EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
S E N A T E
S. No. 
8 9 3
vf»' 
CP of thr g."irrMr;>
'19 
AUG 13 
A 9 2 5
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.
f ; 
.
AN ACT
PROVIDING THE RIGHTS ACCORDED TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES, DEFINING 
THE DUTIES OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICERS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to the Social Weather Stations survey1, around 1.2 million families 
fell victim to common crimes in the second quarter of 2018. This is the lowest since 
the record-low 3.7% in June 2017, which shows lower crime rate. However, there is 
no doubt that these crime victims aren't legally protected and their rights are 
disregarded by the system.
Victims' rights are legal rights afforded to victims of crime. The Bill of Rights 
protects persons accused of the commission of a crime. Unfortunately, the other side 
involved -  the victims of the crimes themselves -  are not provided with the same 
safeguards to minimize damage or injury caused by the commission of these crimes. 
These victims usually suffer physical and psychological trauma, having their personal 
lives affected as well as their families'. Hence, crime victims must be treated with 
fairness, respect, and dignity throughout the whole criminal justice process.
This bill seeks to implement the constitutional mandate that: "The State 
values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human
1 "Crime victims down in Q2: SWS" Retrieved from: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1048594


codifies certain rights of crime victims, prescribes the duties of responsible officers 
and provides penalties for violations of its provisions.
In view of this foregoing, the urgent approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMO^FdONG r e v il l a , JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
s. No. 893
of tl;r iS^i'rrrtnr^^
•19 
AUG 13 
A 9 :2 5
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla 9r.
AN ACT
PROVIDING THE RIGHTS ACCORDED TO VICTIM S OF CRIMES, DEFINING 
THE DUTIES OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICERS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES 
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Magna Carta for Crime
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Victims."
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Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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provide proper assistance and protection to victims of crime and ensure that no further
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harm and damage is inflicted on them during the entire prosecution of their case.
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Sec. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  As used in this Act, the term:
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a) 
Victim -  means a person who has suffered direct physical, emotional, or
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pecuniary harm as a result of the commission of a crime, including:
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1) In the case of the victim that is an institutional entity, an authorized
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representative of the entity; and
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2) In the case of a victim who is under eighteen (18) years of age,
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Incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased, one of the following (in order
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of preference):
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a) Spouse;
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b) Legal guardian;
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c) Parent


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d) Child;
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e) Sibling
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f) Another family member; or
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g) Another person designated 
by the court
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b) Responsible O fficial- means a person designated pursuant to Section 4 of
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this Act who performs the functions of a responsible official.
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Sec. 4. Best Efforts to Accord Rights. -  
Officers and employees of the
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Department of Justice and other departments and agencies of the government
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engaged in the detention, investigation, or prosecution of crime shall exert their best
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efforts to ensure that victims of crimes are accorded the rights described in Section 5.
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Sec. 5. Rights o f Crime Victims. -  A crime victim has the following rights:
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a) The right to be treated with respect for the victims' dignity and privacy. In
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line with this, a responsible official shall -
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1) Inform the victim of the place where the victim may receive
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emergency medical and social services;
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2) Inform the victim of any restitution or other relief to which the
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victim may be entitled under this or any other law and the manner
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in which such relief may be obtained;
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3) Inform the victim of private and public programs available for the
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counseling, treatment, and other forms of support to the victim;
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and
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4) Assist the victim in contacting the persons who are responsible
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for providing the services and reliefs described in subparagraphs
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(1), (2), 
and (3)
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b) The right to be reasonably protected from the accused. In line with this, a
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responsible official shall arrange for a victim to receive reasonable
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protection from the accused and persons acting in concert with or at the
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behest of the accused.
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During the court proceedings, a responsible official shall ensure that a victim
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is provided a waiting area removed from and out of sight and hearing of the
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accused and his witnesses.


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c) The right to be notified of the status of the investigation and prosecution of 
the crime. During the investigation and prosecution of a crime, a responsible 
official shall provide the victim the earliest possible notice of:
1) The status of the investigation of the crime to the extent it is 
appropriate to inform the victim and to the extent that it will not 
interfere with the investigation;
2) The arrest of the accused;
3) The filing of charges against the accused;
4) The scheduling of each court proceeding that the witness is either 
required to attend or is entitled to attend; and
5) The acceptance of a plea of guilty or the rendering of verdict after 
trial.
d) The right to be present at all public court proceedings related to the offense, 
unless the court determines that testimony by the victim would be materially 
affected if the victim heard other testimony at trial.
e) The right to confer with the attorney for the government in the case.
f) The right to restitution. In line with this, at all times, a responsible official 
shall ensure that any property of a victim that is being held for evidentiary 
purposes be maintained in good condition and returned to the victim as 
soon as it is no longer needed for evidentiary purposes.
g) The right to information about the conviction, sentencing, imprisonment, 
and release of the accused. In line with this, after trial, the responsible 
official shall provide the victim with the earliest possible notice of:
1) The scheduling of parole hearing of the convict;
2) The escape or any other form of release of the convict from 
custody;
3) The death of the accused, if the accused dies while in custody;
4) The sentence imposed on the accused, including the date when 
the accused will be eligible for parole;
5) The release and detention status of the accused; and


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6) General information regarding the correction process, including
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information about pardon, commutation of service, good time
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allowances, probation, and the eligibility for each.
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Sec. 6. The Regulator/ Units. -  Any responsible official, as defined in Section 4
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of this Act, who fails, either willfully or negligently, to perform the duties imposed by
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Section 5 of this Act, shall be penalized with not less than six (6) months imprisonment
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and not more than one (1) year imprisonment. This is without prejudice to any
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administrative case which may be filed against the official.
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Sec. 7. Civil Liability. -  A responsible official found guilty of violating this Act
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shall also be civilly liable for any damage that may be suffered by the same victim as
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a result of the official's omission to perform duties required under Section 5 of this
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Act. 13
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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. -  If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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14 unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
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shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. -  Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general publication.
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Approved,