FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
S.B.No. SENY 
. 360 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 14 provides that the state "recognizes the role of 
women in nation-building." 
The Constitution, Article XIII, Section 14 likewise provides for the protection of women 
by providing such facilities and opportunities as will enhance their welfare and enable them to 
realize their full potential in the service of the nation. 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reported that the 
number of battered women, aged 18 and above, has increased dramatically in the last six years. 
Statistics released by the DSWD showed that there were 850 cases in 1991; 1,175 cases in 1992; 
1,720 cases in 1993; 2,170 cases in 1994; 5,287 cases in 1995; 7,425 cases in 1996; 7,850 cases 
by the end of 1997 (4 September 1998, Manila Standard, pp.1-2). 
This bill hopes to curb the rise in the number of battered women by facilitating faster 
conviction of the guilty party. For this purpose, the bill: (1) authorizes the Department of Justice, 
in coordination with the DSWD and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), to analyze and 
disseminate information regarding the admissibility and quality of testimony of witnesses with 
expertise relating to battered women; and (2) provides for the development and dissemination of 
training materials to facilitate the appropriate use of experts to provide testimony in criminal 
trials of battered women, particularly in cases involving indigent women.* 
' This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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I 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
I 
S I 1  
~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
I 
11%- it, . 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO ANALYZE AND DISSEMINATE 
INFORMATION REGARDING THE ADMISSIBILITY AND QUALITY OF TESTIMONY 
OF WITNESSES WITH EXPERTISE RELATING TO BATTERED WOMEN, 
AND TO DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE TRAINING MATERIALS TO FACILITATE 
THE APPROPRIATE USE OF SUCH EXPERTS TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY IN 
CRIMINAL TRIALS OF BATTERED WOMEN, PARTICULARLY IN CASES INVOLVING 
INDIGENT WOMEN 
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 “Battered Women’s 
Testimony Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a policy of the State to protect and promote 
the welfare of women by providing such facilities and opportunities that will enable them to 
realize their full potential in the service of the nation. 
SECTION 3. De$nition ofTerms. -For purposes of the Act, the term: 
(A) “Eligible Entity” refers to a non-profit organization that operates on a nationwide 
basis to provide - 
(1) Information and assistance to battered women who are defendants or 
prosecuting witnesses in criminal trials; and 
(2) Technical assistance to battered women, operators of domestic violence 
shelters, advocates for battered women, expert psychological witnesses, and 
attorneys to use effective defense or prosecution strategies in such cases. 
(B) “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of the Department of Justice. 
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SECTION 4. Authority of the Department of Justice. - 
The Department of Justice shall make grants to, or enter into contracts with, a single 
eligible entity to - 
(A) Collect on a nationwide basis, and analyze, information regarding - 
(1) The admissibility and quality of expert testimony on the experiences of 
battered women offered either as part of the defense or as part of the 
prosecution in criminal cases under the law; and 
(2) Sources of, and methods of obtaining, funds to pay the cost incurred in 
providing such testimony, particularly in cases in which defendant or the 
prosecuting witness is an indigent women; 
(B) Develop training materials to - 
(1) Assist battered women, operators o f  domestic violence shelters, advocates for 
battered women, and attorneys to use such expert testimony in appropriate 
cases, particularly appropriate cases involving indigent women defendants or 
prosecuting witnesses; and 
(2) Assist individuals with expertise in the experience of battered women to 
develop skills appropriate to providing such expert testimony; and 
(3) Disseminate such information and training materials, and provide related 
technical assistance to battered women, such operators, such advocates, such 
attorneys and such individuals. 
SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary, in coordination 
with the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the 
Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations to ensure the smooth and efficient implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 6. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such sum as may 
be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated fiom the National Treasury. Thereafier, the 
sum €or the continuous operation of the program shall be included in the annual appropriation of 
the Department of Justice. 
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SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulations. 
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Approved, 
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