SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
~J<''''!''l!r", 
,"\,~, t t •. ' I';' 
(~ffHI' tlf tlle ~f'fii't.'Ir~ 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'15 
MAR 16 P 3 :02 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2695 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF AGRI-BIOTERRORISM 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Agri-bioterrorism is the act of knowingly or maliciously using biological agents as 
weapons against the agricultural industry and the food supply. It would be an attack 
against one of the Philippines' most vital industries and is certainly a cause for concern as 
it is currently not contemplated in law as a crime. An attack against the agricultural 
industry would be financially devastating and would have the effect of severely reducing 
the public's faith in the quality of the food supply, whether the food was grown in the 
Philippines or elsewhere. 
The economic damages caused by the accidental outbreaks of animal disease, such 
as the foot-and-mouth disease, bird flu, and mad cow disease are immense. Additionally, 
the deliberate introduction of fungi, bacteria, or pests could have an equally destructive 
effect. Given that a significant percent of the population already suffer from hunger and 
malnourishment, any bioterrorism attack would affect millions of lives, jobs and cause 
severe dislocations in the Philippines food supply. Hence, this bill seeks to define and 
penalize the crime of agri-bioterrorism. i 
~ 
4\N.04N-w ~~;., 
MIRIAM DEFEWSOR S;(NTI$.rO 
11' 
1 This bill is based on Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of2002, US 
Congress. 
1 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SEN1l695 
S.No. ___ _ 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
'15 
MAR 16 P 3 :02 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF AGRI-BIOTERRORISM 
3 
SECTION 1. Crime of Agri-Bioterrorism. - A person is guilty of agri-bioterrorism 
4 
when, with intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a 
5 
unit of government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a unit of 
6 
government, the person commits any of the following prohibited acts: 
7 
(A) Designs, develops and utilizes a process or processes to genetically alter plant 
8 
life used for human consumption with the intent to rend.er said plant life toxic or 
9 
unsuitable for human or livestock consumption; 
10 
(B) Intentionally introduces an animal virus, pathogen, or bacteria which would 
11 
kill livestock or render the by-products of such livestock unusable for human 
12 
consumption; 
13 
(C) Intentionally defiles, corrupts or alters the food or farm product with the intent 
14 
to sicken or kill persons or animals; or 
15 
(D) Intentionally manufactures, designs, or alters genetic material to result in a 
16 
pathogen, virus or bacteria capable of disrupting or destroying the food or farm product. 
17 
SECTION 2. Penalties. - Any person committing an act which constitutes agri-
18 
bioterrorism as defined in the previous section shall be punishable by a penalty of 
19 
imprisonment ranging from reclusion temporal to life imprisonment, or a fine ranging 
1 


1 
from Five Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(P500,OOO.OO) 
to 
One Million Pesos 
2 
(Pl,OOO,OOO.OO), or both, at the discretion of the court, taking into consideration all 
3 
attending circumstances. 
4 
SECTION 3. Aggravating Circumstances. - The penalties described in the 
5 
previous section shall be imposed in the maximum if the act of agri-bioterrorism results 
6 
in the following circumstances as a result of the victim's consumption or use of the 
7 
altered or contaminated agricultural, livestock, food or farm product: 
8 
(A) 
Death; 
9 
(B) 
Insanity or psychological damage the same; and 
10 
(C) 
Permanent physical disfigurement or permanent disability. 
11 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
12 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
13 
remain valid and subsisting. 
14 
SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
15 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
IdpmFeb2015 
2