FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
-,',,' 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
<1 '7 3 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
While there appears to be sufficient legislation providing necessary 
assistance to victims of rape, these laws exclude victims of battery, harassment 
and other sexual and physical abuse. Because of this, society has become 
indifferent to the real plight that victims of such abuse undergo. Many continue to 
refuse to acknowledge the gravity of mental trauma caused by encountering such 
experiences. 
According to the World Health Organization's report on domestic violence, 
the Philippines is one of the highest in terms of domestic violence cases. The 
results were based on collateral reports of hospitals and non-governmental 
organizations in Cebu, Metro Manila and Cordillera region. If the statistics prove 
accurate then there exist a dire need to expand the existing law against rape to 
cover assistance and protection to victims of battery, harassment and other form 
of physical and mental abuse. This proposed measure seeks to establish a 
Trauma Center which' will aid victims in regaining their self-esteem and 
confidence. 
In view of foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly recommended. 
Senator 
\ 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. <1', :5 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8505, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "RAPE 
VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ACT OF 1998" 
Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of the Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to 
read as follows: 
"Section 1. 
Title. This Act shall be known as the "[Rape Victim 
Assistance and Protection Act of 1998] TRAUMA CENTER ACT." 
SEC. 2. 
read as follows: 
Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to 
Section 2. 
Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the Policy of 
the state to provide necessary assistance and protection for [rape] victims. 
[.] OF RAPE, BATTERY, HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF 
SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE. Towards this end, the government 
shall coordinate its various agencies and non-government organizations to 
work hard in hand for the establishment and operation of a [rape crisis] 
TRAUMA center in every province [and], city AND MUNICIPAL that shall 
assist and protect [rape victims] 
[.] of RAPE, BATTERY HARASSMENT, 
AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE in the 
litigation of their cases and their recovery. 
SEC. 3. 
read as follows: 
Section 3 of the Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to 
Section 3. 
[Rape Crisis] TRAUMA Center. The Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The Department pf Health 
(DOH), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), 
the Department of Justice (DOJ), and a lead non-government 
organization (NGO) with proven track record, or experience in 
handling sexual and PHYSICAL ABUSE CASES, shall establish in 
every province, city AND MUNICIPALITY a [Rape Crisis] TRAUMA 
Center located in a government hospital or health clinic or in any 
other suitable place for the purpose of: 


a) Providing [rape] victims of RAPE, BATTERY HARASSMENT, AND 
OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE with 
Psychological counseling, medical and health services, including 
their medico-legal examinations; 
. 
b) Securing free legal assistance or service, when necessary for [rape] 
'victims of RAPE, BATTERY HARASSMENT AND OTHER FORMS OF 
. SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
c) Assisting [rape] victims of RAPE, BATTERY HARASSMENT AND 
OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
d) Ensuring the privacy and safety of [rape] victims of RAPE, BATTERY 
HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL 
ABUSE; 
e) Providing psychological counseling and medical services whenever 
necessary for the family of [rape] victims of RAPE, BATTERY 
HARASSMENT AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL 
ABUSE; 
f) Developing and undertaking a training program for law enforcement 
officers, 
public 
prosecutors, 
lawyers, 
medico-legal 
officers, 
PSYCHOLOGIST, social workers, and barangay officials on human 
rights and responsibilities; gender sensibility and legal management of 
rape, BATTERY HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL 
OF PHYSICAL ABUSE cases. PARTICULARLY THOSE COMITTED 
AGAINTS CHILDREN; and 
g) Adopting and implementing programs for the recovery of [rape] victims 
of RAPE, BATTERY HARASSMENT, AND OTHER FORMS OF 
SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE; 
The DSWD shall be the lead agency in the establishment and 
operation of the [Rape Crisis] TRAUMA CENTER. 
SEC. 4. Section 4 of the Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to read 
as follows: 
Section 4. Duty of the Police Officer. 
Upon receipt by the police 
of the complaint for rape, BATTERY, HARASSMENT AND OTHER FORMS 
OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE, it shall be duty of the police officer to: 
a) Immediately 
refer 
the 
case 
to 
the 
prosecutor 
for 
inquest/investigation if the accused is detained; otherwise, the 
rules of court shall apply; 
b) Arrange for counseling and medical services for the offended 
party; and 
c) Immediately make report on the action taken. 
It shall be the duty of the police officer of the examining physician, 
who must be of the same gender as the offended party, to ensure that only 
persons expressly authorized by offended party shall be allowed inside the 


, . . 
room where the investigation or medical or physical examination is being 
conducted. 
For the purpose, a women's AND CHILDREN's desk must be 
established in every police precinct throughout the country to provide a 
GENDER-SENSITIVE police woman to conduct investigation of or of 
his/her reputation shall not be admitted unless, and only to the extent that 
court finds, that such evidence is material and relevant to the case. 
SEC. 5. 
read as follows: 
Section 7 or the Republic Act No. 8505 is hereby amended to 
Section 7. 
Appropriations. For the establishment and operation of 
the [rape crisis] TRAUMA centers during the first year of implementation of 
this 
Act, 
the 
amount 
of 
One 
Hundred 
Twenty 
Million 
Pesos 
(P120,000,000.00) shall be charged against the Organizational Adjustment 
Fund, as follows: Sixty Million Pesos (P60,000,000.00) for the DSWD; and 
Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000.00) each for the DOH, DILG, and DOH 
respectively. Thereafter, the' necessary amount for the [rape crisis] 
TRAUMA centers shall be included in the budgetary allocations for the 
agencies concerned in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 6. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) 
days fr.om the approval of this Act, all concerned agencies shall review, revise, 
amend, or modify the existing rules and regulations as may be necessary for the 
proper implementation thereof. 
SEC. 7. 
Separability Clause. 
If any part, section or provision of 
this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the parts thereof not affected 
thereby shall remain valid. 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to 
the provisions of this Act deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly, 
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,