' i '. -, 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by SENATOR LUISA "LOI" P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 5 provides: 
"The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, 
liberty and property and the promotion of the general welfare are 
essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of 
democracy. " 
Older victims of violent crimes are almost twice as likely as younger victims to be 
As the number of older Filipinos increases, this bill seeks to develop strategies for 
the prevention G d  punishment of crimes that target or otherwise affect seniors by 
collecting appropriate data to measure the extent of crimes committed against them and 
to determine the extent of elder abuse. 
raped, robbed or assaulted at or in their own homes. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
, 
LUISA "LOP p\ EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


, t '  , 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
"@I 
30 P 2 3 1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
/ 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by SENATOR LUISA "LOP P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
TO COMBAT ABUSE AND ENHANCE PENALTIES FOR CRIMES AGAINST 
SENIORS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Seniors Safety Act." 
Section 2. Purpose. - The purpose of this Act is to develop strategies for 
preventing and punishing crimes that target or otherwise disproportionately affect seniors 
by collecting appropriate data to measure the extent of crimes committed against seniors 
and determine the extent of domestic and elder abuse of seniors. 
Section 3. Definition. As used in this Act. - 
(1) 
"crime" means any criminal offense under the Penal Code and special 
laws; 
''senior'' means an individual who is more than 55 years of age; and 
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Justice. 
(2) 
(3) 
Section 4. Study of crimes against seniors. - 
(a) 
In General. - The Secretary shall conduct a study relating to crimes against 
seniors in order to assist in developing new strategies to prevent and 
otherwise reduce the incidence of those crimes. 
Issues Addressed. - The study conducted under this section shall include 
an analysis of - 
(1) 
(b) 
the nature and type of crimes perpetrated against seniors with special 
focus on: 
(A) 
the most common type of crimes that affect seniors; 
(B) 
the nature and extent of elder abuse inflicted upon seniors; 
(C) the nature and extent of health care fiaud and abuse targeting 
seniors; 


the risk factors associated with seniors who have been victimized; 
the manner in which the criminal justice systems respond to crimes 
against seniors; 
the feasibility of establishing and maintaining a centralized 
computer database on the incidence of crimes against seniors that 
will promote the uniform identification and reporting of such 
crimes; 
crimes targeting or disproportionately affecting seniors; 
crime risk factors for seniors, including the times and locations at 
which crimes victimizing seniors are most likely to occur; 
specific characteristics of the victims of crimes who are seniors 
including age, gender, race or ethnicity and socioeconomic status; 
the nature and extent of crimes targeting seniors such as health 
care fraud; and 
other effective ways to prevent or reduce the occurrence of crimes 
against seniors. 
(c) 
Report. - Not later than eighteen (18) months after the date of enactment of 
this Act the Secretary shall submit to the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a report describing the results of the study under this section. 
Section 5. Enhanced sentencing penalties based on age of victim. - The 
Department of Justice shall - 
review existing sentencing guidelines and recommend the possibility of 
increased penalties for persons convicted of offenses in which the victims 
was a senior in appropriate circumstances given the serious economic and 
physical harms associated with criminal activity targeted at seniors due to 
their particular vulnerability; 
consult with individuals or groups representing seniors, law enforcement 
agencies, victims organizations and the judiciary as part of the review 
described in this section; 
account for any aggravating or mitigating circumstances that may justify 
exceptions in order to provide sentencing enhancements; 
report - not later than one (1) year after the promulgation of this Act, the 
Department shall submit to Congress a report on issues relating to the age 
of crime victims which shall include any recommendations of the 
Department relating to any revision or modification of penalty levels 
including statutory penalty levels for offenses involving seniors. 


Section 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
Section 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
ac c or ding1 y . 
Section 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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