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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
9 /Pi? 14 P 4  146 
Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senators Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV, Francis Joseph 
(‘Cbiz” G. ZXU~~E-U, 
and Singgoy Zjemiie Zstrada 
Republic Act No. 9208 otherwise known as the Anti-Tr&cking 
in Persuns Act of 
2003 is a landmark piece of legislation, the passage of which was heralded here 
and abroad. 
However, the fight against human trflicking is being unduly hampered by 
Section 7 of the said law, which needlessly restricts the dissemination of 
infmation relating to people accused of traffickg. Said provisiun likewise 
appears to unduly impinge on the right of the people to information on matters of 
public concern and apparently violates the constitutionally preferred right to 
‘ Feedom ofthe press”, 
In the light of the increasing cases of human trafficking brought about by the 
ongoing global financial crisis, the need to warn would-be-victims increasingly 
appears to be more compelling .&an the need to proteGt the identity of.peop!e 
accused of said crime. In any case, the Iatter have adequate remedies under 
existing laws. 
This Bill aimspanend Section 7 &the .lgw by liftin! the confideEtki!itv t?r~isinn 
favoring persons accused of human trafficking while maintaining the protection 
intended for victims of this reprehensible offense. This would enable the 
Government as well as concerned Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and 
the media to diisseminate vital info,mx&x in order.to fore-warn the pddic fie::: 
being victimized by persons and/or syndicates engaged in this nefarious hade. 
The immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly enjoined. 
.+b 9q 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
9 
APA 14 P 4  3 6  
Introduced by Senators Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV, Francis Joseph 
“Chiz” G. Escudero, and Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTION 7 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9208 OTHERWISE 
BY REMOVING THE CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISION IN FAVOR OF 
THE ACCUSED AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES 
KNOWN AS THE “ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS ACT OF 2003” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Amendment of Section 7 of RA No. 9208. - Section 7 on 
Confidentiality of Republic Act No. 9208 otherwise known as the Anti- 
Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 is hereby amended to read as follows, to wit: 
“SEC. 7. Confidentiality. - At any stage of 
the 
investigation, prosecution and trial of an offense under this Act, 
law enforcement oficers, prosecutors, judges, court personnel and 
medical practitioners, as well as parties to the case, shall 
recognize the right to privacy of the trafficked person [and the 
accused]. Towurds this end, law enforcement oflcers, prosautom 
and judges to whom the complaint has been referred may, 
whenever necessary to ensure a fair and impartial proceeding, and 
after considering all circumstances for the best interest of the 
parties, order a closed-door investigation, prosecution or trial. 
The name and personal circumstances of the traflckedperson [or 
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of the accused] or any other information tending to establish HIS 
OR HER IDENTITY [their identities] and such circumstances or 
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information shall not be disclosed to the public. 
‘Tn cases when prosecution or trial is conducted behind 
closed-doors, it shall be unlawful for any editor, publisher, and 
reporter or columnist in case of printed materials, announcer or 
producer in case of television and radio, producer and director of 
a film in case of the movie industry, or any person utilizing tri- 
media facilities or information technology to cause publicity of 
THE NAME AND PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE 
TRAFFICKED PERSON OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION 
TENDING TO ESTABLISH HIS OR HER IDENTITY [any case of 
traflcking in persons] EXCEPT WHEN THE TRAFFICKED 
PERSON EXPRESSLY AGREES OR CONSENTS TO SUCH 
PUBLICITY. I’ 
SEC. 2. Amendment of the Implementing Rules and Regulation. - 
Within thirty (30) days from the enactment of this Act, the Inter-Agency Council 
Against Trafficking created pursuant to RA No. 9208 shall convene to introduce 
and adopt the appropriate amendments to the Implementing Rules and 
Regulations of the law to reflect the amendments introduced in the immediately 
preceding section. 
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision, part or portion of this 
Act shall be held invalid, the validity of the other provisions, parts or portions of 
the Act shall not be affected thereby. 


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SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive issuances, orders and 
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with this Act, or any part thereof, 
are hereby repealed, amended andor modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its publication in the 
OfJicial Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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