FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
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SENATE' 
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COMMITTEE REPORT NO. __ 
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Submittcd jointly by the Committees on Justice and Human Rights; Social Justice, 
Welfare and Rural Development and Finance on _"".1\"-)1"'--'-1--'7'--=-20.::..1:-=2 _______ _ 
Re: 
Senate Bill No, ---~--~ 
Recommending its approval in substitution of S. Nos 840, 1655, 1911, and 2540, 
Sponsor: Senator Escudero 
MR. PRESIDENT: 
The Committees on Justice and Human Rights, Social Justice, Welfare and Rural 
Development and Finance to which were referred S. No. 840 , introduced by Senators 
Jinggoy Ejercito-Estrada and Francis O. Escudero, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
TO COMBAT ABUSE AND ENHANCE PENALTIES FOR CRIMES AGAINST 
SENIORS." 
S. No. 1655, introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor - Santiago, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING ELDER SERVE COORDINATING COUNCILS THAT 
PROVIDE FOR EMERGENCY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS TO COMBAT 
ELDERLY ABUSE." 


S. No. 1911, introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor - Santiago, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
TO COMBAT ABUSE AND INCREASE PENALTIES FOR CRIMES AGAINST 
SENIORS" 
And S.No. 2540, introduced by Senator Ramon Revilla, Jr., entitled: 
"AN ACT 
TO COMBAT ABUSE AND ENHANCE PENALTIES FOR CRIMES AGAINST 
SENIORS." 
have considered the same and have the honor to report them back to the Senate with the 
recommendation that the attached Senate Bill No. 
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, prepared by 
the Committees, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
TO COMBAT ABUSE AND ENHANCE PENALTIES FOR CRIMES AGAINST 
AND TO STRENGTHEN GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND SUPPORT 
MECHANISMS FOR SENIORS." 
bc approved in substitution of S. Nos. 840, 1655, 1911 and 2540, with Senators 
Ejercito-Estrada, Escudero, Santiago, Revi\la, Pangilinan and Drilon as authors thereof. 


Respectfully Submitted: 
Chairmen: 
ANGILINAN 
~~ 
lfare and Rural Develpment 
Members: 
GUINGONA III 
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SEN. LOREN B. LEGARDA 
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SEN~~GIO R. OSMENA III 
SEN. FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
Ctte. on Justice and Human Rights 
Pi. ,7: ~.A 
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s~. ~QUILINO PIMENTEL, III 
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SEN YON "SbNG" REVILLA, JR. 
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SEN. JOKER P. ARROYO 
L.~'~ jJ I ,.~j~",:1Uy; 
SEN. MIRIAMW'EFENSOR-S,KNTIAGO 
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SEN. M~EL'''LITO'' M. LAPID 


SEN. FERDINAN 
R. ~RCOS, JR. 
SEN.P~~SON 
f~ «, fLJlJ 
SEN. PIA ~:~AY@rANO 
SEN. MAN 
VILLA 
HON. JUAN PONCE ENRILE 
Senate President 
Senate of the Philippines 
Pasay City 
Ex-Officio Members: 
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LlvlWu~~!~ 
SEN. VICENTE <i;. SOTTO III 
Senate Majority Fl6t,d"eader 
GGOY EJERCITO-ESTRADA 
S nate President-Pro Tempore 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. B.No. 
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Prepared Jointly by the Committees on Justice and Human Rights, Social Justice, 
Welfare and Rural Development and Finance with Senators Ejercito-Estrada, Escudero, 
Defensor-Santiago, Revilla, Pangilinan and Drilon as authors thereof. 
AN ACT 
TO COMBAT ABUSE AND ENHANCE PENALTIES FOR CRIMES AGAINST 
AND TO STRENGTHEN GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND SUPPORT 
MECHANISMS FOR 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 and 
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Service Act of 2012". 
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SEC. 2. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to develop strategies for preventing 
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and punishing crimes that target or otherwise disproportionately affect seniors by 
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collecting appropriate data to measure the extent of crimes committed against seniors 
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and determine the extent of domestic and elder abuse. It likewise seeks to strengthen 
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existing services being accorded to senior citizens by the government. 
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SEC. 3. Definition. As used in this Act. -
(1) "Crime" means any criminal offense under the Revised Penal Code and 
s pecialla ws; and 
(2) "Senior" means an individual who is at least 60 years of age. 
SEC. 4. Study of Crimes Against Seniors. -
(a) In General - The Department of Justice (DO]), through the National Bureau of 
Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Interior and Local Government 
(DILG), through the Philippine National Police (PNP), 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 these crimes. 


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(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; and 
(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; 
(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 socio-economic 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 one (1) year after the effectivity of this Act, the DOJ 
and the DILG shall submit to the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report describing the results of the study under this section. Thereafter, the 
study and report shall be had on an annual basis. 
SEC. 5. Enhanced Sentencing Penalties Based on Age of Victim. The DOJ, in 
coordination with agencies of government concerned, shall: 
(1) review existing sentencing guidelines and recommend the possibility of 
increased penalties for persons convicted of offenses in which the victim 
was a senior in appropriate circumstances, given the serious economic 
and physical harms associated with criminal activities targeted at seniors 
due to their particular vulnerability; 
(2) consult with individuals or groups representing seniors, law enforcement 
agencies, victims organizations and the judiciary as part of the review 
described in this section; 
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(3) account for any aggravating or mitigating circumstances that may justify 
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exceptions in order to provide sentencing enhancements; 
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Not later than one (1) year after the effectivity of this Act, the DO} shall 
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submit to Congress a report on issues relating to the age of crime victims, which shall 
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include any recommendations of the DOJ relating to any revision or modification of 
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penalty levels, including statutory penalty, for offenses involving seniors. 
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SEC. 6. 
Strengthening Government Service and Support Mechanisms. 
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agencies of government, including local government units (LGUs) and government-
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owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) shall endeavor to strengthen all present 
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and existing service and support mechanisms to seniors. As such, the establishment 
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and enhancement of senior's desk in all government offices shall be mandatory by 
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utilizing similar facilities or resources devoted by such offices for the same purpose. 
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SEC. 7. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of 
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this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DOJ. 
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Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act 
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shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 8. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the 
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remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and 
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eHect. 
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SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations, and 
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other parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
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amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or at least (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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