-A
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S.B. No. 745
I
72 JUL 18 P5 -15
received B‘- —
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
REQUIRING POLICE AND MILITARY PERSONNEL TO COORDINATE 
WITH PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS PRIOR TO ENTRY IN 
THE PREMISES THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The role of education in bringing about innovations and social change cannot be 
overemphasized. Its ability to usher a population that is empowered, learned, tolerant, 
and critical has made it an invaluable weapon to fight and overcome economic 
oppression and social injustice. Needless to state, the value of education lies in its 
ability to inspire the human spirit to create, envision, engage, challenge, and question. 
Meaningful education, thus, is founded on intellectual liberty, where one can openly 
think, express his thoughts, criticize, disagree, and engage in discussions with another 
in a community of free thinkers.
It is in this spirit that the framers of our Constitution found it expedient to decree 
in Article XIV, Section 5(2) that “academic freedom shall be enjoyed in all institutions 
of higher learning.” The guarantee of academic freedom was intended to foster an 
environment where learning institutions, teachers and students may freely express 
and discuss ideas in pursuit of knowledge; and where criticisms, no matter how 
scalding, are tolerated. The freedom of thought and discussion, thus, necessarily 
entails freedom from retaliation, censorship, interference, or intimidation by powerful 
forces, most especially the State.
The proposed law is the State’s formal commitment to upholding intellectual 
integrity and independence in the academe, an assurance given to a learning 
institution, its teachers, students, and the whole of its academic community that they 
are free to pursue knowledge and be daring in their ideas, discussions, expressions, 
and creativity, and that the State shall not meet this freedom with undue interference, 
censorship, policing, or intimidation.


Thus, the limitations in the movement and entry of police and military forces in 
campus premises are intended to avoid the stifling and restrictive effect of these State 
forces’ presence on the exercise of academic freedom. They are likewise meant to 
regulate in general State actions that may tend to unduly police or interfere with the 
constitutionally guaranteed right to academic freedom of public learning institutions.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR JOEL VILL/ANUEVA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
J 
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72 JUL18 P5:15
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 745
RliCEiVcD BY.
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
REQUIRING POLICE AND MILITARY PERSONNEL TO 
COORDINATE WITH PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS PRIOR 
TO ENTRY IN THE PREMISES THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Ligtas at
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Malayang Campus Act.”
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State reiterates the Constitutional
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policy of protecting academic freedom for higher institutions of learning, and
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ensuring the safety of all students, regardless of academic level, to a safe and
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free campus. Towards this end, the State shall ensure that faculty members
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and students are free to engage in academic discussions and debate without
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fear of censorship and retaliation. The State shall also ensure that faculty
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members and students are free to express their views, opinions, research
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conclusions, and other forms of expression, without fear of sanction, unless
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otherwise prohibited by law. Pursuant to this, the State shall ensure that
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academic institutions remain to be free from interference from police and
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military officials, and any entry into the campuses of these institutions shall be
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coordinated with the officials of the educational institution concerned.
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SEC. 3. Mandatory Notification. - Prior notice shall be given by the law
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enforcement agency, such as, but not limited to, the Armed Forces of the
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Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), or any other agency
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intending to conduct operations within the premises of public educational
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institutions of higher learning in the Philippines, to the administration of the
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educational institution concerned for proper coordination and to ensure the
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safety and well-being of the students, faculty, and all stakeholders.


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Except in cases of hot pursuit and similar occasions of emergency, or if 
indispensably necessary in the maintenance of security, peace and order as 
determined by the President, Dean, or other administrative officials of similar 
rank and authority, no member of the law enforcement agency or any person/s 
acting on their behalf shall enter the premises of any public educational 
institution of higher learning.
SEC. 4. Mutual Extension of Assistance. ~ Notwithstanding the 
foregoing, the police and/or military personnel shall, upon proper notification, 
request the assistance of the administration of the public educational institution 
concerned, for the enforcement of the law within its premises.
In addition, whenever in the reasonable opinion of the administrator. 
President or Board of Regents or Trustees or the highest policy- and/or 
decision-making body of the educational institution concerned, the assistance 
of the police and/or military is necessary for the maintenance of security, peace, 
and order within the premises of the educational institution, the nearest police 
and/or military unit shall promptly dispatch assistance, with properly identified 
personnel, as may be warranted by the circumstances. In all cases, the request 
for assistance shall be duly supported by a written request or any appropriate 
document showing proof of request for assistance.
In case the request for assistance is granted, only uniformed members 
of law enforcement agencies with proper identification shall be allowed entry 
into the premises of the educational Institution concerned, except where the 
assistance requested specifies otherwise.
SEC. 5. Non-interference in peaceful protests or mass gatherings.
- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to grant authority to police and military 
personnel to inter1:ere with peace protests or any kind of mass gatherings inside 
the premises of the educational institution concerned, and those held outside 
of its premises by recognized student organizations, for which a prior 
notification have been made by the group participating in such peaceful protest, 
except as provided under this Act. The administration of the educational 
institution concerned shall be deemed responsible for the behavior of students, 
faculty, and employees in such activities.
SEC. 6. Arrest, Detention, and Custodial Investigation. - The service 
of search warrant, warrant of arrest, or oral or written invitation for questioning 
and similar purposes on any student, faculty, employee, or invited participants 
within the territorial jurisdiction or premises of the educational institution or in 
any official event of a public educational institution of higher learning shall, as 
far as practicable, be done after prior notification is given to the appropriate 
official of the educational institution.
In case of prior notification, the party serving the warrant shall coordinate 
closely with the appropriate officers of the educational institution or their duly 
authorized representatives, who shall accompany and assist them in the 
service of warrant, or in informing them of the invitation for questioning. In all


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cases, no warrant shall be served, or invitation for questioning shall be made, 
without the presence of at least two faculty members of the educational 
institution concerned.
If the giving of prior notification by the party serving the warrant is not 
practicable, a report shall be submitted to the concerned official of the 
educational institution immediately, but not later than twenty-four (24) hours, 
after the service of the warrant.
No student, faculty, personnel, or invited guest/s or participant/s in any 
official activity of the educational institution concerned shall be subjected to 
custodial investigation without prior notice to the administration of the 
educational institution concerned. Said custodial investigation shall be 
conducted in the presence of the counsel of choice of the student, faculty, 
personnel, or such invited guest/s or participant/s, or with the assistance of 
counsel who shall be appointed for them by the aforementioned administrative 
officials.
SEC. 7. Public Basic Education Schools. - The provisions of this bill 
shall also apply to public basic education schools under the jurisdiction of the 
Department of Education (DepEd), subject to existing laws, rules, and 
regulations.
SEC.8. Continuous Enforcement of Laws. — Nothing herein shall be 
construed as a prohibition against the enforcement of the laws of the 
Philippines.
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within forty-five (45) 
days upon the effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED), the DepEd, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and other public 
educational institutions in the Philippines, the Department of National Defense 
(DND), the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police, 
in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including student groups, shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act.
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid.
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, proclamations, executive 
orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are 
hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly: Provided, That no person 
shall be deemed to be vested with any property or other right by virtue of the 
enactment or operation of this Aci.
SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national 
newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,