
revolving around risk-related situations in order for students to 
be proactive in lessening the socio-economic and environmental 
impacts of disasters including climate change. These capacity 
building activities will help build understanding and skills with the 
end of applying disaster risk reduction and management 
principles, concepts, and concrete action steps towards building 
their resilience.
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Sec. 7. Program of Instruction. - Guided by the purposes and objectives of
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this Act, the CHED, TESDA, DND and DILG, in consultation with other relevant
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government agencies and private stakeholders as the CHED Commissioner or TESDA
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Director General may determine, shall design and formulate the Program of Instruction
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of the Basic Military and Police Training Program for students enrolled in higher and
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technical vocational educational institutions.
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Sec. 8. Students Exempted from this Act. - The following may be
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exempted from the coverage of this Act:
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(a) 
Those who are physically or psychologically unfit, as 
certified by the AFP or PNP medical officer, in pursuance to the 
recommendation of the educational institutions where the 
concerned student is enrolled.
(b) 
Those who were chosen by their school to serve as 
varsity players in sports competitions.


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(c) Those who may be exempted from training for valid
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reasons as approved by the DND or DILG, upon recommendation
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by any educational institution,
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Sec. 10. Organization, Operation, and Maintenance of Basic Military
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and Police Training Units. - The Secretary of National Defense and the Secretary
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of the Interior and Local Government, in consultation with the CHED Chairman and
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the TESDA Director General, shall prescribe the organization and operational manual
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of the training units in all higher and technical vocational public and private educational
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institutions. Such educational institutions shall be required to provide an adequate
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office for the DND and DILG administrative staff assigned thereat. The AFP and the
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PNP shali create an office dedicated to the supervision and administration of the Basic
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Military and Police Training program within the Reserve Commands of the AFP and
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the PNP in coordination with the DepEd.
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Sec. 11. Acceptance for Advance Military Training. - Students who
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volunteer for Advance Military Training Program in all higher and technical vocational
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educational institutions shall be governed by Section 40 of Republic Act No. 7077 or
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the "Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act." The provisions of Section
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42 and 43 of R.A, No. 7077 in terms of training, uniforms and supplies, and the
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scholarship incentive shall remain effective and applicable for those accepted in the
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Advance Military Training course. It shall be mandatory for all public and private higher
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and technical and vocational educational and similar learning institutions to offer and
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provide a training school for the Advance Military Training Program which shall have
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a duration in accordance with the curriculum prescribed by the DND and the
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Commission on Fligher Education (CFIED) and Technical Education and Skills
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Development Authority (TESDA).
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The Secretary of National Defense, in coordination with CFIED and TESDA, shall
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prescribe the curriculum for Advance Military Training and the program of instruction
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in pursuance to the applicable provisions of R.A. No. 7077.


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Graduates of Advance Military Training shall be eligible for enlistment in the
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AFP or shall be given priority for lateral entry in other armed and law enforcement
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services of the government.
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Sec. 12. Incentives for Undergoing Military and Police Training
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Program. -
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(a) 
Subject to other requirements prescribed by the 
rules and regulations, graduates of Basic Military Training shall be 
eligible for enlistment in the AFP, PNP, Philippine Coast Guard 
(PCG), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and 
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) unless a waiver is issued by the 
Department Secretaries of the aforementioned military and 
civilian organizations.
(b) 
Students undergoing Basic Military and Police 
Training and those accepted in the Advance Military Training 
Course shall be provided free hospitalization in any government 
hospital in case of accident or injury during the training. 
Mandatory insurance for students undergoing Military and Police 
Training shall be provided by the school where the students are 
enrolled.
(c) 
Students undergoing Basic Military and Police 
Training and Advance Military Training shall be given access and 
privileges with any AFP Commissary and PX Stores nationwide. 
The Chief of Staff of the AFP shall issue the necessary regulations 
for the implementation of this privilege.
(d) 
Graduates of Basic Military and Police Training 
program who have completed a four (4) year baccalaureate 
degree shall be considered as First Level Civil Service Eligible, 
whereas graduate of Advance Military Training Program, who 
have finished a four (4) baccalaureate degree shall be considered 
a Second Level Civil Service Eligible in the Civil Service.


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Sec. 13. Prohibited Acts. - The following acts shall be prohibited:
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a. Hazing as defined and penalized under R.A. 
8049, as amended by R.A. 11053;
(b) b. Physical, sexual or psychological abuse, 
emotional maltreatment, or any act by deed which tends to 
degrade or demean the dignity of a child/student as provided 
under R.A. 7610, otherwise known as the "Special Protection of 
Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act";
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Physical, humiliating or degrading 
punishments or penalties by a teacher, school 
administrator, an adult, or any other child who has been 
given or has assumed authority or responsibility for 
punishment or discipline for an alleged or actual offense 
for the purpose of discipline, training or control except for 
mild to moderate physical exercise such as push-ups, sit- 
ups and running within the medically recommended limit 
for the concerned age group as provided under DepEd 
Order No. 40, Series of 2012 on Child Protection Policy;
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Bribery as penalized under the Revised Penal 
Code, by directly or indirectly accepting, any gift, in cash 
or in kind, from any student, or from any parent/guardian 
of the student in relation to or pertinent with the conduct 
of the Basic Military and Police Training Program;
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Corruption of public officials as penalized 
under the Revised Penal Code, by offering any gift in 
relation to or pertinent with the conduct of the Basic 
Military and Police Training Program;
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Graft and corrupt practices contemplated 
under R.A. 3019, otherwise known as the "Anti-Graft and 
Corrupt Practices Act."
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Sec. 14. Estabiishment of Investigative Body. -


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(a) 
An Investigative Body shall be organized from a 
cluster of higher and technical vocational educational institutions 
that shall receive complaints and/or motu proprio conduct 
investigations on any complaint or allegation of abuse, violence 
or corruption in any educational institution implementing the 
Basic Military and Police Training Program;
(b) 
Every Investigative Body shall be composed of three 
members, to be chosen by the Secretary of National Defense, the 
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government and the Chairman 
of CHED or TESDA Director General: one (1) District Commandant 
from the DND, one (1) District Commandant from the DILG, and 
one (1) District Schools Supervisor from the DepEd;
(c) 
The CHED, TESDA, DND, and DILG shall formulate 
the manner by which the educational institutions implementing 
the Basic Military and Police Training Program shall be clustered 
for the efficient resolution of grievances;
(d) 
The Investigative Body shall function as an 
independent fact-finding body, which shall formulate the 
recommendation to the proper disciplinary authority that has 
jurisdiction over the respondent, and depending on whether 
he/she belongs to the military or the police for which purpose, 
the Articles of War or the PNP Law, as the case may be, shall be 
employed. In case of school officials and/or employees of public 
and private educational institutions, the provisions of R.A. 6713 
or the "Code of Conduct of Public Officers and Employees" and 
other relevant laws on the matter shall be applied. This is without 
prejudice to administrative cases that may be filed pursuant to 
the Civil service rules for public officers and employees involved 
in the complaint;
(e) 
Nothing herein shall prevent any person from filing 
directly with the regular courts any incident of violation of 
Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.


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Sec. 15. Powers and Duties of the Investigative Body.
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Investigative Body shall have the following powers and duties:
Every
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(a) 
Encourage the reporting of any incident of hazing, violence
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abuse and corruption in every clustered training unit;
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(b) 
Motu proprio or upon a complaint filed by any person,
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investigate, any act of hazing, violence, abuse and corruption in the
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clustered training unit;
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(c) 
Issue preventive suspension orders against officers of the
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Basic Military and Police Training Program or any school employee
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involved in the training within three (3) days: (i) upon receipt of the
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complaint, or (ii) after initiation of the motu proprio investigation, 
to
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preclude him from exerting undue influence over the complaint and
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impede the normal course of the investigation;
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(d) 
Recommend the appropriate action for any offense
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committed in the clustered training unit to the proper disciplinary
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authority which has jurisdiction over the respondent within fifteen (15)
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days: (i) upon receipt of the complaint, or (ii) after initiation of the motu
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proprio investigation;
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(e) 
Monitor all complaints filed with the Body and maintain an
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updated record of the status of each case;
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Provide the parties of the complaint its findings and
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recommendations within thirty (30) days upon receipt thereof;
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Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out its
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objectives, functions and disciplinary procedures; and
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Performs such other functions as may be provided by law.
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Sec. 16. Appeals Board. - There is hereby established an Appeal Board (AB)
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composed of the Secretary of National Defense or his permanent authorized
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representative, the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government or his permanent
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authorized representative, the CHED Chairman or his permanent authorized
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representative, the TESDA Director General or his authorized representative and the
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Secretary of Justice or his permanent authorized representative. The AB shall receive


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appeals on petitions for review from the findings/recommendation of any of the
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Investigative Bodies. It shall render its decision or resolution within fifteen (15) days
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from the time the petition was received. Any resolution of the AB shall be final.
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Sec. 17. Training Instructors' Capacity Development and
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Enhancement Program. - There is hereby created and established a training
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program for training instructors, to ensure that they meet the highest physical and
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moral standards to teach and carry out the Basic Military and Police Training Program.
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The Instructors' Program shall be developed and administered under the guidance and
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tutelage of the DND, the DILG, the CHED and TESDA. A comprehensive training
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manual shall be developed for the conduct of these trainings, incorporating among
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other things, gender-appropriate awareness, familiarity with relevant domestic laws
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and international obligations necessary and appropriate to guarantee the integrity and
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the highest standard of morality for the implementers of the Basic Military and Police
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Training Program.
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Sec. 18. Initial Implementation of the Program. - In order to manage the
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initial implementation of the Basic Military and Police Training Program to all higher
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and technical vocational students, the DND, the DILG, the CHED and TESDA shall,
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within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, design, institute and implement
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a Pilot Program. The DND, the DILG, the CHED and TESDA shall jointly submit an
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annual review and evaluation report to Congress on the Implementation of the Pilot
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Program. Upon review and approval by Congress, the framework utilized under the
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Pilot Program shall become the standard for the full national implementation of the
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Basic Military and Police Training Program.
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Sec. 19. Mandatory Evaluation and Review. - The DND, the DILG, the
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CHED and TESDA shall jointly conduct an annual review and submit a report to
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Congress on the status of the implementation of the Basic Military and Police Training
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Program one year after its full implementation.
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Sec. 20. Pena! Provisions. - Any person who shall commit any act already
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penalized under existing laws and particularly described in Section 13 of this Act such
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as bribery, corruption of public officials, graft, hazing, sexual harassment, and other
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abuses shall be prosecuted and subject to penalties in accordance with the applicable
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laws. In case that bribery, corruption of public officials, graft, hazing, sexual
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harassment, and other abuses as particularly described in Section 13 of this Act is
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committed by persons authorized to administer the Basic Military and Police Training
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Program or by school officials or employees of public or government educational
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institutions directly involved in the implementation of the program, the maximum
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penalty provided under existing laws shall be imposed.
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Sec. 21. Funding. - The funding requirement to implement the establishment,
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maintenance, and operations of the Military and Police Training Program shall be
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included in the budget of the implementing agencies/departments in the annual
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General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days
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from the effectivity of this Act, the CHED and TESDA in coordination with the DND and
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DILG shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to ensure the effective
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implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 23. Separability Clause, - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.
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Sec. 24. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, executive orders, presidential
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decrees, and rules and regulations inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are
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hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 25. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
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following its publication in the Official Gazette ov in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,
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