i 
Hence, this bill seeks to establish a Task Force that shall develop a uniform 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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34 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE RESPUBLIC) 
First Regular Session 
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law 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 14 provides: 
The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building and 
shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men. 
The incidence of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault by strangers and non- 
strangersparital raGi and incest has steadily increased in the past few years. 


Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO RECOMMEND A UNIFORM 
STRATEGY TO PROTECT WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress 
Assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Violence Women 
Research Act.” 
SECTION 2. National Task Force on Violence Against Women. -Not later than 
thirty (3Qdays after=the.date of enactment of this Act, there shall be established a Task 
Force to be known as the “National Task Force on Violence Against Women” (referred to 
in this Act as the “Task Force”), which shall be created under the Office of the President. 
SECTION 3. Duties. - 
(1) GENERAL PURPOSE OF TASK FORCE - The 
develop a uniform law enforcement strategy aimed at 
violent crime, punishing persons who commit such 
rights of victims of such crimes. 
(2) DUTIES OF TASK FORCE - The Task Force shall perform such 
functions as the President deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Task 
Force, including- 
(a) considering the reports of the Commission on Human Rights, 
appropriate agencies and other non-governmental organizations; 


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(b) developing strategies for law enforcement designated to protect women 
against violent crime, and to prosecute and punish those responsible for such crime; 
(c) evaluating the adequacy of sentencing, incarceration and release of iolent 
offenders against iwomen, and making recommendations designated to ensure th t such 
offenders receive appropriate punishment; and 
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(d) evaluating the adequacy of the treatment of victims of violent crime against 
women within the criminal justice system, and making recommendations designed to 
improve such treatment. 
SECTION'4. Membership. - 
(1) 
IN GENERAL - The Task Force shall consist of up to ten (10) 
members, who shall be appointed by the President not later than sixty (60) days 
after the date of enactment of this Act. The President shall ensure that the Task 
Force includes representatives of law enforcement, the judiciary, and groups 
dedicated to protecting the rights of victims. 
(2).CHAIRPERSON - The President shall designate the person who shall 
serve as the chairperson of the Task Force. 
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SECTIONl5. Compensation - 
(1) NO ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION - Members of the Task Force who are 
officers or employees of a governmental agency shall receive no additional compensation 
by reason of their service on the Task Force. 
(2) PER DIEM - While away from their homes or regular 
the performance of duties for the Task Force, members of the 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
employees of agencies under existing law. 
SECTION 6. Executive Director undStafJ: - 
(1) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - 


a) APPOINTMENT - The Task Force shall an Executive-Director who 
shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Justice not later than 
thirty (30) days after the Task Force is fully constituted under Section 2. 
( 
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(b) COMPENSATION - The Executive Director shall be compensated at 
a rate not to exceed the maximum rate of the basic pay payable under existing law. 
(2) STAFF - With the approval of the Task Force, the Executive Direct r may 
appoint not more than twelve (12) individuals to serve as staff and fix the compe sation 
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of such additional personnel as the Executive Director considers necessary to cdry out 
the duties of the Task Force. 
(3) APPLICABILITY OF CIVIL SERVICE LAWS -The Executive Director and 
the additional personnel of the Task Force appointed under paragraph (b) may be 
appointed and paid without regard to the provisions of applicable civil service laws. 
SECTION 7. Power of the Tusk Force - 
(1) HEARINGS - For the purpose of carrying out this Section, the Task Force 
may conduct such hearings, sit and act at such times and place, take such testimony, and 
receive such evidence, as the Task Force considers appropriate. The Task Force may 
administer oaths before the Task Force. 
(2) DELEGATION - Any member or employee of the Task Force may, if 
authorized by the Task Force, talte any action that the Task Force is authorized to take 
under th&ection. 
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(3) ACCESS TO INFORMATION - The Task Force may secure directly from 
any executive department or agency such information as may be necessary to enable the 
Task Force to carry out this section, to the extent access to such information is permitted 
by law. 
(4) MAIL - The Task Force may use the mails in the same manner and un er the 
t 
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the government. 


SECTION 8. Report - Not later than one (1) year after the date on which the Task 
Force is fully constituted under Section 2, the Secretary of Justice shall submit a detailed 
report to the Congress on the findings and recommendations of the Task Force. 
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SECTION 9. Authorization of Appropriations - There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause - If any provisions or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaineder of the law or the provision not 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rules or regulations contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
FN: 1808 
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