FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
s.No1955 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 2007, GMA-7 aired a documentary entitled "Katay Kabayo" hosted and written 
by Ms. Sandra Aguinaldo. She discovered that when horses figure in accidents in the 
race tracks, like those who break their legs, some of them go straight to the butchers 
instead of receiving medical care. 
Several illegal slaughterhouses reportedly surround the Sta. Ana Race Track, with 
staff just waiting for the next accident to happen. The injured race horses are violently 
killed, sometimes in the open street. After tying their legs together, the horses are hit on 
the he(ld, then chopped into pieces. It is allegedly a lucrative trade as the horse owners 
sell the animals at a low rate to the traders, while the horse meat can go for as high as 140 
pesos per kilo when sold at the market. 
Hence, this bill seeks to prohibit certain conduct relating to the use of horses for 
human consumption.! 
r1~,-- 4 h·~'v-- ~y;l:~ 
~jv1IRIAM DEFWSOR SANTI¥,O 
I This bill was originally filed in the third regular session ofthe 14'" Congress. 
1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S EN.A.,T~ 
S. No.lt! 5 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
", -, 
, '..'- '::" 
'!:,: ..... ~. 
2 
PROHIBITING CERTAIN CONDUCT RELATING TO THE USE OF HORSES 
3 
FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
4 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Prevention of Equine 
5 
Cruelty Act." 
6 
SEC. 2. Slaughter of Horses for Human Consumption. -
7 
(A) Except as provided under paragraph (B), whoever knowingly: 
8 
(1) possesses, ships, transports, purchases, sells, delivers, or receives, III or 
9 
affecting local or foreign commerce, any horse with the intent that it is to be 
10 
slaughtered for human consumption; or 
11 
(2) possesses, ships, transports, purchases, sells, delivers, or receives, III or 
12 
affecting local or foreign commerce, any horse flesh or carcass or part of a 
13 
carcass, with the intent that it is to be used for human consumption; 
14 
shall be fined Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) or imprisoned for not more 
• 
15 
than three years or both. 
16 
. (B) If: 
17 
(1) the defendant engages in conduct that would otherwise constitute an 
18 
offense under paragraph (A); and 
19 
(2) the conduct involves less than five horses or less than 2000 pounds of 
20 
horse flesh or carcass or part of a carcass; 
1 
" 3 


, 
1 
the defendant shall, instead of being punished under paragraph (A), be fined One 
2 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (plOO,OOO.OO) or imprisoned for not more than one year, or 
3 
both. 
4 
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
5 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
6 
remain valid and subsisting. 
7 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. -
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
8 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
9 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
10 
accordingly . 
• 
11 
'SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
12 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2