Fifteenth Congress of the Republic 
of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
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) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2540 
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Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 5 provides: 
"The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and 
property and the promotion ,of the general welfare are essential for the 
enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy." 
Older victims of violent crimes are almost twice as likely as younger victims to be raped, 
robbed or assaulted at or in their own hO)nes. 
As the number of older FilipinQs increases, this bill seeks to develop strategies for the 
prevention and punishment of crimes that target or otherwise affect seniors by collecting 
appropriate data to measure the extent of crimes committed against them and to determine the 
extent of elder abuse. 
Passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 


Fifteenth Congress of the Republic 
of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2540 
«ECliIVW ~v :t-_· 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
TO COMBAT ABUSE AND ENHANCE PENALTIES FOR CRIMES 
AG;AINST SENIORS 
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 "Seniors Safety Act of2010." 
SECTION 2. Purpose. - The purpose of this Act is to develop strategies for preventing 
and punishing crimes that target or otherwise disproportionately affect seniors by collecting 
appropriate data to measure the extent of crimes committed against seniors and determine the 
extent of domestic and elder abuse of seniors. 
SECTION 3. Definition. As used in this Act. -
(1) Crime - means any criminal offense under the Penal Code and special laws; 
(2) Senior - means an individual who is more than 55 years of age; and 
(3) Secretary - means the Secretary of Justice. 
SECTION 4. Study of crimes against seniors. -
a. In General. - The Secretary shall conduct a study relating to crimes against seniors in 
order to assist in developing new strategies to prevent and otherwise reduce the incidence 
of those crimes. 
b. Issues Addressed. - The study conducted under this section shall include an analysis of: 
(1) the nature and type of crimes perpetrated against seniors with special focus on: 
( a) the most common type of crimes that affect seniors; 
(b) the nature and extent of elder abuse inflicted upon seniors; 
(c) the nature and extent of health care fraud and abuse targeting seniors; 
(2) the risk factors associated with seniors who have been victimized; 
(3) the manner in which the criminal justice systems respond to crimes against seniors; 
. 
(4) the feasibility of establishing:and maintaining a centralized computer database on the 
incidence of crimes against seniors that will promote the uniform identification and 
reporting of such crimes; 
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(5) crimes targeting or disproportionately affecting seniors; 
(6) crime risk factors for seniors, including the times and locations at which crimes 
victimizing seniors are most likely to occur; 
(7) specific characteristics of the. victims of crimes who are seniors including age, gender, 
race or ethnicity and socioeconomic status; 
(8) the nature and extent of crimes targeting seniors such as health care fraud; and 
(9) other effective ways to prevent or reduce the occurrence of crimes against seniors 
c. 
Report. - Not later than eighteel) (18) months after the date of enactment of this Act the 
Secretary shall submit to the House of Representatives and the Senate a report describing 
the results of the study under this' section. 
SECTION 5. Enhanced sentencing penalties based on age of victim. -
The 
Department of Justice shall-
(1) review existing sentencing guidelines and recommend the possibility of increased 
penalties for persons convicted of offenses in which the victims was a senior in 
appropriate circumstances given the serious economic and physical harms associated with 
criminal activity targeted at seniors due to their particular vulnerability; 
(2) consult with individuals or gr~ups representing seniors, law enforcement agencies, 
victims organizations and the judiciary as part of the review described in this section; 
(3) account for any aggravating or mitigating circumstances that may justify exceptions in 
order to provide sentencing enhancements; 
(4) report - not later than one (1) year after the promulgation of this Act, the Department 
shall submit to Congress a report on issues relating to the age of crime victims which 
shall include any recommendations of the Department relating to any revision or 
modification of penalty levels including statutory penalty levels for offenses involving 
seniors. 
SECTION '6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or 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 provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 8. 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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