TENATE 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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7’ JUEI30 Pi2:!8. 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XV, Section 3.2 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines provides for 
the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special 
protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions 
prejudicial to their development. 
Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as “Special Protection of Children 
Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act” was enacted to give life to the 
provision of the Constitution on the special protection of children from all forms of abuse, 
neglect, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to their 
development. The law likewise mandates the government to carry out a program for 
prevention and deterrence of and crisis intervention in situations of child abuse, 
exploitation and discrimination. 
However, in several deplorable circumstances, Filipinos tend to use children as 
shield or protection against police forces during mass actions. In fact just recently, the 
mass actions at the Hacienda Luisita brought about by labor and land disputes 
unfortunately led to the deaths of two (2) children. Moreover on October 19, 2004, thirty 
(30) children were accompanied by their mothers with a number of peasant leaders in a 
picket in front of the house of former, President Corazon C. Aquino to protest the 
retrenchment of workers in Hacienda Luisita. 
Children of minor age have no business joining mass actions or picket lines where 
the issues being tackled or protested are beyond the scope of their understanding. The 
worst situation to see is when these children are used as pawns by their parents and protest 
leaders to gain sympathy for their cause. The purpose of this bill is to extend the 
protection of children, particularly those under 13 years of age, from abuse, neglect and 
exploitation that may expose them to danger during mass actions of all sorts. 
Therefore, the passage of this hill is earnestly sought 


.ENA I .! 
OFFKk OF 51.41: ~
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
S.B. SENAT? 
No. 
7 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7610, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS TBE “SPECIAL PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST CHILD 
ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION ACT.” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 10 of RA No. 761 0, otherwise known as “Special 
Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation And Discrimination Act,” is 
hereby amended by adding a provision that read as follows: 
“Section 10. Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or 
Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child’s 
Development. 
xxx 
“F. ANY PERSON WHO SHALL EMPLOY, COERCE, 
FORCE, INTIMIDATE OR TAKE ALONG WITH HIM ANY 
CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 13 YEARS TO SUCH PLACE 
OR PLACES WHERE THERE ARE PICKETLINES 
DURING LABOR DISPUTES OR STRIKES, PROTEST 
ACTIONS, 
MARCHES 
AND 
OTHER 
SIMILAR 
ACTIVITIES USED BY PEOPLE TO REDRESS THEIR 
GIUEVANCES SHALL SUFFER TJ3E PENALTY OF 
PRISZUN MAYOR IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD AND A FINE 
OF NOT LESS THAN FORTY THOUSAND PESOS 
(P40,OOO.OO): PROWDED, HOWEVER, THAT SHOULD 
PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF THE MINOR, THE 
PENALTY TO BE IMPGSED SHALL BE PRISIUN MAYOR 
IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD, A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN 
FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00), AND THE LOSS 
OF PARENTAL AUTHORITY OVER THE MINOR.” 
THE PERPETRATOR BE AN ASCENDANT, STEP- 
xxx 
SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 


SECTION 3. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect after fifieen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette and in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,