FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
) 
7 
&!I. 
-2 
?tJ * ~i 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill NO. 5 5 0 
INTRODgCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Under Executive Order No. 209 also known as the Family Code of the 
Philippines, Article 37 and 38, incestuous marriages are void ab initio for being 
contrary to public policy. 
Act No. 3815, as amended, also known as the Penal Code, Article 335 
par. 7 No. 1 imposes previously the death penalty for rape when "the victim is 
under eighteen (18) years of age and the offender is a parent, ascendant, step- 
parent, guardian, relative by consanguinity or affinity within the third civil degree, 
or the common-law spouse of the parent of the victim." 
However, under the above-mentioned circumstances there is no law which 
penalizes sexual relations between consenting parties eighteen (1 8) years of age 
and above. 
This bill criminalizes such sexual relations because they are contrary to 
public morals and public policy. It also responds to reports of rising incest 
statistics among families of overseas contract workers. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate enactment of this bill is earnestly 
solicited. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
7 JUL -2 
[Jfj 'I /; 
First Regular Session 
1 
Senate Bill No. 550 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT PENALIZING INCEST 
Be it enacfed by the Senate and House of Represenfafives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-lncest 
Act." 
SEC 2. Coverage. - Incestuous sexual relations with consent are unlawful 
and prohibited between the following parties who have knowledge of their 
relationship and are eighteen (18) years of age and above: 
a) between ascendants and descendants of any degree; 
b) between brothers and sisters, whether of the full or half blood; 
c) between collateral blood relatives, whether legitimate or illegitimate, up to 
the fourth civil degree; 
d) between step-parents and step-children; 
e) between parents-in-law and children-in-law; 
f) between the adopting parent and the adopted child; 
g) between the surviving spouse of the adopting parent and the adopted 
child: 
h) (h) between the surviving spouse of the adopted child and the adopter; 
i) between an adopted child and a legitimate child of the adopter; and 
j) between adopted children of the same adopter. 
SEC 3. Penalties. - The ascendant, elder brother or sister, elder blood 
relative, step-parent, parent-in-law, adopting parent, or surviving spouse of the 
adopting parent convicted under Section 2 shall be punished by prision 
correctional in its minimum and maximum periods. 


The descendant, younger brother or sister, younger blood relative, step-child, 
son or daughter-in-law, the adopted, or the surviving spouse of the adopted shall 
be punished two degrees lower if he or she is between the ages of eighteen (18) 
and twenty five (25) at the time of the sexual relations. 
The maximum penalty as provided in the above paragraph shall be imposed 
when the incestuous sexual relations occur while the spouse of the ascendant, 
step-parent, parent-in-law, adopting parent, or the adopted is employed in 
another city, municipality or province, with a radius of at least one hundred fifty 
(150) kilometers from his or he habitual residence or is employed abroad. 
SEC 4. Separabilitv Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not othetwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to, or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC 6. Effectivitv C/ause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,