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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2258
23 MAY 29 All :44
RECEIVtD 3V.
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROVIDING AN AMBER ALERT SYSTEM TO PREVENT KIDNAPPING OF
CHILDREN
EXPLANATORY NOTE
An Amber alert system provides the public with immediate and up-to-date 
information regarding a missing or kidnapped child via widespread media broadcast 
on television, radio and wireless devices. This system was developed in order to 
involve the community members to search for the kidnapped child and suspect.
In the Philippines, kidnapping a minor is punishable by reclusion perpetua to 
death which is the highest penalty imposed of a crime. While there are existing laws 
on child security, a mechanism providing rapid response in kidnapping cases can 
help prevent such heinous act from happening.
This bill will provide a mechanism called the Amber Alert System that will 
quickly disseminate information in case of kidnapping or disappearances of a child 
who is at risk of death or serious injury. This bill will encourage public's participation 
in tracing the whereabouts of missing children and in identifying the perpetrators.
For this purpose, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
2256
Senate
23 MAY 29 All 45
RECEIVED BV
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROVIDING AN AMBER ALERT SYSTEM TO PREVENT KIDNAPPING OF
CHILDREN
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "The Philippine Amber 
Alert Act."
Sec 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is provided in the Constitution that the State 
shall defend the right of children to special protection from all forms of neglect, 
abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development. In 
the same vein, the United Nations General Assembly resolution on Declaration of the 
Rights of the Child provides that the child shall in all circumstances be among the 
first to receive protection and relief. The State, therefore, shall protect children from 
kidnapping by providing a rapid response mechanism.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall be defined as follows:
a. Abducted and Missing child Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER Alert 
System is a system that alerts the public regarding a missing or kidnapped 
child;
b. 
refers to any individual below 18 years of age;


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c. Reporting agency any law enforcement agency, broadcasting agency,
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social platform, or other entity designated by the Department of the
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Interior and Local Government (DILG) to receive reports of missing or
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abducted children;
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d. Alert Coordinator the person designated by the DILG to facilitate Amber
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Alert activations and coordinate with participating law enforcement
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agencies and broadcasters.
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Sec. 4. The Philippine Amber Alert System. -The Philippine Alert System shall
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be established and maintained by the DILG in cooperation and maintained by the
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DILG in cooperation with other relevant government agencies, broadcast media
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entities, and social media platforms. The Amber Alert system shall be designed to
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quickly disseminate information about the kidnapping or disappearance of a child
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who is at risk of death or serious injury.
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The Amber Alert System shall be activated by the alert coordinator based on
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specific criteria established under this Act. An Amber Alert may only be activated
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after the following conditions have been met:
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a. The abduction or kidnapping has been confirmed and the victim is a child;
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b. The victim is at risk of serious bodily injury or death;
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c. There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that
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could assist in the recovery of the missing or abducted child;
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d. The alert coordinator determines that activation of the Amber Alert is
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necessary.
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Sec. 5. Criteria for Issuing an Amber Alert. -The criteria for issuing an Amber
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Alert shall be established by the DILG in consultation with relevant government
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agencies, broadcasters, social media platforms, and child protection advocates. The
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criteria shall include, but shall not be limited to the following:
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a. The child is under 18 years of age;
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b. There is reasonable belief that the child has been kidnapped and is in
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danger of serious harm or death;
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c. There is sufficient descriptive information of the child or abductor to assist
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in the recovery of the child.


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Sec. 6. Implementation and Participation. - Participating law enforcement
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agencies, broadcasters, social media platforms, and other entities designated by the
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DILG shall cooperate with the Alert Coordinator and other relevant authorities in the
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rapid dissemination of Amber Alerts to the public. Broadcasters and social media
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platforms shall, upon activation of an Amber Alert, immediately disseminate relevant
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information to assist in the recovery of the missing or kidnapped child.
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Art. 7. Penalties. - Any person who knowingly and falsely activates an Amber
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Alert or who provides false information regarding the abduction or disappearance of
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a child shall be penalized with imprisonment of not less than two years and not more
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than six years and a fine of not less than five hundred thousand pesos (Php
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500,000) and not more than one million pesos (Phpl,000,000).
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Art. 8. Appropriations. - The necessary amount to fund the implementation
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and maintenance of the Philippine Amber Alert System shall be included in the
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General Appropriations Act of the year following the passage of this Act.
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Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional or invalid, the portions or provisions which are not affected shall
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continue to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, letters of
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instructions, executive orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent
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with this Act, are hereby repealed or amended as the case may be.
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Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
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following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a
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newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,