Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES a
Quezon City, Metro Manila = pate 10-ib
TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1755

Introduced by Hon. Janice V. Degamo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines continues to face significant challenges in the efficient
enforcement of criminal laws, tracking of convicted individuals, and the consistent
administration of justice. A major contributing factor is the fragmented and outdated
system of maintaining criminal records across various law enforcement and judicial
institutions.

Currently, criminal records are dispersed among the Philippine National Police
(PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBN), Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau
of Jail Management and Penology (BIMP), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), and the
judiciary. These records often lack integration, real-time updating, and accessibility,
leading to delays in investigations, background checks, and judicial decisions. This
inefficiency undermines public safety, slows down the wheels of justice, and allows
some convicted individuals to escape accountability or commit further crimes.

This bill seeks to establish a National Criminal Offender Registry System
(NCORS), a centralized, secure, and updated digital database of individuals convicted
of crimes by final judgment. It mandates the integration of criminal conviction
records across all relevant government agencies, providing real-time access to
authorized law enforcement and judicial officers. In addition, it provides safeguards to
protect individual privacy and ensures that those whose convictions have been
overtumned, expunged, or pardoned are not unduly penalized by outdated records.

Through this legislation, law enforcement agencies will be better equipped to
track repeat offenders, monitor parolees, and prevent individuals with serious
convictions from infiltrating sensitive positions in both government and private
sectors. Courts will also benefit from faster and more accurate information when
handling cases involving criminal history or sentencing.

Furthermore, the bill enhances transparency and accountability in the criminal
justice system, and provides a legal framework for the responsible use of criminal
record data, balanced with the constitutional rights of individuals.


In an era of increasing security threats, organized crime, and digital fraud, the
Philippines must modernize its criminal justice infrastructure. The National Database
of Criminal Offenders Act is a vital step toward that goal.

Approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

JANICE Wecamo XO

Representative./3rd District of Negros Oriental


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

us
House Bill No, 1455

Introduced by Hon. JANICE V. DEGAMO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL DATABASE OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS,
INTEGRATING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUDICIAL RECORDS, AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 "National Database of Criminal
Offenders Act of 2025"

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens by strengthening the criminal justice
system by establishing an accurate, secure, and centralized database of all criminal
offenders. This will enable more effective law enforcement, better informed judicial
decisions, efficient background checks, and greater protection of public safety, while
upholding the rights and privacy of individuals.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. For the purposes of this Act:

(a) Criminal Offender refers to any individual who has been convicted by final
judgment of a crime by a Philippine court;

(b) Criminal Records refer to all official documentation related to criminal
convictions, including arrest records, court decisions, sentencing, incarceration
status, parole or probation status, and biometric data;

(c) Database refers to the National Criminal Offender Registry System (NCORS)
established under this Act;

(d) Authorized Agencies refers to the Philippine National Police (PNP), National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP),
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), and the Department of Justice (DOJ);

(e) Secure Access refers to regulated, encrypted, and audited digital access to the
database limited to authorized users.


Section 4. Establishment of the National Criminal Offender Registry System
(NCORS). There is hereby established a National Criminal Offender Registry System
(NCORS) under the supervision of the DOJ, which shall:

(a) Consolidate all criminal records from the PNP, NBI, DOJ, courts, BJMP, and
BuCor;

(b) Include the full name, aliases, photograph, fingerprints, DNA data (if
available), date of birth, gender, nationality, current incarceration or probati
status, criminal charges, and final disposition;

(©) Be digitized, searchable, and secure, with safeguards to prevent tampering,
misuse, or unauthorized access;

(d) Be updated in real time by contributing agencies up conviction, release, or
change in offender status.

Section 5. Mandatory Reporting and Data Integration. All government
agencies involved in criminal justice shall be required to:

(a) Submit all final convictions and related offender data to the DOJ within thirty
(30) days of judgment or status change;

(b) Use a standardized digital format for submissions as prescribed by the DOJ in
coordination with the Department of Information and Communications
Technology (DICT);

(c) Cooperate in the development of inter-agency protocols for secure data
transmission and verification.

Section 6. Authorized Access and Use. Access to the NCORS shall be limited
to the following purposes and users:

(a) Law enforcement officers conducting investigations or background checks;
(b) Judges and prosecutors handling criminal cases or sentencing decisions;

(©) Government agencies conducting security clearance, background checks for
sensitive positions, or public safety evaluations.

Section 7. Rights of Convicted Individuals. Convicted individuals shall have
the following rights under this Act:

(a) To review and verify their criminal records in the NCORS;

(b) To have errors or outdated information corrected within fifteen (15) working
days of filing a verified request with supporting documentation;


() To have their records removed or altered accordingly if their conviction is
expunged or pardoned.

Section 8. Confidentiality and Data Protection. For the purposes of this act:

(a) All information in the NCORS shall be protected under Republic Act 10173
also known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and relevant human rights laws;

(b) Unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure of data shall be punishable
under this Act with imprisonment of six (6) to twelve (12) years, and perpetual
disqualification from public office if the offender is a government employee.

Section 9. Budget and Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current budget of the DOJ and
DICT. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Section 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the DOJ, in coordination with the DICT, Supreme
Court, PNP, NBI, BJMP, BuCor, and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), shall
promulgate the necessary Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Section 11. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.

Section 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Section 13. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,