FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Francis N. Pangilinan 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There is an urgent need to provide protection and security to witnesses andlor 
resource persons who attend legislative investigations in aid of legislation conducted by 
the Congress of the Philippines. The present law should be amended in order to improve 
the conditions and procedure for providing protection and assistance to a witness in 
legislative investigations when reasonable fear exists that testifying for the purpose of 
giving evidence and/or testimony during the investigation on criminal offenses in 
connection with which the protection may be provided under the present law, would 
expose the witness to severe danger to hidher life, health, freedom, corporal inviolability 
or property, where other measures do not suffice. The object of this bill is to ensure that 
the due administration of justice in legislative investigations is not prejudiced by 
witnesses not being given protection relative to hisher testimony in said proceedings. 
The paramount consideration is to provide for the safety and well-being of witnesses in 
legislative investigations who, unless protected, may not give evidence for fear of death, 
violence or serious injury by criminal interests likely to be affected by the proceedings, 
and for related purposes. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this b i l h  earnestly sought. 
. PANGILINAN 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF TEE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPlNES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Francis N. Paiigiliiian 
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6981 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT PROVIDING 
FOR A WITNESS PROTECTION, SECURITY 
AND BENEFIT PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assenzbled: 
SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 6981 is hereby amended lo read as follows: 
“Section 4. Witness in Legislative Investigations. - In case of legislative 
investigations in aid of legislation. the Senate of the Philippines or the House of 
Representatives, as the case may be, shall provide for a separate “Witness 
Protection, Security and Benefit Program” for the resource persons and/or 
witnesses. The witness andlor resource persons, with his express consent, may 
be admitted into the Program upon the recommendation of the legislative 
committee where his testimony is needed when in its judgment there is pressing 
necessity therefor: 
Provided, That such. recommendation is approved by the 
President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case 
may be. 
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The Senate of the Philippines or the House of Representatives, as the 
case may be, shall have primary jurisdiction as to the administration and 
implementation of the Program. The Congress may request the necessary 
assistance from any department, bureau, office or any other executive agency 
to assist in the implementation of the Program. 


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However, the Program shall be implemented by the Senate or the House 
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of Representatives independent from any other any department, bureau, 
office or any other executive agency when it is apparent that the investigation 
might be prejudiced and/or when the safety of the witness might be 
jeopardized especially when the public officials are involved. 
Congress may promulgate its own rules and regulations for the 
implementation of this provision.” 
SEC. 2. 
inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen ( I  5) days after its complete publication in the Oficial 
Gazette or in at least (wo (2) national newspaper of general circulation whichever comes first. 
All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules and regulations contrary or 
Approved,