Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative 
JC M. ABALOS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines bears the responsibility of upholding the constitutional rights of 
its citizens, including those who have undergone incarceration and served their 
sentences. Nevertheless, reintegrating these individuals back into society presents 
various significant challenges, such as the societal stigma attached to having a criminal 
record, the inadequate support structures to facilitate the transition, and the restricted 
access to equal opportunities. The impact of such challenges creates a vicious cycle of 
marginalization and disadvantage that undermines the principles of social justice and 
human rights enshrined in the Philippine Constitution. 
Specifically, individuals who have undergone imprisonment face discrimination 
and disillusionment when seeking employment, housing, and education, among other 
things. The Philippine Statistics Authority's Labor Force Survey conducted in January 
2021 revealed that out of the 43.7 million persons in the labor force, 4.6% had a criminal 
record. Furthermore, the survey indicated that the unemployment rate among persons 
with a criminal record was 13.8%, considerably higher than the national average of 7.1%. 
This data demonstrates that individuals with criminal records encounter significant 
challenges when seeking employment.  
Additionally, the country's overall recidivism rate stands at approximately 47.9%. 
This data suggests that nearly half of all previously incarcerated individuals in the 
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country will be rearrested and return to prison within a certain period of time. The high 
recidivism rate is attributed to a multitude of factors, including the lack of adequate 
rehabilitation and reintegration programs and limited access to employment and 
educational opportunities. 
Providing a second chance to individuals with criminal records offers them the 
opportunity to contribute positively to society and rebuild their lives. It does not only 
benefit the individual but also promotes public safety by reducing recidivism rates.  
This proposed bill aims to address the stigma and discrimination faced by 
deserving and qualified individuals who have completed their sentence and are not 
guilty of heinous crimes. With this proposed measure, the crucial role of the State in 
promoting social justice and upholding the dignity of every human person will allow 
these individuals to have a clean slate and start anew, thus, providing them the 
opportunity to break from the cycles of crime.  
Moreover, this bill seeks to ensure that individuals who have undergone 
incarceration are granted equal access to opportunities and support structures to aid in 
their reintegration into society. 
In view of the foregoing, support for this bill is earnestly sought. 
JC M. ABALOS 
Representative 
4Ps Partylist 


 Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative 
JC M. ABALOS 
AN ACT  
ALLOWING THE EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS OF 
QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS IN GOVERNMENT DATABASES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be otherwise known as the “Clean Slate Act” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the vital role of social justice in 
national development. To this end, the State shall continue to uphold the dignity of every 
human person and guarantee full respect for human rights. It shall prioritize the 
protection and enhancement of human dignity, promote the reduction of social, 
economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities. 
The State recognizes the importance of equal access to opportunities to enable its citizens 
to optimize their full potential as contributors to the development of the nation. The State 
shall then continuously promote social structures that aid in the reintegration of 
incarcerated individuals, under the principle of restorative justice. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
a. Expungement refers to the sealing of a criminal record which renders it inaccessible
to the general public. Though generally inaccessible to the public, the criminal
record still remains extant in one's records and may still be accessed by authorized
entities and individuals, such as: courts,  government and law enforcement
agencies, and certain public officials, insurance companies, employment which
necessarily and reasonably entails the use of weapons and/or firearms such as but
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not limited to security agencies, and employment in the Philippine National 
Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation, 
and the attached agencies of the foregoing, employment, and positions which 
reasonably and necessarily entail the custody, disbursement, and/or management 
of property and finances, including but not limited to, cashier, treasurer, 
accountant, and manager. In case the individual whose criminal record was 
expunged fails to abide by the provisions of this Act, it may be reopened and made 
accessible to the general public once again.  
 
b. Eligible Individual refers to a person who is qualified to avail of the provisions of 
this Act, subject to meeting the specific criteria outlined in Section 4 hereof. 
Eligibility does not ipso facto expunge one’s criminal records. The expungement of 
one’s criminal records is not a matter of right, but a mere privilege. The privilege 
of having an individual's criminal records expunged depends on the severity of 
one’s criminal case; and the potential of the such individual to be reintegrated as 
a peaceful and productive member of society. This matter shall ultimately be 
decided by the court as prescribed under section 5 hereof.  
 
c. Waiting period refers to the prescribed duration of time an eligible individual who 
has successfully afforded the expungement of his criminal record has to wait 
before his/her criminal record shall be sealed from the general public. During, and 
after this waiting period, such individuals must not be convicted again of any 
criminal offense to avail of the benefits of this Act. The waiting period shall be for 
one (1) year, and shall commence the day after the court rules for the expungement 
of the eligible individual’s criminal record.  
 
SEC. 4. Eligibility Requirements. – An individual is qualified to have his or her criminal 
records expunged if the following criteria are met: 
a. Must not be a sex offender. 
b. Must not have been convicted of an offense related to treason, terrorism, or other 
national security related offenses. 
c. Must not have been convicted of any physically violent offense. 
d. Must not have been convicted of piracy and mutiny on the high seas or in the 
Philippine waters. 
e. Must not have been convicted of bribery. 
f. Must not have been convicted of graft and corruption. 
g. Must not have been convicted of kidnapping and illegal detention. 
h. Must not have been convicted of importation, distribution, manufacturing, and 
sale of illegal drugs. 
i. Can be either of the following: 
 
 i.   has been charged but not convicted of any criminal offense. 


 
ii. has been convicted of a criminal offense and has fulfilled all requirements 
specified by the imposed penalty. The individual must also have 
maintained a clean record for a period of one year after completing their 
sentence or probationary period to be considered eligible under this 
provision. 
j. Must not be a recidivist, quasi-recidivist, and habitual delinquent, or otherwise 
must not have any prior criminal conviction. 
 
SEC. 5. Filing for the Expungement of Criminal Records. – An eligible individual 
convicted of a crime must apply for the expungement of his or her criminal record within 
a reasonable time after notice of judgment as may be determined by the court. Such filing 
must be done by the eligible individual in the court where his or her criminal case was 
initially filed.  
 
In case the court finds that the eligible individual can already be reintegrated as a peaceful 
and productive member of society, and rules in favor to expunge the criminal record, 
such individual must wait for one (1) year before it becomes inaccessible to the general 
public. This waiting period shall commence the day after the court rules to expunge the 
criminal record of the eligible individual. During, and after this waiting period, such 
individual must not be convicted again of any criminal offense, otherwise his or her 
motion shall be automatically withdrawn. Also, such individual shall be perpetually 
disqualified from availing the remedy of expungement under this Act, and his or her 
criminal records shall permanently be reopened to the general public. 
 
For those individuals who have been acquitted or have received a judgment that did not 
result in a conviction, the criminal record, specifically any portion thereof that is related 
to the crime, shall be automatically expunged within a period of (60) days.  
 
SEC. 6. Expungement of Criminal Records. – Upon the expungement of a criminal record, 
an individual is lawfully entitled to declare that he or she possesses no criminal record. 
Unless: 
a. Inquired into during court proceedings; 
b. Inquired into by government and law enforcement agencies, and public officials 
in the performance of their official functions; 
c. Disclosure to insurance companies; 
d. Disclosure to employment which reasonably and necessarily entails the use of 
weapons and/or firearms; and  
e. Employment, and positions that reasonably and necessarily entails the custody, 
disbursement, and/or management of property and finances. 
 
The expunged record of an individual under this Act shall be permanently unsealed and 
once again be made accessible to the general public in case he or she subsequently 


 
becomes convicted of any crime. He or she also loses all the benefits availed of under this 
Act. 
 
SEC. 7. Access to Expunged Criminal Records. – This Act authorizes access to expunged 
criminal records of eligible individuals only under the following circumstances: 
a. The individual is testifying in court; 
b. The individual is being questioned by a law enforcement officer, and/or public 
officer in the performance of his/her official functions and duties; 
c. The individual is running for an elected government position or is an appointed 
officer; 
d. The individual is seeking employment that primarily entails the custody, 
management, or disbursement of finances; 
e. The individual is seeking to obtain a firearms license; and 
f. The individual is seeking to avail insurance. 
SEC. 8. Creation of National Database for Criminal Records. – The Philippine National 
Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) shall integrate their 
respective criminal records for efficient expungement of criminal records of eligible 
individuals. This integration shall facilitate the prompt and accurate identification of 
individuals who meet the eligibility requirements for expunging of their criminal 
records, as well as provide a comprehensive database of criminal records for law 
enforcement and other authorized entities.  
 
SEC. 9. Retroactivity. – Qualified individuals with already existing criminal records 
prior to the effectivity of this Act, may still avail of expungement, by applying to the court 
where the criminal case was initially filed, within 2 years after effectivity of this Act.  
 
SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The National Privacy Commission, The 
Department of Justice, and The Department of Interior and Local Government shall 
formulate and issue the implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act. 
 
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any provision of these Act is declared 
unconstitutional or contrary to law, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,