FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
S. B. No. sEY$Y5 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, 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.* 
' Tliis bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO RECOMMEND A UNIFORM 
STRATEGY TO PROTECT WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME 
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 lmown as the “Violence Against Women 
Research Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. NationaZ Task Force on Violence Against Women. - Not later than thirty 
(30) days after the date of enactment of this Act, there shall be established a Task Force to be 
known as the “National Task Force on Violence Against Women” (referred to in this Act as the 
“Task Force”), which shall be created tinder the office of the President. 
SECTION 3. Duties. - 
(A) General Purpose of Task Force. - The Task Force shall develop a uniform law 
enforcement strategy aimed at protecting women against violent crime, punishing 
persons who commit such crimes, and enhancing the rights of victims of such crimes. 
(B) Duties of Task Force. - The Task Force shall perform such functions as the President 
deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Task Force, including- 
(1) Considering the reports of the Commission on Human Rights, appropriate 
agencies and other non-governmental organizations; 
(2) Developing strategies for law enforcement designated to protect omen against 
violent crime, and to prosecute and punish those responsible for such crime; 
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(3) 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 
(4) Devaluating the adequacy of the treatment of victims of violent crime against 
women within the criminal justice system, and making recommendations 
designed to improve such treatment. 
SECTION 4. Membership. - 
(A) In General. - The Task Force shall consist of up to ten (10) members, who shall be 
appointed by the President not later than sixty (60) days after the date of enactment 
of this Act. The President shall ensure that the Task Force includes representatives 
of law enforcement, the judiciary, and groups dedicated to protecting the rights of 
victims. 
(B) Per Diem. - While away from their homes or regular places of business in the 
performance of duties for the Task Force, members of the Task Force shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized 
for employees of agencies under existing law. 
SECTION 5. Executive Director and Staff: - 
(A) Executive Director. - The Task Force shall be headed by an Executive Director who 
shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Justice not later than thirty 
(30) days after the Task Force is fully constituted under Section 2. He or she shall be 
compensation at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate of the basic pay payable 
under existing law. 
(B) S’tafi - With the approval of the Task Force, the Executive Director may appoint not 
more than twelve (12) individuals to serve as staff and fix the compensation of such 
additional personnel as the Executive Director considers necessary to carry out the 
duties of the Task Force. 
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(C) Applicability of Civil Service Laws. - The Executive Director and the additional 
personnel of the Task Force appointed under paragraph (B) may be appointed and 
paid without regard to the provisions of applicable civil service laws. 
SECTION 6. Power of the Tusk Force. - 
(A) Hearings. -For the purpose of carrying out this Section, the Task Force may conduct 
such hearings, sit and act at such times and place, take such testimony, and receive 
such evidence, as the Task Force considers appropriate. The Task Force may 
administer oaths before the Task Force. 
(B) Delegation. - Any number or employee of the Task Force may, if authorized by the 
Task Force, take any action that the Task Force is authorized to take under this 
section. 
(C) Access to Information. - The Task Force may secure directly from any executive 
department or agency such information as may be necessary to enable the Task Force 
to carry out the provisions of this Act, to the extent access to such information is 
permitted by law. 
(D) Mail. - The Task Force may use the mails in the same manner and under the same 
conditions as other departments and agencies of the government. 
SECTION 7. Report. -- Not later than one (1) year after the date on which the Task Force 
is fully constituted under Section 2, the Secretary of Justice shall submit a detailed report to the 
Congress on the findings and recommendations of the Task Force. 
SECTION 8. Authorization of Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
wit11 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 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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