FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No.322:~ 
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Introduced by Senator GREGORIO B. HONASAN II 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Animal cruelty is a repulsive act against some of the most vulnerable 
members of society. During the past years, public interest in animal rights has 
'intensified dramatically. Serious efforts'by animal welfare advocates to prevent 
animal cruelty have paved the way for the enactment of Republic Act No. 8485 
entitled, An Act to Promote Animal Welfare in the Philippines, Otherwise Known 
as "The Animal Welfare Act of 1998," The purpose of the said law is to protect 
and promote the welfare of all animals in the Philippines. 
Consistent with this objective, RA 8485 provides penalties for violation of 
any provisions of said law including, among others, torture, neglect and 
maltreatment of animals. However, reports reveal a high incidence of cruelty to 
animals, the most recent of which was the rescue of more than 300 dogs from 
an online dog-fighting racket run by South Koreans in a raid conducted in 
Calauan and San Pablo City in Laguna. 
Most of the dogs were pitbull mixed 
breeds. 
Several dogs were found to be extremely malnourished and badly 
injured. 
Under RA 8485, violators of any provisions of said law shall be punished 
by imprisonment ranging from six (6) months to two (2) years or a fine ranging 
from One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) to Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or 
both at the discretion of the court. 
In view of the rampant proliferation of 
cruelty to animals, it only shows that the penalties imposed under the present 
, law are not enough to deter the commission of prohibited acts. 
This bill seeks to put more teeth to RA 8485 by imposing stiffer penalties 
to violators especially those who shall subject any dog or horse to dogfights or 
horsefights, in which case, violators shall not benefit from Presidential Decree 
No. 968 or the Probation Law. 
In light of the foregoing, the immediate passa 
requested. 
ORIO B. HONASAN II 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No.3222 
Introduced by Senator GREGORIO B. HONASAN II 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTION 8 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485 ENTITLED, AN ACT 
TO PROMOTE THE ANIMAL WELFARE IN THE PHILIPPINES OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "ANIMAL WELFARE ACT OF 1998". 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 8485 entitled, An Act to 
Promote Animal Welfare in the Philippines Otherwise Known as the "Animal 
Welfare Act of 1998" is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 8. Any person who violates flny provisions of this Act shall, upon 
conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less 
than FOUR YEARS [six (6) months] nor more than SIX (6) [two (2)] 
years or a fine of THIRTY THOUSAND PESOS (P30,OOO.OO) [not less 
than One thousand pesos (P1,OOO.OO) nor more than Five thousand pesos 
(PS,OOO.OO)] or both at the discretion of the Court. PROVIDED, THAT 
ANY PERSON WHO SHALL SUBJECT ANY DOG OR HORSE TO 
DOGFIGHTS OR HORSEFIGHTS AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 6 
HEREOF SHALL BE PUNISHED BY IMPRISONMENT OF SIX (6) 
YEARS AND ONE (1) DAY TO EIGHT (8) YEARS OR A FINE OF 
FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS 
(PSO/OOO.OO) 
OR BOTH AT THE 
DISCRETION OF THE COURT. 
If the violation is committed by a 
juridical person, 
the officer responsible 
therefor shall serve the 
imprisonment when Imposed. If the violation is committed by an alien, he 
or she shall be immediately deported after service of sentence without any 
further proceedings." 


Sec. 2. 
Repealing Clause. -
All laws, executive orders, rules and 
regulations inconsistent with or contrary to this Act, are hereby repealed or 
amended accordingly. 
Sec. 3. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,