FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
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Senate Bill No. 855 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution provides in the Declaration of Principles and State 
Policies that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people of 
the State. Yet, this avowed policy and principle is sometimes violated by the 
elements of the Armed Forces to the dismay of a frightened public. Rather than 
the gallant knights in the shining armour, soldiers are thus perceive as the villains 
or the enemies of the people. 
This image is strengthened every time there are alleged abuses of civilian 
rights by the military. 
Ironically, many of these atrocities being the result of 
simple language and cultural misunderstandings between the soldiers and the 
locals, could easily be avoided. But then, owing to the inadequate orientation of 
soldiers, conflicts such as these remain common in areas where cultural 
communities are affected. Many soldiers being unaware of local customs tend to 
frighten and offend the tribal populace. 
This bill seeks to minimize if not prevent any military-tribal conflict that 
might occur due to cultural and language differences, by requiring every officer 
and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to undergo 
orientation course on the culture, language or dialect, way of living, habits and 
tradition of cultural communities living in the areas where they might be deployed 
or posted. 
Additionally, the orientation course shall emphasize the re-orientation of 
soldiers' attitUdes about their countrymen, their job as peace-makers instead of 
fighters; raising the self-esteem and morale of the soldiers by making them 
aware of the important role they play in the attainment of national security and 
enabling them to interact more humanely and civilly with the people in the 
country sides. 
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In view of t he foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly urged. 
OY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 855 
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JUL -8 A8:35 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING EVERY OFFICER AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE 
ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES TO UNDERGO AN ORIENTATION 
COURSE ON THE CULTURE, lANGUAGE, DIALECT, WAY OF LIVING, 
HABIT, TRADITION AND THE LIKE OF THE CULTURAL COMMUNITIES 
WHERE THEY ARE DEPLOYED OR TO BE POSTED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.-
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the Armed Forces 
of the Philippines (AFP) shall require every officer and enlisted personnel, prior to 
deployment to an area dominated by a cultural community or group to undergo 
an intensive orientation course on the culture, language, dialect, way of living, 
habits, traditions and the like of the cultural community living in that area . 
• 
An area is considered dominated by a cultural community when they 
consist of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total population. 
SEC. 2. The orientation course shall in addition to the matters mentioned 
in Section 1, emphasize the re-orientation of soldier's attitudes about their duties 
and responsibilities toward their countrymen, their job as peace-makers instead 
of fighters; raise the self-esteem and morale of the soldiers by making them 
aware of the important role they play in the attainment of national security and 
enable them to interact more humanely and civilly with the public. 
SEC. 3. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, in coordination with other 
govemment agencies, shall be primarily responsible for formulating the 
necessary orientation module. The Department of Education, Office of Northern 
Cultural Communities (ONCC), Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA), Office of 
Southern Cultural Communities (OSCC) and other similar agencies shall render 
assistance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)_ 
SEC. 4. The AFP shall come out with a general directive implementing 
the orientation course within sixty (60) days after effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 5. 
The AFP may deploy troops in areas dominated by cultural 
communities without going through the required orientation course in cases of 
emergency: Provided, That after the emergency has subsided ~nd as .soon .as 
the situation permits the said troops shall undergo the reqUired orientation 
course. 


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A situation is considered an "emergency" when in the judgment of the AFP 
Command there is a possibility of widespread violence creating chaos and civil 
strife endangering life, property, the normal operations of the government and the 
enforcement of laws, or when there is an actual existing violence requiring instant 
military presence in the area to reinstate peace and order. 
SEC. 6. Any officer in the AFP who orders the deployment of any soldier 
or group of soldiers to be deployed without undergoing the required orientation 
course as provided under this Act shall be punished for dereliction of duty in 
accordance with the Revised Penal Code. 
Any soldier or group soldiers who knowingly and/or voluntarily .allows 
himself or themselves to be deployed without undergoing the required orientation 
course shall also be punished for dereliction of duty in accordance with the 
Revised Penal Code. 
SEC. 7. 
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any 
available funds in the National Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the funds 
necessary for the effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 8. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof 
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
amended accordingly. 
SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,