FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
9 BPR 21 Pli 36 
SENATE 
P 
S.B.No. - 
317 
Introduced by Senator JUAN PONCE ENRILE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Internet use in the Philippines has grown rapidly in the past decade. It has 
given rise to countless opportunities to a lot of Filipinos in every field imaginable. 
It has served as venue for growth and development in businesses, trade, 
engineering, arts and sciences and has sped up the exchange of information about 
practically all aspects of life. It has since been an integral part of our daily lives. 
However, the internet also has its own disadvantages and one of these is 
cybercrime. Ordinarily, cybercrime is defined as any illegal and criminal activity 
committed on the internet. These include unlawful acts where information 
technology is used either a tool or target, or both, in the commission of such 
unlawful acts. Any criminal activity that employs a computer either as an 
instrumentality, target or a means for the commission of other illegal acts also goes 
within the range of cybercrime. 
In recent years, we have witnessed how cybercrirne has emerged as the latest 
and most complicated problem in the cyber world. Criminal activities in the 
cyberspace are on the rise. Computers today are being misused for illegal activities 
like e-mail espionage, credit card fraud, spams, and software piracy, which not 
only invade our privacy but also offend our senses. On many instances, the 
computer have been utilized as an instrument in the following illegal activities: 
financial crimes, sale of illegal or stolen articles, pornography, online gambling, 
crimes impinging on intellectual property rights, e-mail spoofing, forgery, cyber 
defamation, and even cyber stalking. 
On the other hand, the computer may has also been the object of other 
unlawful acts such as, but not limited to, illegal access or hacking, theft of 
information contained in electronic form, e-mail bombing, virus attacks, internet 
time thefts and so forth. Examples of these types of conducts include illegal access 
or access to the whole or any part of a computer system without proper 
authorization, illegal interception or the interception without right made by 
technical means, of non-public transmission of computer data to, from or within a 
computer system, data interference or the damaging, deletion, deterioration, 
alteration or suppression of computer data without proper authority, system 
interference or the serious hindering without right of the fimctioning of a computer 


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system by inputting, transmitting, damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering or 
suppressing computer data, misuse of devices, forgery and fraud. 
Cybercrime is an actual danger to democracy, human rights and the rule of 
law. It is a dangerous reality which has to be taken seriously at the highest level. 
Measures to fight and prevent cybercrme must be based on laws that fully respect 
civil liberties. Thus, it is of utmost importance that an efficient protection and 
prevention method be developed to combat cybercrime. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly 
sought. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
S E N A T E  
I 
Introduced by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile 
AN ACT 
DEFINING CYBERCRIME, PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION, SUPPRESSION 
AND IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I - PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 
2009”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration ufPuliCy - The State recognizes the vital role of information and 
content industries, such as telecommunications, broadcasting, electronic commerce, and data 
processing, in the nation’s overall social and economic development. The State also recognizes 
the importance of providing an environment conducive to the development, acceleration, and 
rational application and exploitation of information and communications technology to attain 
free, easy, and intelligible access to exchange and/or delivery of information; and the need to 
protect and safeguard the integrity of computer, computer and communications systems, 
networks, and database, and the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and 
data stored therein, from all forms of misuse, abuse, and illegal access by making punishable 
under the law such conduct or conducts. In this light, the State shall adopt sufficient powers to 
effectively prevent and combat such. offenses by facilitating their detection, investigation, and 
prosecution at both the domestic and international levels, and by providing arrangements for fast 
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and reliable international cooperation. 


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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby 
defined as follows: 
a) Access - refers to the instruction, communication with, storing data in, retrieving data 
from, or otherwise making use of any resources of a computer system; 
b) Alteration - refers to the modification or change, in form or substance, of an existing 
computer data or program; 
c) Communication - refers to the transformation of information including voice and 
non-voice data; 
d) Computer system - means any device or a group or interconnected or related devices, 
one or more of which, pursuant to a program, performs automatic processing of data. 
It covers any type of computer device including devices with data processing 
capabilities like mobile phones and also computer networks. The device consisting of 
hardware and software may include input, output and storage facilities which may 
stand alone or be connected in a network or other similar devices. It also includes 
computer-data storage devices or medium. 
e) Computer data - refers to any representation of facts, information, or concepts in a 
form suitable for processing in a computer system including a program suitable to 
cause a computer system to perform a function and includes electronic documents 
electronic data messages; 
f) Computer Program - refers to a set of instructions executed by the computer to 
achieve intended results; 
g) Without Right - refers to either: (1) conduct undertaken without or in excess of 
authority; or (ii) conduct not covered by established legal defenses, excuses, court 
orders, justifications, or relevant principles under the law; 
h) Database - refers to a representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts, or 
instructions which are being prepared, processed or stored or have been prepared, 


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processed or stored in a formalized manner and which are intended for us in a 
computer system; 
i) Interception - refers to listening to, recording, monitoring or surveillance of the 
content of communications, including procuring of the content of data, either directly, 
through access and use of a computer system or indirectly, through the use of 
electronic eavesdropping or tapping devices, at the same time that the communication 
is occurring; 
j) Service Provider - refers to the provider of: 
i. 
any public or private entity that provides to users of its service the ability 
to communicate by means of a computer system, and 
any other entity that processes or stores computer data on behalf of such 
communication service or users of such service; 
.. 
11. 
k) Subscriber’s Information - refers to any information contained in the form of 
computer data or any other form that is held by a service provider, relating to 
subscribers of its services other than traffic or content data and by which can be 
established; 
i. 
The type of communication service used, the technical provisions talcen 
thereto and the period of service; 
The subscriber’s identity, postal or geographic address, telephone and 
other access number, any assigned network address, billing and payment 
information, available on the basis of the service agreement or 
arrangement; 
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iii. 
Any other available information on the site of the installation of 
communication equipment, available on the basis of the service agreement 
or arrangement. 


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1) 
Traffic Data or Non-Content Data - refers to any computer data other than the 
content of the communication, including but not limited to the communication’s 
origin, destination, route, time, date, size, duration, or type of underlying service. 
CHAPTER I1 - PUNISHABLE ACTS 
Sec. 4. Cybercvime Offenses. - The following acts constitute the offense of cybercriine 
punishable under this Act: 
a. 
Offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and 
systems: 
i. Illegal Access - The iiiteiitional access to the whole or any part of a computer 
system without right. 
ii. Illegal Interception - The intentional interception made by technical means 
without right of any non-public transmission of computer data to, from, or 
within a computer system including electromagnetic emissions from a 
computer system carrying such computer data: Provided, however, That if 
shall not be unlawful for an officer, employee, or agent or a service provider, 
whose facilities are used in the transmission of communications, to intercept, 
disclose, or use that communication in the normal course of his employment 
while engaged in any activity that is necessary to the rendition of his service 
or to the protection of the rights or property of the service provider, except 
that the latter shall not utilize service observing or random monitoring except 
for mechanical or service control quality checks; 
iii. Data interference - the intentional or reckless alteration of computer data 
without right. 
iv. System Interference - the intentional or reckless hindering without right of 
the functioning of a computer system by inputting, transmitting, deleting, 
altering or suppressing computer data or program. 


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v. Misuse of Devices - 
a) The use, production, sale, procurement, importation, distribution, or 
otherwise making available, without right, ofi 
i) 
a device, including a computer program, designed or 
adapted primarily for the purpose of committing any of the 
offenses under this Act; or 
a computer password, access code, or similar data by which 
the whole or any part of a computer system is capable of 
being accessed with intent that it be used for the purpose of 
committing my of the offenses under this Act; 
ii) 
b) The possession of an item referred to in paragraphs 5(a) (i) or (ii) 
above with intent to use said devices for the purpose of committing 
any of the offense under this Section. 
Provided, That no criminal liability shall attach when the use, production, sale, 
procurement, importation, distribution, or otherwise malting available, or 
possession of computer deviceddata referred to is for the authorized testing of a 
computer system. 
b. 
Computer-related Offenses: 
i. 
Computer-related Forgery - (a) the intentional input, alteration, or deletion of 
any computer data without right resulting in inauthentic data with the intent 
that it be considered or acted upon for legal purposes as if it were authentic, 
regardless whether or not the data is directly readable and intelligible; (b) the 
act of knowingly using computer data which is the product of computer- 
related forgery as defined herein, for the purpose of perpetuating a fraudulent 
or dishonest design. 
ii. Computer-related Fraud - the intentional and unauthorized input, alteration, 
or deletion of computer data or program or interference in the functioning of a 


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computer system, causing damage thereby, with the intent of procuring an 
economic benefit for oneself or for another person or for the perpetuation of a 
fraudulent or dishonest activity; Provided, that if no damage has yet been 
caused, the penalty imposable shall be one degree lower. 
c. 
Content-related Offenses: 
i. 
Cybersex - any person who establishes, maintains or controls, directly or 
indirectly, any operation for sexual activity or arousal with the aid of or 
through the use of a computer system, for a favor or consideration. 
ii. Child Pornography - any person who engages in the following acts: 
a) Producing child pornography for the purpose of distribution through 
a computer system’ 
b) Offering or malting available child pornography through a computer 
system; 
c) Distribution or transmitting child pornography through a computer 
system; 
d) Procuring child pornography through a computer system for oneself 
or for another person; or 
e) Possessing child pornography materials in the computer system or on 
a computer data storage medium. 
For purposes of this Section, the term “child pornography” shall include 
pornographic material that visually depicts: (a) a minor engaged in sexually explicit 
conduct; (b) a person appearing to be a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct; (c) 
realistic images representing a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 
iii. Unsolicited Commercial Communications. - The transmission of commercial 
electronic communication with the use of computer system which seek to 
advertise, sell, or offer for sale products and services are prohibited unless: 
a) There is a prior affirmative consent from the recipient; or 


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b) The following conditions are present: 
i) 
ii) 
iii’, 
The commercial. electronic communication contains a 
simple, valid, and reliable way for the recipient to reject 
receipt of further commercial electronic messages (‘opt- 
out) from the same source; 
The commercial electronic communication does not 
purposely disguise the source of the electronic message; 
and 
The commercial electronic communication does not 
purposely include misleading information in any part of the 
message in order to induce the recipients to read the 
message. 
SEC. 5. Other Offenses.- The following acts shall also constitute an offense: 
a. Aiding or Abetting in the Commission of,Cybercrime. - Any person who wilfully 
abets or aids in the commission of any of the offenses enumerated in this Act shall be 
held liable. 
b. Attempt in the Commission of Cybercrime - Any person who wilfully attempts to 
commit any of offenses enumerated in this Act shall be held liable. 
SEC. 6 Liability under Other Laws. - A prosecution under this Act shall be without 
prejudice to any liability for violation of any provision of the Revised Penal Code, as amended or 
special laws. 
CHAPTER I11 - PENALTIES 
SEC. 7. Penalties. - Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in 
Sections 4(a) and 4(b) of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor or a 
fine of at least Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP200,000.00) up to a maximum amount 
commensurate to the damage incurred or both. 


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Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 4(c)(i) of 
this Act shall be punished with imprisonment ofprision mayor or a fine of at least Two Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (PhP200,OOO.OO) but not exceeding One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000.00) or 
both. 
Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 4(c)(ii) of 
this Act shall be punished with imprisonment of prision correcional or a fine of at least One 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP100,OOO.OO) but not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(PhP500,OOO.OO) or both. 
Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 4(c)(iii) 
shall be punished with imprisonment of arresto mayor or a fine of at least Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(PhP50,OOO.OO) but not exceeding Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP250,OOO.OO) or both. 
Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 5 shall be 
punished with imprisonment one degree lower than that of the prescribed penalty for the offense 
or a fine of at least One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP100,OOO.OO) but not exceeding Five 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP500,OOO.OO) or both. 
SEC 8. Corporate Liability - When any of the punishable acts herein defined is 
knowingly committed on behalf of or for the benefit of a juridical person, by a natural person 
acting either individually or as part of an organ of the juridical person, who has a leading 
position within in, based on (a) a power of representation of the juridical person, (b) an authority 
to take decisions on behalf of the juridical person, or (c) an authority to exercise control within 
the juridical person, the juridical person shall be held liable for a fine equivalent to at least 
double the fines imposable in Section 7 up to a maximum of Ten Million Pesos 
(PhP10,000,000.00). 
When the commission of any of the punishable acts herein defined was made possible 
due to lack of supervision or control by a natural person referred to and described in the 
preceding paragraph, for the benefit of that juridical person by a natural person acting under its 


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authority, the juridical person shall be held liable for a fine equivalent to at least double the fines 
imposable in Section 7 up to a maximum of Five Million Pesos (PhP5,000,000.00). 
The liability imposed on the juridical person shall be without prejudice to the criminal 
liability of the natural person who has committed the offense. 
CHAPTER IV - ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION 
SEC. 9. Real-time collection of Computer Data. - Law enforcement authorities shall be 
authorized to collect or record by technical or electronic means, and service providers are 
required to collect or record by technical or electronic means, and/or to cooperate or assist law 
enforcement authorities in the collection or recording of, traffic data, in real-time, associated 
with specified communications transmitted by means of a computer system. 
SEC. 10. Preservation of Computer Data - The integrity of traffic data and subscriber 
information relating to communication services provided by a service provider shall be preserved 
for a minimum period of six (6) months from the date of the transaction. Content data shall be 
similarly preserved for six (6) months from the date of receipt of the order from law enforcement 
authorities requiring its preservation. 
Law enforcement authorities may order a one-time extension for another six (6) months 
provided that once computer data preserved, transmitted or stored by a service provider is used 
as evidence in a case, the mere furnishing to such service provider of the transmittal document to 
the Office of the Prosecutor shall be deemed a notification to preserve the computer data until 
termination of the case. 
The service provider ordered to preserve computer data shall keep confidential the order 
and its compliance. 
SEC. 11. Disclosure of Computer Data. - Law enforcement authorities shall issue an 
order requiring any person or service provider to disclose or submit subscriber’s information, 
traffic data or relevant data in his/its possession or control within seventy two (72) hours from 


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receipt of the order in relation to a valid complaint officially doclceted and assigned for 
investigation and the disclosure is necessary and relevant for the purpose of investigation. 
Law enforcement authorities shall submit regular reports to the Department of Justice 
(DOJ) for monitoring. 
SEC.12. Search, Seizure, and Examination of Computer Data - Where a search and 
seizure warrant is properly issued, the law enforcement authorities shall likewise have the 
following powers and duties: 
Within the time period specified in the warrant, to conduct interception, as defined in this 
Act, content of communications, procure the content of data either directly, through access and 
use of computer system, or indirectly, through the use of electronic eavesdropping or tapping 
devices, in real time or at the same time that the communication is occurring and to: 
a. To secure a computer system or a computer data storage medium; 
b. To make and retain a copy of those computer data secured; 
c. To maintain the integrity of the relevant stored computer data; 
d. To conduct examination of the computer data storage medium; and 
e. To render inaccessible or remove those computer data in the accessed computer or 
computer and communication network. 
Pursuant thereof, the law enforcement authorities may order any person who has 
knowledge of the functioning of the computer system and the measures to protect and preserve 
the computer data therein to provide, as is reasonable, the necessary information, to enable the 
undertaking of the search, seizure and examination. 
Law enforcement authorities'may request for an extension of time to complete the 
examination of the computer data storage medium and to make a return thereon but in no case 
for a period longer than thirty (30) days from the date of approval by the court. 
SEC.13. Non-compliance. - Failure to comply with the provisions of Chapter IV hereof 
specifically the orders from law enforcement authorities shall be punished as a violation of P.D. 
No. 1829 with imprisonment of prision correcional in its maximum period or a fine of One 


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Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP100,OOO.OO) or both, for each and every non-compliance with an 
order issued by law enforcement authorities. 
CHAPTER V - JURISDICTION 
SEC.14. Jurisdiction - The Regional Trial Court shall have jurisdiction over any 
violation of the provisions of this Act including any violation committed by a Filipino national 
regardless of the place of commission. Jurisdiction shall lie if any of the elements was committed 
wiFhin the Philippines or committed with the use of any computer system wholly or partly 
sitbated in the country, or when by such commission any damage is caused to a natural or 
juiidical person who, at the time the offense was committed, was in the Philippines. 
, 
CHAPTER VI - INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 
SEC. 15. General principle relating to international cooperation. - All relevant 
international instruments on international cooperation in criminal matters, arrangement agreed on 
the basis of uniform or reciprocal legislation, and domestic laws, to the widest extent possible for 
the purpose of investigations or proceedings concerning criminal offenses related to computer 
systems and data, or for the collection of evidence in electronic form of a criminal offense shall 
belgiven full force and effect. 
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SEC. 16. Applicability of the Convention on Cybercrime. - The provisions of Chapter 
III! of the Convention on Cybercrime shall be directly 'applicable in the implementation of this 
Adt as it relates to international cooperation taking into account the procedural laws obtaining in 
th6 jurisdiction. 
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SEC. 17. Competent Authority and 24/7 Point of Contact. - The Department of Justice 
(D'OJ) shall be responsible tom ensure the provision of immediate assistance for the purpose of 
in\;estigations or proceedings concerning the criminal offenses related to computer system and 
daia, or for the collection of electronic evidence of a criminal offense. In this regard, there is 
I 


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hereby created a DOJ Office of Cybercrime for facilitating or directly carrying out the provisions 
of technical advice, preservation of data, collection of evidence, giving legal information and 
locating suspects. The DOJ, in execution of requests for international cooperation, shall carry out 
communications with the concerned agencies or offices specifically the national cyber security 
office under the Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) outlined 
in Section 20 of this Act on an expedited basis which is hereby designated and shall serve as the 
24/7 point of contact. 
CHAPTER VI1 - FINAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 18. Appropriations. - The amount of Ten Million Pesos (PhPl0, 000,000.00) shall 
be appropriated annually for the implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 19. Implementing Rnles and Regulation. - The Department of Justice in 
consultation with the Commission on Information and Communication Technology shall 
formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act 
including the creation and establishment of a national cyber security office with the relevant 
computer emergency response council or team. 
SEC.20. Separability Cluuse. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid, the other 
provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC.21. Repealing Cluuse. - All laws, decrees, or rules inconsistent with this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Section 33 of Republic Act No.8792 or the Electronic 
Commerce Act is hereby modified accordingly. 
SEC.22. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the completion of 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.