HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

DATE:

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

REGISTRATION UNIT

BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

1489
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Representative Harlin Neil J. Abayon III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to minimize if not prevent any military-tribal conflict that might occur
due to cultural and language differences, by requiring every officer and enlisted personnel of
Armed Forces of the Philippines to undergo orientation course on the culture, language or
dialect, way of living habits and tradition of cultural communities living in the areas where

they might be deployed or posted.

This measure was previously filed by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada in the 15"

Congress. Passage of this bill is earnestly sought now in the 17" Congress.

HARI! IL J. ABAYON II ~
Representative
Party-List AANGAT TAYO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1489

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Harlin Neil J. Abayon III

AN ACT
REQUIRING EVERY OFFICER AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED
FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES TO UNDERGO AN ORIENTATION COURSE ON
THE CULTURE, LANGUAGE, DIALECT, WAY OF LIVING, HABIT, TRADITION, ~
AND THE LIKE OF THE CULTURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE
DEPLOYED OR TO BE POSTED

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of the Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any law to the country, the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) shall require every officer or enlisted personnel, prior to deployment to an area
dominated by a cultural community or group to undergo an intensive orientation course on
the culture, language, dialect, way of living, habits, traditions and the like of the cultural
community living in that area, An area is considered dominated by a cultural community
when they consist of more than twenty-five (25%) of the total population

SECTION 2. The orientation course shall in addition to the matters mentioned in Section 1,
emphasize the re-orientation of soldier’s attitudes about their duties and responsibilities
toward their countrymen, their job as peace-makers instead of fighters; raise the self-esteem
and morale of the soldiers by making them aware of the important role they play in the
attainment of national security and enable them to interact more humanely and civilly with
the public

SECTION 3. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, in coordination with other government
agencies, shall be primarily responsible for formulating the necessary orientation module.

‘The Department of Education, Office of Northern Cultural Communities (ONCC), Office of
Muslim Affairs (OMA), Office of Southern Cultural Communities (OSCS) and other similar
agencies shall render assistance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

SECTION 4. The AFP shall come out with a general directive implementing the orientation
course within sixty (60) days after effectivity of this Act

SECTION 5. The AFP may deploy troops in areas dominated by cultural communities
without going through the required orientation course in cases of emergency: Provided, That



after the emergency has subsided as soon as the situation permits the said troops shall
Undergo the required orientation course. A situation is considered an “emergency” when in
the judgment of the AFP Command there is a possibility of widespread violence creating
chaos and civil strife endangering life, property, the normal operations of the government and
the enforcement of laws. Or when there is an actual existing violence requiring instant
military presence in the area to reinstate peace and order

SECTION 6. Any officer in the AFP who orders the deployment of any soldier or group of
soldiers to be deployed without undergoing the required course as provided under this Act
shall be punished for dereliction of duty in accordance with the Revised Penal Code. Any
soldier or group soldiers who knowingly and/or voluntarily allows himself or themselves to
be deployed without undergoing the required orientation course shall also be punished for
dereliction of duty in accordance with the Revised Penal Code.

SECTION 7. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any available funds in the
National Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the funds necessary for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 8. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) di
newspapers of general circulation

yS after its publication in two (2)

Approved,