REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
House of Representatives

RECEYED 2
Quezon city Da SEP 7013
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS | UME P

First Regular Session oy. ep

2983 X& \S

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Alfredo D. Vargas III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The high cost of funeral services in the country contribute to severe economic hardships of
some bereaved Filipino families, These families fail to promptly settle their financial obligations to
morgues, funeral parlors or mortuaries that performed cremation, embalmment or other funeral
services to the remains of their departed ones, As a result, these institutions refuse to release the
bodies of the departed.

This bill seeks to prohibit the occurrence of holding hostage the cadavers of the departed. It
is through this bill that we would like to pay our last respects and honor those who died. Poverty
should not be a reason for them not to be given the proper wake and burial due them.

The passage of this bill will stop the depraved and inhumane practice of detaining the

cadavers as a mechanism to compel the families to settle whatever financial obligations before
these families can fully take custody of the bodies.

AYREDG D. VARGAS II



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES:
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 2983

Introduced by Representative Alfredo D. Vargas Ill

ANACT
BANNING THE HOSTAGING OR DETAINING OF CADAVERS IN FUNERAL PARLORS, MORGUES,
MORTUARIES OR ANY ENTITY UNDERTAKING SIMILAR SERVICES ON GROUNDS OF NON+
PAYMENT OF EMBALMMENT, CREMATION OR ANY OTHER FUNERAL SERVICES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Prohibition of the Detention of Cadavers, It shall be declared unlawful for any funeral
parlor, morgue, mortuaries or any entity that provides funeral services to take custody, hostage,
detain or otherwise prevent the release of the cadavers from their surviving relatives or any other
person taking responsibility for the remains for reason of non-payment in part or in full, any
embalming, cremation or any other funeral services,

SECTION 2, Conditions for the Release of Cadavers. Surviving relatives or person(s) taking
responsibility for the deceased body and wishing to bury the body but are financially incapable to
settle, in part or in full their funeral expenses, including cremation, embalming, autopsy and any
other similar funeral service, shall be allowed to claim the cadaver along with all corresponding
papers required for the release of the cadaver upon the execution of the promissory note covering
the unpaid obligation. The promissory note shall be secured by a guarantee of a co-maker, who will
be jointly and severally liable with the relatives or responsible person(s) of the deceased for the
unpaid obligation.

SECTION 3. Penalties for Violators. Any person, corporation or entity funeral parlor, morgue,
mortuary or entity found violating Sections 1 or 2 of this act shall be punished by a fine of not less
than fifty thousand pesos (P50,000), but not more than one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000), or
imprisonment of not less than one month, but not more than six months, or both at the discretion of
the court. Provided, however, in case of a corporation, partnership or any business entity, the
proprietors, directors, or its officers shall be personally liable for such violation.

SECTION 4. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or two national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,