FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
} 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
First Regular Session 
} 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 2173 
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Introduced by Senator Francis N, Pangilinan 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There is an urgent need to provide protection and security to witnesses and/or 
resource persons who attend legislative investigations in aid of legislation conducted by 
the Congress of the Philippines. The present law should be amended in order to improve 
the conditions and procedures for providing protection and assistance to a witness in 
legislative investigations when reasonable fear exists that testifying for the purpose of 
giving evidence and/or testimony during the investigation on criminal offenses in 
connection with which the protection may be provided under the present Jaw, would 
expose the witness to severe danger to his/her life, health, freedom, corporal inviolability 
or property, where other measures do not suffice. The object of this bill is to ensure that 
the due administration of justice in legislative investigations is not prejudiced by 
witnesses not being given protection relative to his/her testimony in said proceedings. 
The paramount consideration is to provide for the safety and well-being of witnesses in 
legislative investigations who, unless protected, may not give evidence for fear of death, 
violence or ,serious injury by criminal interests likely to be affected by the proceedings, 
and for related purposes. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
r 
NGILINAN 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE2173 
S.B. NO._~.~_~ __ 
Introduced by Senator Francis N. Pangili'nan 
'. 
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6981 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT PROVIDING 
FOR A WITNESS PROTECTION, SECURITY 
AND BENEFIT PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House 0/ Representatives o/the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
I 
SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 6981 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
2 
"Section 4. Witness in Legislative Investigations. 
~ In case of legislative 
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investigations in aid of legislation, THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES OR 
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THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS THE CASE MAY BE, 
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SHALL PROVIDE FOR A SEPARATE "WITNESS 
PROTECTION, 
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SECURITY AND BENEFIT PROGRAM" FOR THE RESOURCE 
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PERSONS AND/OR WITNESSES. The witness and/or resource persons, with 
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his express consent, may be admitted into the Program upon the recommendation 
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of the legislative committee where his testimony is needed when in its judgment there 
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is pressing necessity therefor: Provided, That such recommendation is approved by 
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the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case 
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maybe. 
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THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES OR THE HOUSE OF 
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REPRESENTATIVES, AS THE CASE MAY BE, SHALL HAVE 
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PRIMARY JURISDICTION AS TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND 
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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM. THE CONGRESS MAY 
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REQUEST 
THE 
NECESSARY 
ASSISTANCE 
FROM 
ANY 
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DEPARTMENT, BUREAU, OFFICE OR ANY OTHER EXECUTIVE 
19 
AGENCY 
TO ASSIST IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 
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PROGRAM. 


I 
HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED BY 
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THE 
SENATE 
OR 
THE 
HOUSE 
OF 
REPRESENTATIVES 
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INDEPENDENT FROM ANY OTHER ANY DEPARTMENT, BUREAU, 
4 
OFFICE OR ANY OTHER EXECUTIVE AGENCY WHEN IT IS APPARENT 
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THAT THE INVESTIGATION MIGHT BE PREJUDICED AND/OR WHEN 
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THE 
SAFETY 
OF 
THE 
WITNESS 
MIGHT 
BE 
JEOPARDIZED 
7 
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ESPECIALLY 
CONGRESS 
WHEN 
MAY 
THE 
PUBLIC 
PROMULGATE 
OFFICIALS 
ARE 
INVOLVED. 
ITS 
OWN 
RULES 
AND 
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REGULATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROVISION." 
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SEC. 2. 
All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules and 
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regulations contrary or inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby repealed or 
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modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication 
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in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspaper of general circulation 
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whichever comes first. 
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Approved,