THIRTEENTH CO$JGRFSS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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'1.j 22 ,.' .': 
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iji, 
112. 
OF THE PHILIPPNES 
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First Regular Sessioh 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 27, mandates the State to maintain honesty and 
integrity in the public service. This is designed to prevent government officers and employees ' I 
from using their office for personal aggrandizement. 
Government offices and premises, as long as their establishment and maintenance are 
paid out of public funds, should be devoted entirely to the performance of public service. Hence, 
the use thereof, during the election period up to the election day, in order to solicit any 
contribution or to raise funds for political purposes, should be prohibited. 
This bill seeks to declare it unlawful for any person seeking public office to use 
government offices and premises in any manner that will promote his/ her election. 
This bill is a product of the public hearings conducted by the Committee on 
Constitutional Amendments, Revision of the Codes and Laws during the 1 I"' Congress. 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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,: *. 22 ’.,;.: :” ‘1 
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’34 
J,lL 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
AMENDING!B.P. BLG. 881, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, SECTION 97 
Be it enacted by thk Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 97 of B.P. Blg. 881 as amended, is further amended to read as 
follows: 
“Sec. 97. Prohibited raising of funds: 
(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to hold dances, lotteries, 
cockfights, 
boxing 
bouts, 
bingo, 
beauty 
contests, 
entertainment, 
or 
cinematographic, theatrical or other performances for the purpose of raising funds 
for an election campaign or for the support of any candidate from the 
commencement of the election period up to and including election day; or for any 
person or organization whether civic or religious, directly or indirectly, to solicit 
and/ or accept from any candidate for public office, or from his campaign manager, 
agent or representative, or any person acting in their behalf, any gift, food, 
transportation, contribution, or donation in cash or in kind from the commencement 
of the election period up to and including election day; Provided, That normal and 
customary religious stipends, tithes, or collections on Sundays and/ or other 
designated collection days are excluded from this prohibition; and 
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person seeking public office whether 
local, regional or national to solicit or receive any contribution, monetary and/ or in 
kind, OR CONDUCT ANY FUND RAISING ACTIVITY FOR POLITICAL 
PURPOSES, in any government office or premises, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE 
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BUT. ARE NOT LIMITED TO NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT OFFICES, GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR CONTROLLED 


CORPORATIONS, any military or police camp, installation or office AND TI-IE 
LIKE, AS LONG AS THE MAINTENANCE OF SAID OFFICES OR PREMISES 
ARE PAID OUT OF PUBLIC FUNDS. THIS PROHIBITION SHALL APPLY 
BEFORE AND DURING ELECTION PERIOD UP TO ELECTION DAY 
ITSELF.” 
SECTION 2. Separnbili@ CZause. - 
If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the laws or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting.1 
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - 
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instquction, adininistrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general publication. 
Approved. 
FN: 119