FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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Jut 21 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 9147, also known as the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and 
Protection Act" provides that it shall be the policy of the State to conserve the country's wildlife 
resources and their habitats for sustaina1:lility. 
According to a study conducted in the United States, the ethic of hunting involves the 
consideration of fair chase, which allows the animal the opportunity to avoid the hunter. The 
study also showed that since exotic aniwals are clustered in a captive setting at unusually high 
densities, these animals attract disease more readily than more widely dispersed native species 
who roam freely. Thus, the transportation of captive exotic animals to commercial hunt 
operations can facilitate the spread of disease across great distances. 
This bill seeks to prohibits the transfer, transport, or possession of a confined exotic 
animal, for the purposes of allowing tM killing or injuring of that animal for entertainment or for 
the collection of a trophy. I 
I This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth :ongress, Second Regular Session 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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Jill 21 
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SENAW 
S. No. 1084 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN CONDUCT RELATING TO EXOTIC ANIMALS 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act may be cited as the "Exotic Animal Protection Act". 
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SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term: 
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(1) "Confined exotic animal" shall refer to "exotic species", as defined under the 
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Republic Act No. 9147 a.k.a. "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act", that has 
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been held in captivity, whether or not the defendant knows the length of the captivity, for the 
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shorter of the majority of the animal's life, or a period of 1 year; and 
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(2) "Captivity" does not include any period during which an animal lives as it would in 
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the wild surviving primarily by foraging for naturally occurring food; roaming at will over an 
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open area of not less than 1,000 acres; and having the opportunity to avoid hunters. 
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SECTION 3. Transport or Possession of Exotic Animals for Purposes of Killing or 
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Injuring Them. -
Whoever, in or substantially affecting domestic or foreign commerce, 
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knowingly transfers, transports, or possesses a confined exotic animal, for the purposes of 
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allowing the killing or injuring of that animal for entertainment or for the collection of a trophy, 
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shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.OO), and 
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imprisonment of not more than two (2) years. This provision shall not apply to the killing or 
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injuring of an exotic animal in a government natural area reserve undertaking habitat restoration. 
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SECTION 4. Enforcement. - Any person authorized by the Secretary of the Department 
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of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) may: 
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(A) without a warrant, arrest any person that violates this section (including 
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regulations promulgated under this section) in the presence or view of the arresting 
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person; 
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(B) execute any warrant or other process issued by an officer or court of 
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competent jurisdiction to enforce this section; and 
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(C) with a search warrant, search for and seize any animal taken or possessed in 
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violation of this section. 
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SECTION 5. Forfeiture. - Any animal seized with or without a search warrant shall be 
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held by the Secretary, and upon conviction of the defendant, shall be forfeited to the government 
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and disposed of by the Secretary, in accordance with law. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and sUbsisting. 
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SECTION 7. 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 inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. 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 circulation. 
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Approved, 
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