Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
AMENDING ARTICLE 245 OF THE PENAL CODE, ENTITLED “ABUSE AGAINST 
CHASTITY,” BY RENAMING THE FELONY TO “SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY 
PUBLIC OFFICERS” AND ADDING ANOTHER PARAGRAPH TO BE CITED AS 
PARAGRAPH THREE (3) DEALING WITH CASES NOT FALLING WITHIN THE 
COVERAGE OF PARAGRAPHS ONE (1) AND TWO (2) OF THE SAME ARTICLE 
The Penal Code, Article 245, penalizes a public officer who solicits or makes immoral 
or indecent advances to any person under his custody or interested in matters pending 
before him. This provision has a very limited coverage as it excludes other public 
officers who use and abuse their public office in order to satisfy their lust or sexual 
perversion. This bill seeks to expand the coverage of Article 245 by including acts 
constituting sexual harassment committed by public officials. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
March 23, 2021
1:13 PM
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
AMENDING ARTICLE 245 OF THE PENAL CODE, ENTITLED “ABUSE AGAINST 
CHASTITY,” BY RENAMING THE FELONY TO “SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY 
PUBLIC OFFICERS” AND ADDING ANOTHER PARAGRAPH TO BE CITED AS 
PARAGRAPH THREE (3) DEALING WITH CASES NOT FALLING WITHIN THE 
COVERAGE OF PARAGRAPHS ONE (1) AND TWO (2) OF THE SAME ARTICLE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title Seven, Chapter Six, Section Four, Article 245 of the Penal Code is 
hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Section 4. (Abuse Against Chastity) SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY PUBLIC 
OFFICERS.” 
“Article 245. [Abuse Against Chastity] SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY PUBLIC 
OFFICERS. – PENALTIES. - The penalties of prision correccional in its medium and 
maximum periods and temporary special disqualification shall be imposed: 
1.  Upon any public officer who shall solicit or make immoral or indecent advances to 
any person interested in matters pending before such officer for decision, or with 
respect to which the public officer required to submit a report, or consult with, superior 
officer;
2.  Any warden or other public officer directly charged with the care and custody of 
prisoners or persons under arrest who shall fail solicit or make immoral or indecent 
advances to any person under his custody.
If the person solicited be the spouse, child, sibling, parent, or relative within the same 
degree of affinity or any person in the custody of such warden or officer, the penalties 
shall be prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods and temporary 
special disqualification. 
3.  ANY PUBLIC OFFICER WHO SHALL SOLICIT OR MAKE IMMORAL, INDECENT, 
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OR AMOROUS ADVANCES TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY OF THE FOLLOWING 
CIRCUMSTANCES: 
 
A. SUBMISSION TO SUCH ADVANCES IS MADE, EITHER EXPRESSLY OR 
IMPLIEDLY, A TERM OR CONDITION FOR EMPLOYMENT; 
 
B. SUBMISSION TO SUCH ADVANCES IS MADE, EITHER EXPRESSLY OR 
IMPLIEDLY, A TERM OR CONDITION FOR PROMOTION OR OBTENTION OF 
OTHER BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES; AND 
 
C. SUCH CONDUCT HAS THE PURPOSE OR EFFECT OF INTERFERING WITH 
AN INDIVIDUAL’S WORK PERFORMANCE OR CREATING AN INTIMIDATING, 
HOSTILE OR OFFENSIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.  
 
ANY OTHER ANNOYING, DISGUSTING OR OFFENSIVE CONDUCT THE 
PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO SATISFY THE PUBLIC OFFICER’S LUST OR 
SEXUAL 
PERVERSION 
SHALL 
LIKEWISE 
BE 
TREATED 
AS 
SEXUAL 
HARASSMENT UNDER PARAGRAPH THREE (3) HEREOF.” 
 
SECTION 2. Effectivity Clause – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,