FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, in Article 11, Section 16 provides that: 
The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced 
and healthhl ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. 
In connection with said policy, the State deemed it proper to enact laws to also protect the 
animals to maintain and restore the ecological balance in our country. For instance, on 11 
February 1998, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 8485, also known as the Animal Welfare Act 
of 1998. The purpose of said law is to “protect and promote the welfare of all animals in the 
Philippines by supervising and regulating the establishment and operations of all facilities 
utilized for breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating or training of all animals either as objects of 
trade or as household pets.” Aside from that law, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued 
Proclamation No. 715 last 11 October 2004, declaring the first week of October of each year as 
“Animal Welfare Week.” According to the Whereas Clause of said proclamation, it is “necessary 
toeinculcate in the hearts and minds of the Filipino youth to be kind and to love all kinds of 
animals either domesticated or in wildlife” and “the virtue of kindness, justice and protection of 
all living creatures is the greatest contributing factor to maintain and restore the ecological 
balance in our country.” 
In line, with the above-mentioned laws and policy, this bill seeks to punish the 
unauthorized depiction of animal cruelty.” 
* This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PUNISH DEPICTION OF ANIMAL CRUELTY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Animal Cruelty 
Depiction Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and advance 
the right of the people to a balanced and healthhl ecology in accord with the rhythm and 
harmony of nature. In line with this, the State seeks to protect the welfare of animals, because 
their continued survival assures the maintenance of ecological balance. 
SECTION 3. Prohibited Acts. - Whoever knowingly creates, sells, or possesses a 
depiction of animal cruelty with the intention of placing that depiction in local or foreign 
commerce for commercial gain, shall be fined in an amount not exceeding Ten Thousand Pesos 
(PlO,OOO.OO) or imprisoned not more than five (5) years, or both. 
SECTION 4. Exceptions. - Section 3 does not apply to any depiction that has serious 
religious, political, scientific, educational, journalistic, historical, or artistic value. 
SECTION 5. Definition of Depiction of Animal Cruelty. - The phrase “depiction of 
animal cruelty” means any visual or auditory depiction, including any photograph, motion- 
picture film, video recording, electronic image, or sound recording of conduct in which a living 
animal is intentionally maimed, mutilated, tortured, wounded, or killed, if such conduct is illegal 
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under Philippine laws or the law of the country in which the creation, sale, or possession takes 
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place, regardless of whether the maiming, mutilation, torture, wounding, or killing took place in 
the Philippines. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 7. 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. 
SECTION8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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