1
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO ‘BRO. EDDIE’ C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
DETERRING THE CONTINUED PROLIFERATION OF IMMORAL 
DOCTRINES, OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS AND 
INDECENT SHOWS BY INCREASING THE PENALTIES THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The age of technological advancement of our generation—the 
internet, in particular – not only paved the way for modem development, 
but also brought a new wave of problems to the society such as online 
pornography and the rapid increase of users that exploit minors and 
children. 
The Philippine society is not exempted. In fact, according to the 
United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on their 2017 report 
“The State of World's Children: Children in a Digital World,'' the country is 
the top global source of child pornography1—an astounding truth that 
urges us to review prevailing laws. 
Currently, the Revised Penal Code penalizes grave scandal, immoral 
1  2017, December 13, Philippines top global source of pornography - UNICEF. Retrieved from: 
https://www.rappler.com/nation/191219-philippines-top-global-source-child-pornography-unicef/. 
Date last accessed: September 1, 2022 
November 7, 2022
8:05 am
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doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent shows. In 
2017, Republic Act No 10951 increased the penalty for promoting immoral 
doctrines, obscene publications and indecent shows under Article 201 of 
the Revised Penal Code from a fine of at least Php6,000 to a fine ranging 
from Php20,000 to Php200,000. 
 
 
In addition to the felonies punishable under the Revised Penal Code, 
consequently, Republic Act No 7610 or the Special Protection of Children 
Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, penalizes any 
person who shall hire, employ, use, persuade, induce or coerce a child to 
perform in obscene exhibitions and indecent shows, or model in obscene 
publications or pornographic materials or to sell or distribute the said 
materials.  
 
 
Despite these laws, however, Filipino children continue to be 
vulnerable to online mild predators and pornographers. In February 2019, 
it was reported that online sexual exploitations remain widespread in the 
Philippine, 80% of the victims of which are minors, most of whom are 12 
years old or younger.2 In most instances, these minors are compelled to 
undress in front of an international audience of sexual predators online.3 
 
 
The continued prevalence of these incidents in the Philippines may 
be attributed to the fact that despite the deplorable nature of the offense, 
the prescribed penalties for these offenses are not commensurate to their 
gravity. Under the Revised Penal Code, an offender who is found guilty of 
violating Article 201 may be punished by a fine ranging from Php20,000 
to Php200,000 or imprisonment of not more than six years. Thus, even if 
an offender is convicted, there is no assurance that the offender would be 
put behind bars and kept away from the public. The fine is also negligible 
when compared to the profit that the pornography business generates. 
 
 
This bill seeks to give greater protection to minors. increase the 
penalties for obscene, pornographic and immoral activities, and update 
our penal laws to adapt to the advanced technology now employed by 
those in the business of defiling the dignity of persons through lust and 
greed.  
 
 
2 2019, February 2022. Cybersex ops still prevalent in PH; 80 pct of victims are minors. Retrieved from 
https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/02/22/19/cybersex-ops-still-prevalent-in-ph-80-pct-of-victims-are-
minors. Date last accessed: September 1, 2022. 
3 2018, February 14. Gov't to boost crackdown on child pornography. Retrieved from 
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/02/14/crackdown-on-child-pornography.html. Date last 
accessed: September 1, 2022. 


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In view of these considerations, the immediate passage of this bill is 
sought. 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
EDUARDO ‘BRO. EDDIE’ C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
DETERRING THE CONTINUED PROLIFERATION OF IMMORAL 
DOCTRINES, OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS AND 
INDECENT SHOWS BY INCREASING THE PENALTIES THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
1 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the 
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"Immorality, Pornography and Obscenity Deterrence Act.” 
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SEC. 2. Article 201 of Act No. 3815, as amended by Republic Act 
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No. 10951, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, is hereby 
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amended to read as follows: 
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Article 201. Immoral doctrines, obscene publications and 
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exhibitions, and indecent shows. - The penalty of BOTH prision 
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mayor [or] AND a fine ranging from [Twenty thousand pesos 
13 
(P20,000)] FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND (P500,000.00) TO 
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[Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000)] TWO MILLION 
15 
PESOS (P2,000,000.00) [, or both such imprisonment and fine,] 
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shall be imposed upon: 
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(1) Those who shall publicly, in whatever form, medium or 
1 
technology, expound or proclaim doctrines openly contrary to 
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public morals; 
3 
 
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(2) (a) The authors of obscene literature, published with their 
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knowledge in any form; the editors publishing such literature; and 
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the owners/operators and employees of the establishment selling 
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the same; 
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(b) Those who, in theaters, fairs, cinematographs or any other 
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place accessible or made accessible to the public even if 
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privately-owned, or through the internet or some other virtual 
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location where information can be posted, stored or transferred, 
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willingly exhibit, for free, profit or any consideration, indecent or 
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immoral plays, scenes, acts or shows, or clips, whether visually 
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or through the use of the other senses, whether live or [in film,] 
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recorded. [which are proscribed by virtue hereof,] These shall 
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include those which (1) glorify criminals or condone crimes; (2) 
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serve no other purpose but to satisfy the market for violence, lust 
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or pornography; (3) intentionally offend or discriminate any race, 
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or religion; (4) tend to abet traffic and use of prohibited drugs and 
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the abuse of regulated drugs; and (5) are contrary to law, public 
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order, morals, good customs, established policies, lawful orders, 
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decrees and edicts; 
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(3) Those who shall sell, give away, DISTRIBUTE, LEASE, 
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CIRCULATE or exhibit films, prints, engravings, sculpture, 
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PICTURES, [or] literature, SOUND RECORDINGS, OR ANY 
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MATERIAL, IN WHATEVER FORM, which are offensive to 
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morals, 
ESPECIALLY 
THOSE 
REFERRED 
TO 
IN 
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SUBSECTION (2)(B)(1) TO (5) ABOVE.  
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FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, ANY MATERIAL WHICH, 
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TO A REASONABLE PERSON USING THE MORAL AND 
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ETHICAL STANDARDS OF THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY 
34 
WHERE 
THE 
MATERIAL 
WAS 
SOLD, 
DISTRIBUTED, 
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EXHIBITED 
AND/OR 
CIRCULATED, 
UNNECESSARILY 
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EMPLOY THE USE OF SEX AND/OR VIOLENCE, OR 
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UNNECESSARILY ADVERTISE AND/OR PROMOTE DRUG 
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ABUSE, CRIME OR OTHER UNLAWFUL OR IMMORAL ACTS 
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SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE IMMORAL, OBSCENE AND/OR 
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PORNOGRAPHIC. 
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IF THE OFFENDER IS A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, 
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THE MAXIMUM PENALTY SHALL BE IMPOSED, INCLUDING 
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THE ACCESSORY PENALTY OF PERPETUAL ABSOLUTE 
3 
DISQUALIFICATION. 
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ANY PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE WHO SHALL 
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KNOWINGLY ASSIST, IN WHATEVER FORM, WHETHER FOR 
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CONSIDERATION OR OTHERWISE, ANY PERSON IN 
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COMMITTING ANY OF THE OFFENSES MENTIONED IN THE 
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PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS SHALL BE PENALIZED WITH 
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PRISION MAYOR AND A FINE OF TWO MILLION PESOS 
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(P2,000,000.00) 
INCLUDING 
PERMANENT 
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DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE. 
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SEC. 3. A new Article 201-A of Act No. 3815, as amended, 
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otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, is hereby amended to read 
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as follows:  
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ARTICLE 201-A. SALE, DISTRIBUTION OR TRANSFER OF 
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IMMORAL, 
OBSCENE 
AND/OR 
PORNOGRAPHIC 
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MATERIALS TO MINORS - ANY PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF 
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SELLING, DISTRIBUTING OR TRANSFERRING TO A MINOR, 
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FOR CONSIDERATION OR OTHERWISE, ANY IMMORAL, 
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OBSCENE 
AND/OR 
PORNOGRAPHIC 
MATERIAL 
IN 
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WHATEVER FORM, MEDIUM OR TECHNOLOGY, SHALL 
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SUFFER THE PENALTY OF PRISION MAYOR AND A FINE 
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RANGING FROM FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND (P500,000.00) 
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TO TWO MILLION PESOS (P2,000,000.00). 
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IF THE OFFENDER IS A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, 
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THE MAXIMUM PENALTY SHALL BE IMPOSED, INCLUDING 
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THE ACCESSORY PENALTY OF PERPETUAL ABSOLUTE 
32 
DISQUALIFICATION.  
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ANY PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE WHO SHALL 
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KNOWINGLY ASSIST, IN WHATEVER FORM, WHETHER FOR 
36 
CONSIDERATION OR OTHERWISE, ANY PERSON IN 
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COMMITTING ANY OF THE OFFENSES MENTIONED IN THE 
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PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS SHALL BE PENALIZED WITH 
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PRISION MAYOR AND A FINE OF TWO MILLION PESOS 
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(P2,000,000.00), 
INCLUDING 
PERMANENT 
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DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE. 
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SEC. 4. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the 
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Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and 
2 
Discrimination Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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Section 9. Obscene Publications and Indecent Shows. - Any 
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person who shall hire, employ, use, persuade, induce or coerce 
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a child to perform in obscene exhibitions and indecent shows, 
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whether live or in video, or model in obscene publications or 
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pornographic materials or to sell or distribute the said materials 
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shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its [medium] 
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MAXIMUM period AND A FINE RANGING FROM FIVE 
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HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000.00) TO TWO 
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MILLION PESOS (P2,000,000.00). 
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THE SAME PENALTY SHALL BE IMPOSED ON ANY PERSON 
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WHO SHALL USE VIRTUAL OR DIGITAL IMAGES OF A CHILD 
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OR INDIVIDUALS MADE TO APPEAR LIKE MINORS IN ANY 
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OBSCENE PUBLICATION OR PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL IN 
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WHATEVER FORM OR MEDIUM. 
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ANY PERSON WHO SHALL SELL, GIVE AWAY, DISTRIBUTE, 
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LEASE, CIRCULATE, PRODUCE, SPONSOR OR EXHIBIT 
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ANY MATERIAL ENCOURAGING OR PROMOTING SEXUAL 
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INTERCOURSE OR ANY SEXUAL OR PROFANE ACTIVITY 
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WITH A MINOR OR MINORS SHALL LIKEWISE SUFFER THE 
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PENALTY PROVIDED UNDER THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF 
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THIS SECTION. 
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If the child used as a performer, subject or seller/distributor is 
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below twelve (12) years of age, the penalty shall be imposed in 
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its maximum period AND THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FINE. 
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Any ascendant, guardian, or person entrusted in any capacity 
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with the care of a child who shall cause and/or allow such child 
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to be employed or to participate in an obscene play, scene, act, 
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movie or show or in any other acts covered by this section shall 
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suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its [medium] MAXIMUM 
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period. 
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IF THE OFFENDER IS A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, 
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THE MAXIMUM PENALTY SHALL BE IMPOSED, INCLUDING 
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THE ACCESSORY PENALTY OF PERPETUAL ABSOLUTE 
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DISQUALIFICATION. 
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1 
ANY PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE WHO SHALL 
2 
KNOWINGLY ASSIST, IN WHATEVER FORM, WHETHER FOR 
3 
CONSIDERATION OR OTHERWISE, ANY PERSON IN 
4 
COMMITTING ANY OF THE OFFENSES MENTIONED IN THE 
5 
PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS SHALL BE PENALIZED WITH 
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PRISION MAYOR AND A FINE OF TWO MILLION PESOS 
7 
(P2,000,000.00) 
INCLUDING 
PERMANENT 
8 
DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE. 
9 
 
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SEC. 5. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is 
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declared unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall 
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continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, rules and 
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regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed 
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or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 7. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
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(2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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