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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM (NPM) IN COMPLIANCE 
WITH THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND 
OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT 
(OPCAT) AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution declares it a State policy of the Republic of 
the Philippines to value the dignity of every human person and to guarantee full respect for 
human rights. In line with this policy, the Republic of the Philippines either is a State Party to or, 
in the case of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted, various international 
human rights instruments and conventions that prohibit the use of torture and other cruel, 
inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. These include the International Convention on 
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the United Nations Convention Against Torture and 
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). 
Furthermore, the Republic of the Philippines acceded to the Optional Protocol to the 
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 
(OPCAT) on April 17, 2012, which requires under Part I, Article 3 thereof, that each State Party 
thereto “shall set up, designate or maintain at the domestic level one or several visiting bodies for 
the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” More 
specifically, Part IV, Article 17 stated that “[e]ach State Party shall maintain, designate or 
establish, at the latest one year after the entry into force of the present Protocol or of its ratification 
or accession, one or several independent national preventive mechanisms for the prevention of 
torture at the domestic level. Mechanisms established by decentralized units may be designated 
as national preventive mechanisms for the purposes of the present Protocol if they are in 
conformity with its provisions.” This mechanism is referred to as a National Preventive 
Mechanism (NPM). 
It has been more than 15 years since the Philippines acceded to the OPCAT, but the 
Philippines still does not have an NPM. Consequently, the Philippines is on the list of States 
whose compliance with Part IV, Article 17 of the OPCAT is substantially overdue. Ultimately, 
August 7, 2023
8:00 am
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this Bill will ensure risks to the commission of torture and other cruel, inhumane, and degrading 
treatment or punishment are eliminated.  
This bill seeks to establish an NPM that is a separate but an attached agency of the 
Commission on Human Rights (CHR). As the country’s National Human Rights Institution 
(NHRI), established in accordance with the Paris Principles, and as befitting its visitorial mandate 
under the 1987 Constitution, Executive Order No. 163, s. 1987, and other related laws, is the 
independent body best suited to oversee the performance of the functions of the NPM of the 
Philippines vis-à-vis the OPCAT. 
The CHR has been conducting unannounced, unhampered and unrestricted visits to 
places of deprivation of liberty pursuant to its visitorial mandate under Article XIII, Section 18 (4) 
of the 1987 Constitution; Section 3 (4) of Executive Order No. 163, s. 1987; Section 11 of the 
Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9745, otherwise known as the Anti- 
Torture Act of 2009; and Section 13 of Republic Act No. 10353, otherwise known as the Anti-
Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012. However, such visits are mainly 
investigative or monitoring in nature, not preventive as is required of an NPM. 
Establishing an NPM as a separate but an attached agency of the CHR will enhance the 
CHR’s mandate as it will now look into the preventive aspect against torture and other cruel, 
inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment in places of deprivation of liberty, and help 
develop policies that will prevent the occurrence of torture and other cruel, inhumane treatment 
or punishment. It also seeks to provide support in the improvement of places of deprivation of 
liberty that respect the basic human rights of persons deprived of liberty. This is because while 
the CHR initially focused only on monitoring visits to places of deprivation of liberty, it has come 
to realize that torture prevention needs a different and more holistic approach. Torture 
prevention entails understanding the various causes of torture, whether institutional, normative, 
political, cultural, or socio-economical, and, correspondingly, addressing such causes through a 
wide range of actions, such as legal reform, ensuring criminal responsibility and safeguards in 
detention, fighting against impunity, and ensuring remedies and reparations. 
Furthermore, by establishing the NPM as a separate but an attached agency of the CHR 
with its own budget and personnel, this bill would also help delineate between the investigative 
and preventive aspects of visits to places of deprivation of liberty by the CHR. However, it should 
be noted that this delineation and establishment of an NPM as a separate but attached agency of 
the CHR aims to complement, not replace, the CHR’s current visitorial mandate by extending its 
visitorial powers to places of deprivation of liberty outside of its current jurisdiction, such 
hospitals and psychiatric institutions. 
As of now, the CHR is developing a possible template of the NPM with the CHR as the 
lead with representatives from experts and civil society organizations (CSOs) as members. This 
initiative aims to create a model and a Manual of Operations on how an NPM should be 
structured and operationalized. Such a structure and operations are embodied in this proposed 
bill. 


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In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM (NPM) IN COMPLIANCE 
WITH THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND 
OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT 
(OPCAT) AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “National Preventive 
Mechanism (NPM) Act of 2023.” 
SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to: 
a.
Adopt the generally accepted principles of international law, which include the
prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhumane degrading treatment or punishment, as part of 
the law of the land; 
b.
Value the dignity of every human person and guarantee full respect for human
rights; 
c.
Ensure that the human rights of all persons, especially persons deprived of liberty,
are respected at all times and that no person placed under investigation or held in custody by any 
person in authority or his/her agent shall be subjected to physical, psychological, or mental harm, 
force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any act that impairs his/her free will or in any manner 
demeans or degrades human dignity; 
d.
Adopt a human rights-based approach in the prevention of torture and other cruel,
inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment; 
e.
Ensure that secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other similar
forms of detention where torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment and 
punishment may be carried out with impunity are prohibited; and 
House Bill No.__ 
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f.
Fully adhere to the principles and standards on the absolute condemnation and
prohibition of torture as provided for in the 1987 Constitution, Republic Act (RA) No. 9745 (the 
Anti-Torture Act of 2009), and the various international human rights instruments and 
conventions to which the Philippines either is a State Party to or voted in favor of, such as, but 
not limited to, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant 
on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the 
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the United Nations Convention 
Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT), 
and the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or 
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
a.
Agent of a person in authority refers to any person who, by direct provision of law,
election, or by appointment or employment by a competent authority, whether public
or private, is charged with the maintenance of public order and the protection and
security of life and property, including any person who acts for or on behalf of, assists,
represents, or comes to the aid of persons in authority;
b.
Deprivation of liberty refers to any form of detention or imprisonment or the placement
of a person in a public or private custodial setting which that person is not permitted
to leave at will by order of any judicial, administrative, or other authority;
c.
Other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment refers to a deliberate or
aggravated treatment or punishment inflicted by a person in authority or agent of a
person in authority against a person under his/her custody which attains a level of
severity causing suffering, gross humiliation or debasement to the latter;
d.
Person deprived of liberty (PDL) refers to any person placed in any form of detention or
imprisonment or in a public or private custodial setting where the said person is not
permitted to leave at will by order of any judicial, administrative, or other authority;
e.
Person in authority refers to any person directly vested with jurisdiction, whether as an
individual or as a member of a court or government corporation, board, or
commission or any person in charge of, managing, or with administrative supervision
and/or control over a place of deprivation of liberty;
f.
Place of deprivation of liberty refers to any place of detention, imprisonment, or the
placement of a person in a public or private custodial setting under or within the
jurisdiction and control of the Philippines, where persons are or may be deprived of
their liberty by virtue of an order given by a public authority, at his/her instigation,
or with his/her consent or acquiescence.
The term shall also encompass traditional and non-traditional physical spaces of
detention, whether moving or stationary, temporary or permanent, formally or
informally used as detention facilities, or maintained or managed by public or private


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authorities under regulation by the Government. The term shall include, but shall not 
be limited to, the following examples: 
1)
Municipal jails;
2)
City jails;
3)
District jails;
4)
Sub-provincial jails;
5)
Provincial jails
6)
Police custodial centers;
7)
Detention facilities;
8)
Correctional facilities;
9)
Barangay holding centers;
10) National penitentiaries;
11) Penal colonies;
12) Youth homes;
13) Rehabilitation centers for the youth or Bahay Pag-Asa;
14) Bahay Silangan;
15) International ports and airports;
16) Immigration detention centers;
17) Psychiatric mental health facilities/institutions;
18) Care homes for older persons;
19) Security or intelligence service facilities;
20) Military forts and camps;
21) Other facilities under military jurisdiction;
22) Places of administrative detention;
23) Means of transport for the transfer of persons deprived of liberty;
24) Hospitals / Health facilities;
25) Home-based or medical/health-related detention facilities;
26) Drug rehabilitation centers; and
27) Other similar or makeshift places of confinement or detention where persons
confined or detained thereat are not permitted to leave at will;
g.
Reprisal refers to an act or omission attributable to authorities or officials of a State
who order, carry out, permit or tolerate any sanction against any person or
organization for having communicated with the NPM or for having provided the
NPM with any information, irrespective of its accuracy;
h.
Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) refers to the United Nations
Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment established under the OPCAT. It has a preventive mandate
focused on a proactive approach to preventing torture and ill treatment.
i.
Torture refers to an act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental,
is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him/her or
a third person information or a confession, punishing him/her for an act he/she or a
third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or
coercing him/her or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any


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kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the 
consent or acquiescence of a person in authority or agent of a person in authority. It 
does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in, or incidental to 
lawful sanctions; 
j.
Unannounced visits refer to visits that may be conducted at any time and without prior
notice or authorization; and
k.
Unrestricted access refers to free access to the following unless specifically prohibited
by a court: 
1)
All persons deprived of their liberty, with the opportunity to have private
interviews with them without witnesses, either personally or with a translator, if
deemed necessary;
2)
All custodial personnel involved in or relevant to the treatment of persons
deprived of their liberty;
3)
Any other person involved in or relevant to the treatment of persons deprived of
their liberty;
4)
Any other person or source that the NPM believes to have relevant information;
5)
All information concerning the number of persons deprived of their liberty in
places of deprivation of liberty, as well as the number of such places and their
locations;
6)
All information referring to the treatment and conditions of persons deprived of
their liberty; and
7)
All 
places 
of 
deprivation 
of 
liberty 
and 
their 
installations 
and
facilities.Unrestricted access includes the liberty on the part of the NPM to choose
the places that it may want to visit and the persons that it may wish to interview.
SEC. 4. National Preventive Mechanism. – There is hereby created a National Preventive 
Mechanism (NPM) for the purpose of preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading 
treatment or punishment. The NPM shall be a separate but attached agency of the Commission 
on Human Rights (CHR). It shall function separately and independently from the operations of 
the CHR.  
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the NPM. – The NPM, whose visiting mandate is 
specifically aimed at the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment 
or punishment, and proactive and non-adversarial in its approach, shall have the following 
powers and functions: 
a.
To conduct regular and unannounced visits to places of deprivation of liberty in
order to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. 
In conducting such visits, the NPM may consider requests for visits by civil society groups or any 
other entities or individuals recommending policy, procedural, or practical reforms in places of 
deprivation of liberty; 
b.
To undertake preventive monitoring visits and coordinate with relevant
authorities to examine and assess the custodial policies, procedures, practices, and all other 


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aspects relevant to the treatment and living conditions of persons deprived of liberty in order to 
identify the risks that give rise to torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or 
punishment in accordance with the UN Standard Minimum Rules on the Treatment of Prisoners 
(SMRTP) and existing international principles, obligations, and standards; 
c.
To examine and review national laws, policies, and procedures that relate to the
treatment, well-being, and rights of persons deprived of liberty; 
d.
To submit to Congress and to the President its annual NPM report which shall
contain its observations, advisories and other policy recommendations, and proposals relating to 
the rights and protection of persons deprived of their liberty and provide other relevant 
authorities. The NPM report, which shall include a report to Congress its annual budget and 
expenditures, shall be published and disseminated to all stakeholders;  
e.
To refer any factual incident of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading
treatment or punishment or other human rights violations or abuses it may discover during its 
visits to appropriate authorities within places of deprivation of liberty.  
f.
To work, where appropriate, in cooperation or consultation with any person or
entity, whether public or private, in connection with the discharge of any of its functions under 
this Act and the OPCAT; 
g.
To publish information relative to its preventive monitoring functions, specifically
on matters mentioned in Paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) of this Section, when circumstances 
so warrant and with due prudence: Provided, That the NPM, having  high regard for its rules 
and regulations relative to confidentiality and informed consent, may determine what 
information shall be considered confidential; Provided further, That the NPM shall not publish 
or make known any sensitive personal data relating to any person without that person’s express 
consent. 
h.
To submit independent reports to the SPT regarding the implementation of the
Republic of the Philippines’ obligations under the UNCAT and the OPCAT; 
i.
To promote public awareness, through the publication and dissemination of
information, and education materials, on its work as the NPM; 
j.
To train and capacitate the relevant authorities charged with the treatment of
persons deprived of liberty and management of places of deprivation of liberty; 
k.
To ensure the protection and uphold the principle of non-refoulement for persons
deprived of liberty in the performance of its mandate in coordination with relevant agencies; and 
l.
To establish its own rules and procedures in carrying out its mandate and to create
line offices necessary and relevant for the execution of its functions. 


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SEC. 6. Guarantees for the NPM. – All branches, subdivisions, departments, and agencies 
or instrumentalities of the Government and relevant private institutions shall guarantee the NPM 
the following: 
a.
Full and unrestricted access to all information concerning the number of persons
deprived of liberty in places of deprivation of liberty, as well as the number of such places and 
their respective locations:  
b.
Full and unrestricted access to all information referring to the treatment and
conditions of persons deprived of liberty: 
c.
Full and unrestricted access to all places of deprivation of liberty and their
installations and facilities.  
The guarantees in subparagraph a, b, and c shall be subject to Section 12 of this Act; 
d.
Liberty to conduct private interviews with persons deprived of liberty without
recording or monitoring by the persons in authority, or agents thereof; 
e.
Liberty to choose the places to visit and persons to interview and when these
should take place; 
f.
Liberty for NPM officers and duly- authorized personnel to visit all places of
deprivation of liberty; 
g.
Freedom to determine its own rules and procedures, including its program of
visits; 
h.
That the relevant authorities shall be required to examine its recommendations as
the NPM and to enter into dialogues with the same to discuss and agree on possible 
implementation and the corresponding reporting measures; 
i.
That the relevant authorities shall be required to fulfill recommendations of the
NPM by implementing the agreed upon measures accordingly. Should the authorities fail to act 
upon the recommendation, the NPM shall forward its findings to the Department of Justice and 
other concerned government agencies for appropriate actions; 
j.
That the relevant authorities shall immediately file and pursue the appropriate
administrative, civil, and/or criminal cases against individuals and/or authorities who refuse to 
cooperate with the NPM as it undertakes its mandate under both this Act and the OPCAT; 
k.
That the NPM shall enjoy complete financial and operational autonomy and
independence when carrying out its functions under both this Act and the OPCAT; and 
l.
The NPM shall be allowed to receive foreign grants for the establishment of NPM
premises and implementation of its functions specified in this Act. 
SEC. 7. Composition of the NPM. – The NPM, which shall be an independent and collegial 
body, shall be composed of the Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights or his/her 


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representative Commissioner, sitting as ex-officio member, and ten (10) other members with the 
following qualifications: 
1. Five (5) experts each representing one of the following professions or other related
fields such as: 
a. Criminal Law;
b. Medicine;
c. Psychiatry;
d. Psychology;
e. Social Work;
f. Architecture; and
g. Engineering;
2. Four (4) representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the
Philippines for at least five (5) years and advocating for human rights, preferably focusing on 
anti-torture work and/or upholding the rights of persons deprived of liberty; and 
3. One (1) person with prior professional experience of at least five (5) years concerning
the administration of places of deprivation of liberty. 
The NPM shall have balanced gender representation and have adequate representation of ethnic 
and minority groups in its membership on the basis of the principles of equality and non-
discrimination.  
The NPM shall organize itself within thirty (30) days from the completion of the appointment of 
all ten (10) members. 
SEC. 8. Qualifications of the members of the NPM. -  Except for the the Chairperson or his/her 
representative Commissioner, all members of the NPM shall have the following qualifications: 
a) Be Filipino citizens;
b) Have been practicing their respective professions for at least five (5) years;
c) Have no record of any human rights violation(s).
Preference will be given to members of the aforementioned professions who are knowledgeable 
about matters related to deprivation of liberty, the Bangkok Rules, the Beijing Rules, detention 
and the administration of justice. 
Furthermore, each of the members shall possess the following additional qualifications: 
1)
The five (5) experts, shall:
a) Be recognized and respected members of their respective professional organizations;
b) Possess high moral character, recognized probity, competence, and integrity;
c) Be defenders and promoters of human rights in both their professional and personal
capacities; andSpecial consideration will also be given to members of the
aforementioned professions who understand the penal situation in the Philippines,
particularly penal structural conditions, organizational processes, culture, and the
effects of imprisonment.
2)
The four (4) representatives from the NGOs shall:


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a) Be recognized human rights defenders nominated by NGOs operating in the
Philippines for at least five (5) years and advocating for human rights, preferably
focusing on anti-torture work and/or upholding the rights of persons deprived of
liberty; or
b) Be human rights experts with experience working on both the issues of torture and the
rights of persons deprived of liberty and visiting places of deprivation of liberty;
3)
The member with prior professional experience regarding administration of places of
deprivation of liberty shall:
a) Have a Bachelor’s Degree;
b) Have experience in detention facility administration, with a good track record in
administration of places of deprivation of liberty; and
c) Have an understanding of the penal situation in the Philippines, particularly penal
structural conditions, organizational processes, culture, and the effects of
imprisonment.
SEC. 9. Term of Office, Appointments. - The Chairperson of the Commission on Human 
Rights or his/her representative Commissioner, sitting as ex officio member of the NPM, shall 
serve as a member of the NPM for the entirety of his/her respective tenure in the CHR. 
The ten (10) members shall be appointed by the CHR Commission En Banc. The selection and 
appointment process shall be open and transparent, ensuring participative engagements with all 
relevant stakeholders. To ensure that the NPM is a continuing body, the first batch of 
appointments shall serve on a staggered basis. Of the first appointment of the ten (10) members, 
three (3) experts and two (2) representatives from the NGOs shall serve for two (2) years. All 
subsequent appointments shall serve for a period of three (3) years with the possibility of one (1) 
reappointment. 
In no case shall the members of the NPM be appointed, reappointed, or designated in a temporary 
or acting capacity. Appointment or designation to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired 
term of the predecessor. 
SEC. 10. Salaries, Emoluments, and Benefits. – The members of the NPM shall have the rank, 
salary, emoluments, and allowances equivalent to a Commissioner of the CHR. 
SEC. 11. Organization and Staffing. – The NPM is hereby authorized to prepare and adopt 
the organizational structure and staffing pattern for the national and regional offices of the NPM 
in such manner or form as they may deem most suited and responsive to national and regional 
administration, subject, however, to existing laws and regulations prescribing position 
classification, rankings and pay ranges for national departments and offices.  
The NPM shall establish a regional office in each of the regions in the country with the 
corresponding staff complement that will be responsible for implementing the NPM functions in 
their areas of jurisdiction. 


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SEC. 12. Independence of Members of the NPM. 
a. All members of the NPM shall act independently and impartially. With the exception
of the CHR Chairperson or his/her representative Commissioner, all other members of the NPM 
shall serve in their personal capacity. They shall conduct themselves in accordance with the 
following guidelines:   
1) No member of the NPM shall participate in activities which may imply, or may seem
to imply, a conflict of interest with his/her capacity as an independent and impartial
member; and
2) Members of the NPM shall avoid any action which might give the impression that any
given agency or facility is receiving more or less favorable treatment than that accorded
to others; and
3) If for any reason a member of the NPM considers that he/she is in a situation involving
a potential conflict of interest, he/she shall promptly inform the Executive Director,
who shall then advise the rest of the members the NPM on the potential conflict of
interest. Ultimately, the NPM, shall take all measures necessary to safeguard the
requirements of independence and impartiality of its respective members.
SEC. 13. Fiscal autonomy. – To ensure the NPM’s independence, it shall enjoy full fiscal 
autonomy. Appropriations for the NPM shall not be reduced and shall be automatically and 
regularly released. 
SEC. 14. Confidentiality. – All documentation and information collected by the NPM shall 
be kept strictly confidential, unless the NPM decides otherwise in relation to a particular 
document: Provided, That no sensitive information, whether personal or otherwise, shall be 
published without the express consent of the individual or authority concerned: Provided further, 
that this provision shall be in accordance with all existing laws on confidentiality and security of 
sensitive personal information and data, such as but not limited to the Data Privacy Act of 2012. 
SEC. 15. Relationship and Cooperation with Government Agencies, Civil Society Organizations 
(CSOs) and Other Groups. – The NPM, shall apply a human rights-based approach in the 
performance of its mandate, maintain direct regular contact with and encourage open dialogues 
with the relevant UN agencies working against torture, including the Committee Against Torture, 
SPT, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). It shall also 
encourage and maintain participation and coordination with the CSOs, media organizations, and 
other regional, national, and international human rights mechanisms for the effective and full 
implementation of this Act. 
Government authorities and private organizations or entities mandated to protect and promote 
the rights of persons deprived of liberty shall cooperate with and promptly respond to and 
monitor the implementation of the recommendations, proposals, and other requests of the NPM 
in the performance of its mandate. 
The competent authorities shall take into consideration the recommendations of the NPM and 
enter into a dialogue with it, on possible implementation measures.  


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SEC. 16. Protection from Criminal Liability, Other Sanctions, and Reprisals. 
a.
No authority or official shall order, apply, permit, or tolerate any sanction against any
person or organization for having communicated to the NPM, including its officers
and staff, any information and no such person or organization shall be otherwise
prejudiced in any way;
b.
The relevant authorities shall take effective steps to prevent and promptly respond to
any sanction or act of reprisal stemming from communications to or cooperation by
other persons or organizations with the NPM;
c.
No criminal, administrative, or disciplinary sanction shall be taken against any person
or organization for having communicated in good faith any information to the NPM,
including its officers and staff;
d. Anything done in good faith and pursuant to the functions and powers conferred
upon the NPM under this Act or in respect of any publication by, or under the
authority of, the NPM of any report, proceeding, or any other matter under this Act
shall not be a ground for action, suit, or other legal proceeding against any member of
the NPM, its officers, staff or employees, or any other person who assisted the NPM
in the performance of the its mandate; and
e.
Any legal action filed to harass, vex, exert undue pressure against any member of the
NPM, including its officers and staff, in the performance of their functions under this
Act shall, if proven in court to have been filed for any of the aforementioned purposes,
be immediately dismissed with prejudice and the court may award damages,
attorney’s fees and costs of suit.
SEC. 17. Information Sheets on Persons Deprived of Liberty and Places of Deprivation of Liberty. 
– The NPM shall be entitled to receive copies of the lists as provided under Sec. 7 of Republic Act
No. 9745 otherwise known as the “Anti-Torture Act of 2009” and as provided under Sec. 10 of
Republic Act No. 10353 otherwise known as the “Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance
Act of 2012”.
SEC. 18. Public Education, Information, and Awareness Campaign. – The NPM, in partnership 
with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of 
Corrections (BUCOR), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Immigration (BI), 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 
(BJMP), the Philippine National Policy  (PNP), the Department of National Defense (DND), 
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 
Department of Health (DOH), and other agencies with jurisdiction, control and/or oversight of 
places of deprivation of liberty, CSOs, and such other concerned parties and entities in both the 
public and private sectors, shall inform the public, as well as persons in authority and their agents, 
of the existence of the NPM, the rights of persons deprived of liberty, the importance of 
preventive visits, the need for cooperation during such visits, and for implementing measures 
based on recommendations of the NPM.  


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SEC. 19. Periodic Review. – Within five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act, and every 
five (5) years thereafter or as the need arises, the NPM shall conduct a comprehensive review of 
its implementation and a systematic evaluation of its performance and functioning in order to 
highlight its accomplishments and impact on the protection of the rights of persons deprived of 
their liberty. 
To carry out this task, the NPM shall ensure participative and multi-sectoral dialogues with 
stakeholders, the CSOs, survivors of torture and their families, and the relevant government 
authorities involved in the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty and the administration 
of places of deprivation of liberty. 
The NPM shall submit its review and evaluation report to both the Senate Committees on Justice 
and Human Rights and the House Committee on Human Rights for their consideration.  
SEC. 20. Appropriations. – The NPM shall have an initial budget of Nine Hundred Million 
Pesos (PhP900,000,000.00). The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be 
charged against the current year’s appropriations of the CHR.  Thereafter,  the amount necessary 
for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act (GAA). 
SEC.  21. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). – The CHR shall formulate the IRR of 
this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity. The CHR shall consult with the DOJ, BUCOR, 
NBI, BI, DILG, BJMP, PNP, DND, AFP, DSWD, DOH, JJWC, ULAP and other relevant 
government agencies and CSOs working in various fields relevant to the treatment of persons 
deprived of liberty. 
The IRR of this Act shall be effective within fifteen (15) days following its publication in two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
SEC. 22. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, 
memorandum orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, ordinances, and other 
issuances, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby revoked, amended, 
or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 24. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at 
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,