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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIkPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The constitutionally protected freedom of speech and of association are rights which are 
primarily exercised in institution of higher learning, The youth, particularly students in colleges 
and universities should be exposed to this right. However, the very institutions which should 
encourage the exercise of these rights are their main suppressors. 
This bill seeks to provide further safeguards for the exercise of the cherished 
constitutional rights of free speech and association by students in institutions of higher learning 
by terminating government financial assistance to certain government funded programs or 
activities received by such educational institutions for violation of these rights. 


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THIRTEENTH 
THE REPUBLIC ) 
+' 
AN ACT 
Congress assembled: 
Association on Campus Act." 
political or other affiliation. 


(4) “Post-secondary Programs” refer to courses of study which cannot be credited 
towards a bachelor’s degree but which require the possession of a high school diploma for 
admission, which axe terminal in nature, and which axe general for obtaining technical and 
vocational skills. 
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(2) 
(5) “Protected Speech” means speech that is protected under the 1987 Constitution. 
(6) “Protected Association” means the right to join, assemble, and reside with others 
(7) “Offici{ 
Sanction” (a) means expulsion, suspension, probation, censure, 
condemnation, reprimand, or any other disciplinary, coercive, or adverse action taken by an 
institution of higher education or administrative unit of the institution; and (b) includes an oral or 
written warning made by an official of an institution of higher education acting in his official 
capacity. 
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that is protected under !he 1987 Constitution. 
(8) “Student” means those enrolled in and who regularly attend an educational 
institution of higher level of a person engaged in formal study. 
Inapplicability to Student Assistance - Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any 
SECTION 4. Protection of Student Speech and Association Rights. - No student attending 
an institution of higher education on a full or part-time basis shall, on the basis of protected 
speech and association, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be 
subjected to discrimination or official sanction under any educational program, activity, or 
division directly or indirectly receiving financial assistance by the state, whether pr not such 
program, activity, or division is sponsored or officially sanctioned by the institution. 
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(3) Exception to Sanctions - This section shall not apply to an institution of 
higher education that is controlled by a religious or military organization, if the speech or 
association is not consistent with the religious teaching or military training of the institution. 
(4) Sanctions for Disruption Permitted -Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
prevent the imposition of an official sanction on a student that has willfully participated in the 
disruption or attempted disruption of a lecture, class speech, presentation, or performance made 
or sclieduled to be made under the auspices of the institution of higher education. 
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SECTION 6. depurubility Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remamder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. R e p e ~ a g  
Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of i nstruction, administrative order, rule o r regulation c ontrw t 0, o r  inconsistent 
with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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