SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. No. 1801 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 14 provides: 
The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building and shall 
ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men. 
The incidence of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault by strangers and non-
strangers, marital rape, and incest has steadily increased in the past few years. 
Unfortunately, law enforcement agencies are not successful in protecting women against 
violent crimes because of the inadequacy of existing laws and the underreporting of rape, sexual 
assault, and violent crimes due to fear of reprisal. 
Hence, this bill seeks to establish a Task Force that shall develop a uniform law 
enforcement strategy in order to protect women against violent crime, punish persons who 
commit such crimes, and enhance the rights of victims of such crimes.' 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thitteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No.1801 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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OCT -3 P5 :37 
RECEIVLD llV;-f-
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AN ACT 
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ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO RECOMMEND A UNIFORM STRATEGY TO 
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PROTECT WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Violence Against Women 
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Research Act." 
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SECTION 2. National Task Force on Violence Against Women. - Not later than thirty 
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(30) days after the date of enactment of this Act, there shall be established a Task Force to be 
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known as the "National Task Force on Violence Against Women" (referred to in this Act as the 
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"Task Force"), which shall be created under the Office of the President. 
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SECTION 3. Duties. -
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(A) 
General Purpose of Task Force. - The Task Force shall develop a uniform law 
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enforcement strategy aimed at protecting women against violent crime, punishing persons who 
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commit such crimes, and enhancing the rights of victims of such crimes. 
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(8) 
Duties of Task Force. - The Task Force shall perform such functions as the 
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President deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Task Force, including: 
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(1) 
Considering the reports of the Commission on Human Rights, appropriate 
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agencies, and other non-government organizations; 
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(2) 
Developing strategies for law enforcement designated to protect women 
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against violent crime, and to prosecute and punish those responsible for 
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such crime; 


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(3) 
(4) 
Evaluating the adequacy of sentencing, incarceration and release of violent 
offenders against women, and making recommendations designated to 
ensure that such offenders receive appropriate punishment; and 
Evaluating the adequacy of the treatment of victims of violent crime 
against women within the criminal justice system, and making 
rec'ommendations designed to improve such treatment. 
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SECTION 4. Membership. -
(A) 
In General. - The Task Force shall consist of up to nine (9) members, who shall 
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be appointed by the President not later than sixty (60) days after the date of enactment of this 
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Act. The President shall ensure that the Task Force includes representatives of law enforcement 
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and groups dedicated to protecting the rights of victims. 
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(B) 
Per Diem. - While away from their homes or regular places of business in the 
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performance of duties for the Task Force, members of the Task Force shall be allowed travel 
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expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
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under existing law. 
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SECTION 5. Executive Director and Stciff -
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(A) 
Executive Director. - The Task Force shall be headed by an Executive Director 
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who shall be appointed by the President not later than thirty (30) days after the Task Force is 
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fully constituted under Section 2. The Executive Director shall receive compensation at a rate 
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not to exceed the maximum rate of the basic pay payable under existing law. 
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(B) 
Staff. - With the approval of the Task Force, the Executive Director may appoint 
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not more than twelve (12) individuals to serve as staff and fix the compensation of such 
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additional personnel as the Executive Director considers necessary to carry out the duties of the 
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Task Force. 
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SECTION 6. Power of the Task Force. -
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(A) 
Hearings. - For the purpose of carrying out this Section, the Task Force may 
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conduct such hearings, sit and act at such times and place, take such testimony, and receive such 
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evidence, as the Task Force considers appropriate. The Task Force may administer oaths before 
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the Task Force. 
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(B) 
Delegation. - Any number of employees of the Task Force may, if authorized by 
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the Task Force, take any action that the Task Force is authorized to take under this section. 
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(C) 
Access 10 Information. - The Task Force may secure directly from any executive 
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department or agency such information as may be necessary to enable the Task Force to carry 
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out the provisions of this Act, to the extent access to such information is permitted by law. 
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(D) 
Mail. - The Task Force may use the mails in the same manner and under the same 
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conditions as other departments and agencies of the government. 
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SECTION 7. Report. - Not later than one (1) year after the date on which the Task Force 
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is fully constituted under Section 2, the Executive Director shall submit a detailed report to the 
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Congress on the findings and recommendations of the Task Force. 
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SECTION 8. Authorization 0/ Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated 
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such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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