EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1589
K
T>ME
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND 
DISCRIMINATION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7610, 
AS AMENDED
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is deplorable that Filipino children are coerced by circumstance, poverty, or by their 
own families into exploitative labor practices and situations that are prone to aii manners 
of abuse. A 2018 report have documented that Filipino children are among those who 
experience the worst forms of chiid labor, which includes commercial sexual exploitation, 
backbreaking iabor in agricuiture, and dangerous tasks in gold mining, among others.
The same report has shed a damning light to the plight of these children, which are 
estimated to be at 3.2 miiiion, with approximately 3 million involved in unsafe labor. 
Perhaps more disturbing is the use of chiidren by syndicates in their distribution network, 
where they are given tasks in the procuring, distribution, and selling of iiiegal drugs1.
Expioitation of children, sometimes even by their own famiiies, have been fueled by the 
COVID-19 pandemic and made easier with existing technologies. From March to May of 
this year aione, the country's Department of Justice have received 279,166 cases of oniine 
sexual exploitation involving children2. It is not hard to imagine that so much more cases 
are occurring unreported. As such, this biil is proposing stiffer penalties on perpetrators 
who abuse and exploit chiidren in any and aii ways.
It is of paramount importance that chiidren's rights and welfare are secured, especially 
those who are most vulnerable.
In light of this, the passage of this bili is earnestiy sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS 
Senator
1 httns://www.dol.eov/sites/dolgov/files/lLAB/child labor renorts/tda2018/Phil inpines.pdf
2 https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/25/doj-onlme-child-sexual-exploitation-cases-tripled-during-ecq/


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1589
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
TJr.lE
AN ACT
IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND 
DISCRIMINATION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7610, 
AS AMENDED
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines In Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the "Special
2 
Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act", is hereby
3 
amended to read as follows:
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"Sec. 9. Obscene Publications and Indecent Shows. - Any person who shall
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hire, employ, use, persuade. Induce or coerce a child to perform In obscene
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exhibitions and indecent shows, whether live or in video, pose, or model in
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obscene publications or pornographic materials or to sell or distribute the
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said materials shall suffer the penalty [of prision mayor in its medium
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period] FROM FOURTEEN (14) YEARS, EIGHT (8) MONTHS AND ONE
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(1) DAY TO SEVENTEEN (17) YEARS AND FOUR (4) MONTHS.
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"If the child used as a performer, subject or seller/distributor is below
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twelve (12) years of age, the penalty shall be [imposed in its maximum
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period] THIRTY (30) YEARS AND ONE (1) DAY TO FORTY (40) YEARS.
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"Any ascendant, guardian, or person entrusted in any capacity with
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the care of a child who shall cause and/or allow such child to be employed
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or to participate in an obscene play, scene, act, movie or show or in any
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other acts covered by this section shall suffer from penalty [of prision mayor
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in its medium period] FROM SEVENTEEN (17) YEARS, FOUR (4)
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MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY TO TWENTY (20) YEARS."
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"If the child used as a performer, subject or seller/distributor is below
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twelve (12) years of age, the penalty shall be [imposed in its maximum
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period] THIRTY (30) YEARS AND ONE (1) DAY TO FORTY (40)
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YEARS.
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"Any ascendant, guardian or person entrusted in any capacity with
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the care of a child who shall cause and/or allow such child to be employed
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or to participate in an obscene play, scene, act, movie or show/ or in any
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other acts covered by this section shall suffer the penalty [of prison mayor
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in its medium period] FROM SEVENTEEN (17) YEARS, FOUR (4)
4 
MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY TO TWENTY (20) YEARS."
5 
Sec. 2. Section 10 of the same Act as amended, is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
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"Sec. 10. Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other
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Conditions Prejudicial to the Child's development. -
9 
"(a) Any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse,
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cruelty or exploitation or be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to
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the child's development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential
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Decree No. 603, as amended, shall suffer the penalty [of prison mayor in
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its medium period] FROM TWELVE (12) YEARS, AND ONE (1) DAY TO
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FOURTEEN (14) YEARS AND EIGHT (8) MONTHS.
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"(b) Any person who shail keep or have in his company a minor,
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twelve (12) years or under ten (10) years or more his junior in any public
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or private place, hotel, motel, beer joint, discotheque, cabaret, pension
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house, sauna or massage parlor, beach and/or tourist resort or similar places
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shall suffer the penalty [of prison mayor in its maximum period] FROM
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FOURTEEN (14) YEARS, EIGHT (8) MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY TO
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SEVENTEEN (17) YEARS AND FOUR (4) MONTHS and a fine of not
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less than [Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000)] FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
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PESOS (P500,000.00): Provided, That this provision shall not apply to
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any person who is related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or
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affinity or any bond recognized by law, local custom and tradition, or acts
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in the performance of a social, moral or legal duty.
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"(c) Any person who shall induce, deliver or offer a minor to any one
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prohibited by this Act to keep or have in his company a minor as provided
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in the preceding paragraph shail suffer the penalty [of prison mayor in its
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medium standard] FROM TEN (10) YEARS AND ONE (1) DAY TO
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TWELVE (12) YEARS and a fine of not less than [Forty thousand pesos
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(P40,000)] FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P400,000.00):
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Provided, however. That should the perpetrator be an ascendant, stepparent
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or guardian of the minor, the penalty to be imposed shall be [prison mayor
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in its maximum period] FROM FOURTEEN (14) YEARS, EIGHT (8)
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MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY TO SEVENTEEN (17) YEARS AND FOUR
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(4) MONTHS, a fine of not less than [Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000)]
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FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000.00), and the loss of
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parental authority over the minor.


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read
"THE OFFENDER SHALL LIKEWISE UNDERGO A 
REDUCATION AND REORIENTATION PROGRAM ON CHILD 
PROTECTION TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL 
WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT."
"(d) Any person, owner, manager or one entrusted with the operation 
of any public or private place of accommodation, whether for occupancy, 
food, drink or otherwise, including residential places, who allows any person 
to take along with him to such place or places any minor herein described 
as shall be imposed a penalty [of prison mayor in in its medium period] 
FROM TEN (10) YEARS AND ONE (1) DAY TO TWELVE (12) YEARS 
and a fine of not less than [Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000)] FIVE 
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (PSOO/OOO.OO), and the loss of the 
license to operate such a place or establishment.
"(e) Any person who shall use, coerce, force or intimidate a 
streetchild or any other child to:
"(1) Beg or use begging AS a means of living;
"(2) Act as conduit or middlemen In drug trafficking or 
pushing; or
"(3) Conduct any illegal activities, shall suffer the penalty [or 
prison correctional in its medium period to reclusion perpetua]
FROM TWELVE (12) YEARS AND ONE (1) DAY TO 
THIRTY (30) YEARS.
"x X x"
Sec. 3. Section 16 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to 
as follows:
"Sec. 16. Penal Provisions. -
"a) Any employer who violates Section 12, 12-A, and Section of this 
Act, as amended, shall be penalized by imprisonment of [six months] 
ONE (1) YEAR and one (1) day to six (6) years or a fine of not less 
than [Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00)] ONE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00) but not more than [Three 
hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00)] FOUR HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (P400,000.00) or both at the discretion of 
the court.
"b) Any person who violates the provision of Section 12-D of this Act 
or the employer of the subcontractor who employs, or the one who 
facilitates the employment of a child in hazardous work, shall suffer 
the penalty of a fine of not less than [One hundred thousand pesos 
(P100,000.00)] TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS 
(P200/000.00) but not more than One million pesos 
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(PI,000,000.00) or imprisonment of not iess than tweive (12) years 
and one (1) day to twenty (20) years, or both such fine and 
imprisonment at the discretion of court.
"c) Any person who vioiates Sections 12-D(1) and 12-D(2) shaii be 
prosecuted and penaiized in accordance with the penaity provided 
for by [RA. 9208 otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons 
Act of 2012] SECTION 12 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10364 OR 
THE "EXPANDED ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS ACT OF 
2012": Provided, That such penaity shaii be imposed in its maximum 
period.
”d) Any person who vioiates Section 12-D(3) shaii be prosecuted and 
penaiized in accordance with R.A. 9165 , otherwise known as the 
'Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002': Provided, That such 
penaity shaii be imposed in its maximum period.
"e) If a corporation commits any of the vioiations aforecited, the 
board of directors/trustees and officers, which inciude the president, 
treasurer and secretary of the said corporation who participated in 
knowingiy aliowed the vioiation, shaii be penaiized accordingiy as 
provided for under this section.
"f) Parents, bioiogicai or by iegai fiction, and legai guardians found 
to be vioiating Sections 12, 12-A, 12-B, 12-C of this Act shaii pay a 
fine of not less than [Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00)] ONE 
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100/000.00) but not more 
than [One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00)] THREE 
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00), or be required to 
render community service for not less than [thirty (30) days] THREE 
(3) MONTHS but not more than one (1) year, or both such fine and 
community service at the discretion of the court: Provided, That the 
maximum length of community service shall be imposed on parents, 
[or] legal guardians OR ADULT CAREGIVERS WHO HAVE 
CUSTODY OF THE CHILD AND who have violated the provisions 
of this Act three (3) times: Provided, further. That in addition to the 
community service, the penalty of imprisonment of [thirty (30) days] 
THREE (3) MONTHS but not more than one (1) year or both at the 
discretion of the court, shall be imposed on the parents or legal 
guardians who have violated the provisions of this Act more than 
three (3) times.
"g) The Secretary of Labor and Employment or his/her duly 
authorized representative may, after due notice and hearing, order 
the closure of any business firm or establishment found to have 
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1 
violated any of the provisions of this Act more than three (3) times.
2 
He/she shall likewise order the immediate closure of such firm or
3 
establishment if:
4 
"(1) The violation of ariy provision of this Act has resulted in
5 
the death, insanity or serious physical injury of a child employed in
6 
such establishment; or
7 
"(2) Such firm or establishment is engaged or employed In
8 
prostitution or in obscene or lewd shows.
9 
"(3) In case of such closure, the employer shall be required to
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pay the employee(s) the separation pay and other monetary benefits
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provided for by law."
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Sec. 4. Section 20 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
13 
"Sec. 20. Discrimination. - Children of indigenous cultural communities shall
14 
not be subjected to any and all forms of discrimination.
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"Any person who discriminates against children of indigenous cultural
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communities shall suffer a penalty [of arresto mayor In its maximum period]
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FROM TWO (2) YEARS, FOUR (4) MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY TO
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FOUR (4) YEARS AND TWO (2) MONTHS and a fine of not less than
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[Five thousand pesos (P5,000)] FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS
20 
(P50,000.00) nor more than [Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00)] ONE
21 
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00).
22 
"THE OFFENDER 
SHALL LIKEWISE UNDERGO A
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REEDUCATION AND REORIENTATION PROGRAM ON THE
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INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CULTURE OF THE PHILIPPINES, TO BE
25 
CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL COMMISSION N INDIGENOUS
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PEOPLES OR THE PHILIPPINE TASK FORCE FOR INDIGENEOUS
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PEOPLES RIGHTS."
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Sec. 5. Within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
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Secretary of Labor and Employment in coordination with the Secretary of Social Welfare
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and Development, concerned agencies in the public sector and other stakeholders in the
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private sector, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the
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provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 6. If any provision of this Act held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions
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not affected thereby shall remain to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 7. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, inconsistent with any of the
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provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
38 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,