FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
, 
S.B. No. 
1433 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
i iJJUL 13 P 4 :18 
This bill seeks to impose stiffer penalties against delinquent parents to 
minimize, if not eliminate, the cases of neglected and abused children in this 
country. 
Parents have the natural right and duty over the upbringing of their children. 
Under the Family Code, parental authority and responsibility includes the caring for 
and rearing of their children' for civic consciousness and efficiency and the 
development of their moral, mental and physical character and well-being. Parental 
authority and responsibility cannot be renounced or transferred, except in cases 
authorized by law. Parents and those exercising parental authority shall have the 
following rights and duties: 
a. To keep them in their company, to support, educate and instruct them by right 
precept and good example, and to provide for their upbringing in keeping with 
their means; 
b. To give them love and affection, advice and counsel, companionship and 
understanding; 
c. To provide them with moral and spiritual guidance, inculcate in them honesty, 
integrity, self-discipline, self-reliance, industry and thrift, stimulate their interest 
in civic affairs, and inspire in them compliance with the duties of citizenship; 
d. To enhance, protect, preserve and maintain their physical and mental health at all 
times; 
e. To furnish them with good and wholesome educational materials, supervise 
their activities, recreation and association with others, protect them from bad 
company, and preserve them from acquiring habits detrimental to their health, 
studies and morals; 
£. 
To represent them in all matters affecting their interests; 
g. To impose discipline on them as may be required under the circumstances; and 
h. To perform such other duties as are imposed by law upon parents and 
guardians. 
Given the crucial role that parents have in the upbringing of a child, it is 
considered a criminal act for a person entrusted with the custody of a minor to 
abandon him or her and for parents to neglect their children by not giving them the 
education which their station in life require. However, the law has not been effective 
in ensuring that parents are not remiss with their responsibilities. Reflective of this 
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are the high number of children abandoned in the streets or are left to tend for 
themselves. 
This bill provides stiffer penalties for the delinquent parents by imposing 
longer years of imprisonment and higher amount of fines than what is presently 
provided under the Revised Penal Code. 
In view the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
requested. 
~~ 
Senator 
2 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 1433 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
i D JUl 13 P 11 :111 
TO STRENGTHEN THE PENAL PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO 
DELINQUENT PARENTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLES 276, 
277, AND 278 OF THE ll-EVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Article 276 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is hereby amended as 
2 
follows: 
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"ART. 276. Abandoning a minor. - The penalty of arresto mayor and a fine 
4 
of at least ten thousand pesos (PI0,000.00) but not more than fifteen 
5 
thousand pesos (PlS,OOO.OO) shall be imposed to anyone who shall 
6 
abandon a [child under seven years of age] MINOR, the custody of 
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which is incumbent upon him. 
8 
9 
THE PENALTY OF PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MINIMUM 
10 
PERIOD AND A FINE OF AT LEAST FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS 
11 
(PSO,OOO.OO) 
BUT 
NOT 
MORE 
THAN 
ONE 
HUNDRED 
12 
THOUSAND PESOS (PI00,OOO.OO) SHALL BE IMPOSED IF THE 
13 
PERSON CONVICTED OF THE PENALTY UNDER THIS ACT IS 
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THE PARENT OF THE MINOR. 
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When the death of the minor shall result from the abandonment, the 
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culprit shall be punished by prision correccional in its medium and 
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. maximum periods[;]. IF THE CULPRIT BE THE PARENT OF THE 
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DECEASED, HE OR SHE SHALL BE PUNISHED BY PRISION 
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CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD TO PRISION 
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MAYOR IN ITS MINIMUM PERIOD [;]. [b]But if the life of the 
• 
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minor shall have been in danger only, the penalty shall be prision 
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correccionaI in its minimum and medium periods. IN THE LATTER 
2 
CASE, IF THE CULPRIT BE THE PARENT OF THE MINOR, HE OR 
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SHE SHALL BE PUNISHED BY PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN ITS 
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MEDIUM AND MAXIMUM PERIODS. 
5 
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IN ADDITION, THE PARENT OF THE MINOR SHALL BE 
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DEPRIVED OF THEIR PARENTAL AUTHORITY, HEREDITARY 
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RIGHTS AND CUSTODY OVER THE MINOR. 
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10 
The provisions contained in [the two preceding paragraphs] THIS 
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ARTICLE shall not prevent the imposition of the penalty provided for 
12 
the act committed, when' the same shall constitute a more serious 
13 
offense." 
14 
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SECTION 2. Article 277 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is hereby amended as 
16 
follows: 
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"ART. 277. Abandonment of minor by person entrusted with his custody, 
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indifference of parents. - The penalty of arresto mayor and a fine of at least 
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FIFTY [ten] thousand pesos [(PI0,000.OO] (P50,OOO.OO) but not more 
20 
than ONE HUNDRED [fifteen] thousand pesos (PI00,OOO.OO) shall be 
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imposed upon anyone who, having charge of the rearing or education 
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of a minor shall deliver -said minor to a public institution or other 
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persons, without the consent of the one who entrusted such child to his 
24 
care or, in the absence of the latter, without the consent of the proper 
25 
authorities. 
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The same shall be imposed upon the parents who shall neglect their 
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children OF SCHOOL AGE by not giving them the COMPULSORY 
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ELEMENTARY education which [their station in life] 
THE 
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PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION requires [and financial condition 
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permits]." 
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SECTION 3. Article 278 of the same Code is hereby amended to read as 
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follows: 
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"ART. 278. Exploitation of minors. - The penalty of prision correccional 
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in its minimum and med~um periods and a fine not exceeding [500] 
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ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND pesos shall be imposed upon: 
2 
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xxx 
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5 
6. ANY PARENT WHO SHALL GIVE HIS UNEMANCIPATED 
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CHILD CORRUPTING ORDERS, COUNSELS OR EXAMPLE, 
7 
SHALL BE PUNISHED BY ARRESTO MAYOR IN ITS MAXIMUM 
8 
PERIOD AND A FINE OF AT LEAST FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS 
9 
(P50,OOO.OO) 
BUT 
NOT 
MORE 
THAN 
ONE 
HUNDRED 
10 
THOUSAND PESOS (PlOO,OOO.OO). THIS SHALL INCLUDE CASES 
11 
WHICH HAVE RESULTED FROM CULPABLE NEGLIGENCE OF 
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THE PARENT." 
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SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, 
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the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force 
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and effect. 
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SEC. 5. Repealing Clause .. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders 
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and their implementing rules, inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby 
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repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 6. Effectivity. -
Thi~ 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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