FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC!) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE: 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 5, provides: 
The maintenance o f  peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and 
property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment 
by all the people of the blessings o f  democracy. 
Older victims o f  violent crime are almost twice as likely than younger victims to be 
abused, robbed, or assaulted at or in their own homes. 
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As the number of older Filipinos is growing both numerically arid proportionally in the 
country, this bill seeks to develop strategies for preventing and punishing crimes that target or 
otherwise disproportionately affect seniors by collecting appropriate data to measure the extent 
of crimes committed against seniors and determine the extent o f  domestic and elder abuse of 
seniors.* 
* This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO COMBAT ABUSE AND INCREASE PENALTLES FOR CRIMES AGAINST SENIORS 
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 "Senior's Safety Act of 2007." 
SECTION 2. Purpose. - The purpose of this Act is to develop strategies for preventing 
and punishing crimes that target or otherwise disproportionately affect seniors by collecting 
appropriate data to measure the extent of crimes committed against seniors and determine the 
extent of domestic and elder abuse of seniors. 
SECTION 3. DeJilzition of Terms. -For the purpose of this Act, the term : 
(A) "Crime" means any criminal offense under the Penal Code and special laws; and 
(B) "Senior" means an individual who is more than fifty five (55) years of age. 
SECTION 4. Study of Crimes against Seniors. - 
(A) In General. - The Secretary of Justice shall conduct a study relating to crimes against 
seniors in order to assist in developing new strategies to prevent and otherwise reduce the 
incidence of those crimes. 
(B) Issues Addressed. - The study conducted under this section shall include an analysis 
of - 
( 1) The nature and type of crimes perpetrated against seniors, with special focus 
on- 
(a) The most common types of crimes that affect seniors; 
(b) The nature and extent of elder abuse inflicted upon seniors; 
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(c) The nature and extent of health care fraud and abuse targeting seniors; 
(2) The risk factors associated with seniors who have been victimized; 
(3) The manner in which the criminal justice systems respond to crimes against 
seniors; 
(4) The feasibility of establishing and maintaining a centralized computer 
database on the incidence of crimes against seniors that will promote the uniform 
identification and reporting of such crimes; 
(5) Crimes targeting or disproportionately affecting seniors; 
(6) Crime risk factors for seniors, including the times and locations at which 
crimes victimizing seniors are most likely to occur; 
(7) Specific characteristics of the victims of crimes who are seniors, including 
age, gender, race or ethnicity and socio-economic status; 
(8) The nature and extent of crimes targeting seniors, such as health care fraud; 
and 
(9) Other effective ways to prevent or reduce the occurrence of crimes against 
seniors. 
(C) Report. - Not later than eighteen (18) months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Justice shall submit to the House of Representatives and the Senate a report 
describing the results of the study under this section. 
SECTION 5. Increased Penalties Based on the Age of the Victim. - The Department of 
Justice shall. - 
(A) Review existing sentencing guidelines and recommend the possibility of increased 
penalties for persons convicted of offenses in which the victim was a senior in appropriate 
circumstances, given the serious economic and physical harms associated with criminal activity 
targeted at seniors due to their particular vulnerability; 
(B) Consult with individuals or groups representing seniors, law enforcement agencies, 
victims organizations, and the judiciary, as part of the review described in this section; 
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(C) Account for any aggravating or mitigating circumstances that may justify exceptions 
in order to provide sentcncing enhancements; 
Not later than one (1) year after the promulgation of this Act, the department shall submit 
to Congress a report on issues relating to the age of crime victims, which shall include any 
recommendations of the department relating to any revision or modification of penalty levels, 
including statutory penalty, for offenses iiivolving seniors. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter o i  instruction, administrative order, rule or regulations contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. .- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days afler its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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