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I l o u s eB i l l N o .

Introduced by AKBAYAN Party-List Representative

Ana TheresiaHontiveros-Baraquel

NOTE
EXPLANATORY

P r o s t i t u t i o n i s a l w a y s v i r - w e c la s a p r o b l c m a b o u t w o m e r " ra n c l c h i l c l r e n - t h o s e u s u a l l y b o u g h t .
I f o w e v e r , i t i s a l s o a p r o b l e m a b o r - r tb u s i n c s s c s t a b l i s h n r c n t s a n c l a b o u t t l - r e b u y e r s , w h o a r e
oredominantlv tnen.

W l ' r e n p r o s t i t u t i o n i s s o l c l y s c e r na s a p r o b l e m a b o u t w o m e n , t h c y a r e t h c o n c s q u e s t i o n e da n c l
s u b s e q u e n t l ys t i g m a t i z e d . T h i s l a w s e e k st o s h i f i t h c a c c o u n t a b i l i t y f r o m t l - r cb o r , r g h t o t h c b u s i n e s s
a n d t h e b u y e r s , t o t h o s e :w h o r c a l l y g a i n f ' r o m l h c s y s t e m o f l t r o s t i t r - t t i o n .

C u r r e n t l y , o L l r l a w s c r i m i n a l i z e t h r . v i c t i m s i n l r r , r s t i t r - r t i otnh r o l r g h A r t i c l e 2 0 ) o | t h e R e v i s e d
P e n a l C o c l c . A s i t i s i n p r c - r s t i t u t i o nt,h c w o m c n a n c l c h i l c l r c n a r c c o n s i d e r c c lc o m m o d i t i e s t h a t a r e
a c q r . r i r e di n e x c h a n g e f o r m o n c : y , m a c l et o p e r r f o r ms e x u a l a c t s a g , a i n s t h c i r w i l l , v i o l c n t l y a b u s c c la n d
s o m e t i m e s k i l l e c l . B c c a u s eo f ' c u r r c n t l a w s o n p r t r s t i t r - L t i o nt h, c v i c t i r n s ' r i g h t s a r e v i o l a t c c l s c ' v e r a l
t i m e s m o r e a s l a w c n l b r c e r s a r r c s t a n d s e x u a l l y a b r - r s tel - r ew o l r l c l t a n d c h i l c l r c ' n ,c ' x l r a c t m < t n e y I r o m
t h e m a n d i m p r i s o n t h e m , a w a 1 ,f i ' o m t h e i r { i r m i l i c s .

T h e s ev i o l a t i o n sc ' f h u m a n r i g h t s a g e r i n sLt h c v i c t i m s i n p r o s l i t u t i o n h a v e b c c n g o i n g o n w i t h
i m p u n i t y . P r o s t i t u t i c l n h a s b c c r r n o r m a l i z c d c v € - . na s i t s v i c t i r n s c l i e s l c l w l y f i o m t h c h a r m s a n c l t h e
v i o l e n c ew i t h r n p r ( ) si tt u t i o n .

I n t e . r n a t i c t r - r ianl s t r u m e n t s s u c h a s t h c 1 9 4 9 C o n v e n t i o n f t r r t h e S u p p r e r s s i o no l P r o s t i t u t i o n
a n d t h e C o n v e n t i o n f o r t l - r eF l l i m i n a t i o n o f ' l ) i s c r i m i n a t i o n A g a i n s t W o m e n c l c : r r l y e n c o t l r a g c ss t a t € t s
t o s t o p v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t w o m e n , i n c l u d i n g a n d i n p a r t i c u l a r a l l l b r r r - r so { ' s e x t t a l e x p i o i t a t i o n . A s a
party ro the Convention, the Philippine State, is therelbre obligecl to institLrte mechanisms to
eliminate various fbrms ol' sexual exploitation, including prostitution.

I n v i e w o f ' t h e n e c d t o e l j m i n a t t ' p r c t s t i t u t i o n a n d t o p e n a l i z e i t s p e r p e t r a t c t r sa n d p a t r o n s , t h e
i m m e d i a t e p a s s a g eo f t h i s b i l l i s e a r n e s t l y u r g e d .

fu-ra^a)ur#ul
gap,@UEL
Hon. ANA THERESIAHONTIVEROS-
R e p r e s e n t iavte , A k h a v a nP a r t y - l i s t
 Republicof the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FOURTEENTHCONGRESS
First RegularSessron

'lt ? {.)
HouseBill No.

Introduced by AKBAYAN Party-List Represenrarive

Ana TheresiaHontiveros-Baraquel

AN ACT
ADDRESSINGTHE SYSTEMOF PROSTITUTION,IMPOSINGPENALTIESON ITS
PERPETRATORS,PROVIDING PROTECTIVE MEASURESAND SUPPORT SERVICES
FOR ITS VICTIMS, AND DECRIMINALIZING VAGRANCY, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE
ARTICLES 202 AND 34I OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE AND AMENDING R.A. 9208.
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacte,l by the Senate antJ the Housc'of'Representatives of'tha Philtpltines in Congress

Assembled:

SECTIONl. Short l itle. This Act shall be knowr-ras "J'heAnti-Prostitution Act of 2007".

SECTION2. Declaratiqno{'Poliqieg- The State:

(a) ln accorclance with the relevant internationalinstrumcnts,particularly,thc. Universal

Declarationon Lluman Rigl'rts,Convention on the lilimination of All lrorms of l)iscrimination
Against Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention Against Transnational
'I'rafficking
Organized Crime including its Protocol to Prevent, Suppressand Punish in Persons,
EspeciallyWomen and Children, and other internationalhuman rights instrumentsof'which the
Philippinesis a party, declaresits conmit.mcnt to end the continuing sexualexploitation of women,
men, and children and all forms of genderbasedviolence by creating an enabiing environment
where the human rightsof women and childrenare promoted,prcltected, and fulfilled.

(b) recognizesprostitution as a human rights violation that calls {br coordinatedand sustained
response from all agencies of government as well as non governmental organizations tl-rat
comprehensivelyaddresses
the factorsthat perpetuatesexualerploitation.

(c) recognizesthat women and children are systematicallyvictimized by and in the systemof
prostitution and must, therefore, be given protection and support by the State, instead of being
treated as offenders;

(d) recognizesthat eliminating prostitution is essentjalfbr women and children to genuinely

and meaningfullyparticipatein nation-building;and

(E) recognizesthat the law on vagrancyhas outlived its usefulnessand that vagrantsshould
be lookedupon not ascommon criminals but asvictims of their ill circumstance.
 SECTION 3. Definition of Tejg1g. The followins terms are defined {br purposes of this Act:

(a) Prostitution -
any act, transaction, scheme or design involving the use OR
EXPLOITATION of a person, whether through the performance of such act or mere demonstration
thereof, whether woman, man or chi1d, for the sexual gratification or pleasure of another in erchange
for money or checks, profit or other consideration, or an) act that promotes or iacilitates the
a c c o m p l i s h m e n to f t h e s a i d a c t , t r a n s a c t i o n ,s c h e m e o r d e s i g n .

(b) Person exploited in prostitutioz - refers to a woman, man or child used, exploited or
e m p l o y e d f o r a n o t h e r p e r s o n ' s s e x u a l g r a t i f i c a t i o n o r p l e a s u r ea n d f b r t h e m o n e t a r y g a i n o r p r o f i t o f
others.

( c ) C h i l c l r e f ' e r st o a n y p e r s o n b e l o w e i g h t e e n ( 1 8 ) y c a r s o f ' a g e o r o n e w h c ' i s o v c r c i g h t e e n

( l B ) b u t i s t t r r a h l et o l i r l l y l t k ( ' ( ' i l r e o l o r p r o t ( ' t t h i m s t ' l [ r h c r s c lffi o m u h t r s t ' .n t ' g l t ' t t .( ' r u r ' l t y ,
e x p l o i t a t i o n o r d i s c r i m i n a t i o n b e c a u s eo f ' a p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l d i s a b i l i t y o r c o n d i t i o n .

(d) Sexual e.uplttitatiLtrr rclcrs to the practice by wl'rich w'omen are sexually subjugatcd
through abuse or violation, cithcr overt or covert, of women's sexuality and physical or mental
i n t e g r i t y , a s a m e a n s o f a c h i e v i n g p o w c r a n c l d o m i n a t i o n , i r - r c l u d i n gg r a t i f i c a t i o n , f i n a n c i a l g a i n , a n d
advancement.

( e ) S e , x t t a l a c ' r -r c { ' c r sL o s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e ,i n c l u c l i n g g e n i t a l t o g e n i t a l , o r a l t o g e n i t a l , a n a l
t o - g e n i t a l , o r o r a l t o - a n a l i n t c r c < x r r s co r ( o n t a c t , i n s c r t i o r . o r f an1, instnrmcnt or objcct into thc
g e n i t a l o r a n a l o r i l i c c o l ' a n y p e r s o n ,b e s t i a l i t y ,m a s t u r b a t i o n s, a c l i s t i c ' om
r asor:histia
c h r - r s ec ,x h i b i t i o r - r
o f t h e g e n i t a l s t r r p u b i c a r e a o f ' a n y p e r s o n , a n c l o t h e r a c l s o i ' a s c x r - r anl a t r l r c , r . ' , , h c t h c trh c s a m c i s
n a d c b c t w c c n p c r s o n so f t h c s a m c o r o p 1 - r o s i tsee x .

(fl l:,'stablishmt:nt refers Lc'rany busincss or enterprisc, inclr.r,-ling,hut not limitccl to, sauna,
b a t h , m a s s a g ,p e a r l o r , d i s c o t h e q r - r eb, a r , r e s t a u r a n t , r e s o r t , k r c l g i n g h o u s c , r n o t e l , h o t c l , t l - r e a t e r s, l - r i p ,
v e r s s e lc, a b o r t a x i , o r a n y o t h c r v c h i c l r ' , o r a n y c l w c l l i n g , h o u s e , j a i l , c l e t e ' n t i o nc e n t c r , s 1r L l ( ' t l l r co r
( ) r o r f l i l l r i z i l t i o nt h a t
b u i l d i n g s e r v i n g a s a c o v e r o r v c n l l c f b r p r e 5 1 1 1 1 1 l i cor rn .r n y g r ( ) r . l p r, s s ( ) ( - i a t i r ) n
c n g a g ( ' si n p r o s t i t u ti o n a C ti v i t i t ' s .

(g) (,'ult ref'crsto, but not limitecl to fhnatic groups that cntice , rccruit, condition any persor-)
t o b e c o m e s e x u a l o f f ' e r i n g si n o r g a n i z a t i o n a l r i t u a l s o r i n o t h c r c r i r c u m s t a n c e sa s p a r t o f m e m b c r s h i p
r e c u i r em e n t s .

SECTION 4. A<'tsof P1'gttitutio4. Prostitution is a crirnr comrnittccl by:

( a ) A n y p e r s o n w h o g i v c s o r c i e l i v e r sm o n e y o r a n y o t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o t -itn e r e l - r a n g cf o r t h c
actual performance or merc demonstration of a serual act b} a person erploitccl in prostitution,
r e g a r d l e s so f w h e t h e r r t h c p c r s o n g i v i n g t r r d e l i v e r i n g m o n e y o r a n y o t h c r c o n s i c l c r a t i o n i s t h e
recipient of such a sexual act;

(b) any person who is a recipient of a sexualact, whether such a recipient has givt'n or
d e l i v e r e dm o n e y o r a n y o t h r ' r t t l n s i d e r a t i o nf o r t h e p r ( ) ( u r ( ' m ( ' n ot f i r p e r s ( ) ne x p l t r i t r ' di n
prostitution; provided, however, that fbr purposesof this Section, being a recipient sha11include
personsor crowds before whom a personexploitedin prostitution has actually performedor merely
demonstratedthe sexualact:

(c) Any person who offers another for sexual exploitation in exchange for money or any other
consideration;
 (d) an1' person u'ho induces, persuades,entices, compels, kidnaps, recruits or rn any manner
procures or causes a person to serve in an establishment knowing that the same is involved in
prostitution activities or when s/he has reasonable cause to believe that such establishment is
i n v o l v e d i n s a i d a c t i v i ti e s ;

(e) any person who organizes or arranges travel tours and/or tourism-relatecl activities that
involve the sexual exploitation of any pe rson or the escort serwicesof any person who is expected to
p e r f o r m t h e s e x u a l a c t s a s c l e f i n e di n t h i s A c t ;

( 0 a n y p e r s o n w h o a s p a r t o f c u l t o r r e l i g i o u s o b l i g a t i o n u s c s , e n l i c e s , r c c r u i t s , o r o f f ' e r sa n y
p e r s o n a s s e x u a lo f f e r i n g o r f a v o r t o o t h e r m e m b e r s o f t h e c u l t o r r c l i g i o t - r so r g a n i z a t i o n ;

(g) any personwho usesinformationtcchnologyor any fbrm of'media fbr rhc purposesof'
Drostitution:

( h ) a n y p e r s o n w h o d c r i v e s p r r o { ' iot r a d v a n t a g ef i o m a n y o f ' t h e p r o h i b i t e d a c r s c l e f i n e di n t h i s

S e c t i o n a s o w n e r , o p e r a t o r , m a n a g e r , h e a d , c l i r e r c t o ro, f f i c e r o r a g c n t o f ' t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t w h c r c L h e
p r o s t i t u t i o n a c t i v i t y t a k c s p l a c e , o r o f t h e c s t a b l i s h m e n t s e r v i n g i - r sa c ( r v e r ( ) r v ( . n u € r f i r r s u c h
p r o s t i t u t i o n a c t i v i t y , o r a i d i n g a n o t h e r c s t a b l i s h m c n to r p e r s o n i n v o l v c d i n a r " r yp r o s r i r t - t r i ( ral r( ' t i v i t y ;

( i ) a n y p e r s c ) nw h o l e a s e ss, u b l c ' a s e o s ,r i n a n y m a n n e r a l l o w s t h c u s c o f a n y c l w c l l i n g ,h o u s c ,
s t r u c t u r c , b u i l d i n g , l a r - r do r a n y o t h c r p r o p e r t y k n o w i n g t l - r a tt h e l c s s c c / s u b l c s s e irnetre n c l s t o L r s co r
u s e s i t f o r p r o s t i t t t t i o n a c t i v i t i e s a s c l c f i n e c li n t h i s S c c t i o n . l i o r t l - r ep u r p o s e s o f t h i s p a r i l g r a p h , t h c
o w n c r o f t h e c l w e l l i n g , h o u s e s t r l l c t r l r e , h u i l d i n g , l a n c lo r a n y o t h c r p r o p € . r t yu s e d f i r r p r c s t i t u t i o n a n c l
h i s / h e r a g e n t s h a l l b e p r r c s u m e dt o h a v e k r " r o w l e c l gteh a t t h e p l a c c i s b e i n g r - r s c coir i n t e n c l e c tl o b c r - r s e c l
o r i n t e n d e d t c l b e ru s e c lf o r p n r s t i t u t i o n r - r n l e sss/ h e c l i s p r o v e si t ;

(j) o"y mcmbe'r rrf'the rnilitary or police establisl-rmcuL

o ,r a n y g o v c r n m e n t o f ' f i c i a l o r
e m p l o y e e , o r a n y p e r s o n i n a u t h o r i t y w h o c o m n i t s , c a L l s c s ,o r p r o m o t c s , f a c i l i t a t e s , a l l o w s , o r
t o l e r a t e st h e c o m m i s s i o n o f a n y o t t h e u c t s d c f i n e c i i n t h i s S e c t i o n , o r w h o , i n a n y m a n n e . r ,p r o v i d e s
p r o t e c t i o n t o t h c p e r p e t r a t o r so f t h e s a i d a c t s .

( k ) a n y o f f i c i a l o r e m p l o y e e o f a n y j a i l o r d e t e r - r t i o nc e n t e r o r a n y p e r s o n c o n n e r c t e dt h c r c t o
w h o c o m m i t s , c a u s e s ,p r o m o t e s , f a c i l i t a t e r sa, l l o w s o r t o l e r a t c s t h e c o m m i s s i o n o { a n y o f t h c a c t s
d e f i n e d i n t h i s s e c t i o n u p o n i n m a t c s o r w h o , i n a n y m a n n e r , p r c l v i d e sp r o t e c t i o n t o t h c p e r p e t r a t o r s
ofthe saidact.

F o r p u r p o s e so f t h i s S e c t i o n , i t i s u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h c . p r o l ' r i b i t c . cal c t s o l ' p r o s t i t u t i o n m a y b e

c o m m i t t e d i n a n y e s t a b l i s h m c n t a s d c f i n e d i n S e c t i o n 3 ( l ) a b o v e o r i n a r - r yo t h c r p l a c e n o t o t h e r w i s e
mentioned in Scction 3(fl.

F u r t h e r m o r e , a n a t t e m p t t o c o m m i t a n y o f t h e a c t s d e f i n e c li n t h i s S e c t i o n i s a l s o p r o h i b i t e d .

SECTION 5. Personsexploited in prostitaltJ_ap - A.y woman, man or child, regardlessof'

at r,le!!U_€.
sexual orientation or gender identity, used or employed for another person'ssexual gratification,
pleasureand/or exploitation and for the monetary gain or profit o{'othcrs, as defineclin Section4 of
this Act, shallbe treatedas victimsof prostitution.As such,they shall not incur any criminal liability
under this Act, exceptthosepenalizcdunder Section6 (b) of this Act.

In addition,the consentof the personexploitedin prostitutionto the commissionof any of

the actsdefined in Section4 of this Act shall not in any way exempt the offender from, or mitigate
his/her,criminal liability.

SECTION6. Penaltiesand Sanctions.

 (a) any person found guilt1' of the acts defined in Section 4 shall suffer the penalty of
i m p r i s o n m e n t o f t w e n t y ( 2 0 ) y e a r s a n d a f i n e o f n o t l e s st h a n o n e m i l l i n n n e s o c/ P 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) b u t
n o t m o r e t h a n t w o m i l l i o n p e s o s( P 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) ;

(b) any person guilty of the acts defined in Section4 who is also exploited in prostitution or
h a d b e e n e x p l o i t e d i n p r o s t i t u t i o n s h a l l s u f T e rt h e p e n a l t y o f i m p r i s o n m e n r o f t e n ( 1 0 ) y e a r s f o r t h e
first offence and fifteen (15) years for the succeedingviolations and a fine o{'nor less than five
h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d p e s o s( P 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) b u t n o t m o r e t h a n o n e m i l l i o n p e s o s( P 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) ;

(c) any personguilty of attemptingto commit any of the prohibited acts shall suffer the
penaltyof imprisonmentof fifteen (15)ycarsand a flne of not lessthan fivc I'rundredthousandpesos
(P500,000.00 b )u t r . r om
t o r et h a n o n e m i l l i o n p e s o s( P 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) ;

(d) when the of{'ender is any establishment as deflnecl in this Act, the penalty shall be
imposed upon the owncr and opreratr)o
r r m a n a g e r , o r t h c d i r e c : t o r sa n d o f T i c e r s ,o r t h e r e s p o n s i b l c
o f f i c e r s o r a g c n t s o f ' t h e e s t a b l i s h m c n t ,c o r p o r a t i o n , p a r t n c r s h i p , o r a s s o c i a t i o nf i r r - r n ,rl r r h e e n p ; r o r ' riln
a n y o f t h e a c t sd e f l n c d i n S i . c t i o n4 o l t h i s a c t .

I n a d d i t i o n , t h c c s t a b l i s h m e n t , c o r p o r a t i o n , p a r t n e r r s l - r iopr a s s o c i a t i o ns l - r a l lb e i m m c d i a t e l y
c l o s e d a n d i t s r e g i s t r a t i o n a n d / o r l i c c n s e rt o o p e r a t e s h a l l b e r c v o k c c l . A s i g n w i t h t h e w o r d s " o l ' f '
limits" shall be conspicuously displayecloutside the establishment by the l)epartment of Social
W e l f a r e a n d D e v e l o p m e n t f o r s u c h p e r i o c la s t h e D e p a r t r n e n t m a y c l c t e r m i n c , w h i c l - r s h a l l n o t b r : l e s s
t h a n o n e y e a r . T h c u n a r , r t l - r o r i z ercel m o v a l o f s u c i ' rs i g n s h a l l b c p r , r n i s h a b l cb y i r n p r i s o n m c n t o 1 ' s i x
months.

( c ) w h c n t h c o f i ' c n d e r i s a { o r e i g n e r , s / h e s h a l l b e d e p o r l e c l i m m e d i a t e l y a f i e r s e r v i c r eo f
s e n t e n c ea n d p e r m a n e n t l y b a r r e c l{ ' r o m c n t r y i n t o t h c c o l r n t r y ;

( f ) a n y p c r s o n f b u n d g r - r i l t yo f c o m m i t t i n g ( ) r a t t c m p t i n g t o c ' o m m i t a r - r yo f t h e p r o l - r i b i t r : da c t s
under Section 4 shall, in additron Lo ther pcnalties statecl in this srction, unclcrgo, c'or-rnserling,
r e h a b i l i t a t i o na n d m a n c l a t o r yc c l u c a t i o no n t h c h u m a n r i g h t s s i t u a t i o n o f v i c r t i r n so { p r o s t i t u t i o n w i t l - r
D S D W f b r a p c r i o d o f n o l l c s s t h e i n r h r c c ( 1 3 )m o n t h s b u t r - r o tl o n g c r t h a n o n c ( l ) 1 , c a r w i t h t h e
D S W D . ' l ' h e D S W t ) s h a l l s r , r b n i t t o t h c c o l r r t a r c l ) o r l o n t h c r e ' h a b i l i t a t i o r -or1 ' t h c o f l c n c l c r .

SECTION 7. ety|ltqbilU_y, lU pLet:tilLltiou.- Persons cxploitccl in prostitution may filc indcpcndcnt

c i v i l c a s e sf o r d a m a g e sa g a i n s tt h e p e r s o n s .n a t r . r r aol r j u r r d i c a l , r e . s p o n s i b l ef o r t h e i r c x p l o i t a t i o n .

P r o v i n c c s , c i t i c s a n d m u n i c i p a l i t i e s s h a l l b e l i a b l e f i r r t J a m a g c s ,i n a d d i t i ( r n t ( ) a n y ( ) t h c r
c r i m i n a l o r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e l i a b i l i t y u n d e r e x i s t i n g l a w s , t o p c r r s o n se x p l o i t e d i n p r o s t i t u t i o n w , h e n i t i s
p r o v e n t h a t t h e r e s p o n s i b l ea l l t h o r i t i e s h a d k n o w l e d g e o r w e r e i n { b r m c ' d o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s c o n s t i t u t i n g
p r o s t i t u t i o n b u t d i d n o t t a k e p r o p e r a c t i o n w i t l - r i n a r e a s o n a b l ep e r i o c l o f ' t i m e . I i o r ; r u r p o s e so f t h i s
S e c t i o n , t h e r e s p o n s i b l ea u t h o r i t i c s s h a l l b c d c c m c c l t o h a v e k n o w l e c l g c o f ' t h e p r o s t i t l r t i o n a c t i v i t i e s
w h e n t h e s a m e a r e c o m r l o n k n o w l e d g e i n t l - r ec o m m r - r n i t y .

SECTION8. PrssecutLo!e{C'asev. Any personwho has personalknowledgc of the commissionof

a n y o l f e n s eu n d e r t h i s A c t , o r t h e p e r s o ne r p l o i t t , ciln p r o s t i t r r t i o nt ,h e p a r e n t s s. n ( ) u s (s' .i h l i n g s .
childrenor legalguardian,or the law enforcementagencies, or therTask F'orcecreatcdunder tl-risAct
m a y f i l e a c o m p l a i n tl b r p r o s t i t u t i o n .

SECTION9. Ve!_L!e.- A criminal action arisingfiom aviolation of this Act shall be filed where the
offensewas committed, or where anv of its elementsoccurred, or where thc' person exploited in
 prostitution actualh' residesat the time of the commission of the offense; provided, that the court
rvhere the criminal action is first filed shall acquire jurisdiction ro the exciusion of other courts.

SECTION 10. ?rcwtpuve Pe p4. - Casesunder this Act shall prescribe in TWEN'I'Y (20) years.
The prescriptive period shall commence to run from tl-re day on which rhe person exploited in
prostitution is delivered or released from the situation of exploitation and shall be interrupted by the
filing of the complaint or information and shall commence ro rlln again when such proceedings
t e r m i n a t e w i t h o u t t h e a c c u s e d b e i n g c o n v i c t e d o r a c q r - r i t r e do r a r c r u n j u s t i f i a b l y s t o p p e d f o r a n y
r e a s o nn o t i m p u t a b l e t o t h e a c c u s e d .

SECTION11.Exemptionfrom filing fees.- When the victim o{ prostitutioninstirutesa separate civil

action from the recoveryof civil damages,s/he shall be exempt {iom the paymentof'filir-rg{ees.

S E C T I O N 1 2 . C o n f i s c a t i o n a n d f b r f ' e i t u r eo f ' t h e p r o c c e d sa n d i n s t r u m e n t s c l e r i v e d l i o m p r o s t i t u r i o n .
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e p e r - r a l t yi r n p o s e c if b r t h e v i o l a t i o n o f ' t h i s A c t , t h e C o u r r s h a l l o r d c . r r h e c o n f i s c a r i o n
and fbrfeiture, in {'avor o{ the government, of' all the procccds and propertics derivcd from the
commission <tfthe crime, unless they are thc property o{'a third person not liable for thc unlawftll
a c t : p r o v i d e d , h o w e v e r , t h a t a l 1 a w a r d s f b r d a m a g e ss h a l l b e t a k c n f ' r o m t h e r p c r s o n a l a n d s e p a r a t e
properties of the offender: provided, further, that if such properties are insufTicient, thc. balance shall
be taken from the confiscated and forfeited propertics.

W h e n t h e p r o c c c d s ,p r o p c r t i c s a n c l i n s t r u m c n t s o f t h e o I ' f c n s r l: - r a sL r c e nc l c s t r o y c d ,c l i m i n i s h c c l
i n v a l u e o r o t h c r w i s e r c n c l e r e c l w o r t h l e ' s s b y a n y a c 1 o r o m i s s i o n , c l i r e c t l y o r i n c l i r e ' c t l y ,o f r h e
o f f e n d e r , o r i t h a s b e c n c o n c e a l c d ,r c - - m o v c ccl ,o n v c r t c c lo r t r a n s l c r r c c lt o p r c v c l t t t h e s a n c l r o m b e i n g
f o u n d o r t o a v o i d f o r f ' e i t u r eo r c o n f i s c a t i o n ,t h e o f f ' e n d e rs h a l l b c o r c l e r e dt o p a y t h e a m o u n t c c l u a lt c l
the value of the proceecls,property or instrulments of the offense.

'l'rust
SECTION 73. [;bncl. All {lnes imposccl uncler this Acrt ancl the pnrcrccds ancl ;lnrpcrties
'['rust
forf-eiteci and confiscrate'clpursr.rant t o S c c t i o n l 2 h e r e o { ' s h a l l a c c r r r - r e to a U r - r n dt o b c
a d m i n i s t e r e d b y t h e C o r - r n c ' itlo b e r , r s c ccl x c l r , r s i v e r lfyi r r p r o g r a r n s t h a t w i l l p r c v c n t p r o s t i t u t i o n a n d
protect, heal ancl rcintcgrate: ;rrostitutccl p e r s o n si n t o t h e m a i n s t r e a mo f s o c ' i c t y S
. r - rhc p r , r g r e r n s h a l l
i n c l u d c b u t n o [ l i m i t c c l t o t h o s e p r o v i c l e d l o r u n d c r S e c t i o n2 0 o f ' t h i s A c t .

SECTION 14. Ilulan right.!q{+c6qqs explczljecli! prostitlrtion. Pcrsons cxploited in prostitution

have human rights that mLrst bc respected, protectecl and promoterclby a1l brancl-res,agencics and
instrumentalities of thr'governmcnt in law enforcement clrivcs, criminal proscclltion, civil sr,rits,
'l'hcsc
serviceprovision, and program development and irnplementation. r i g h t s i r - r c l u d e b, u t a r c n o t
iimited to:

(a) the right to be treated as human beings;

(b) the right to dignity and security o{'pcrson;
( c ) t h e r i g h t a g a i n s ta n y f o r m o f d i s c r i m i n a r i o n ;
(d) the right to cqual pnrtection of thc law;
( e ) t h e rr i g h t t o b e p r o t e c t c c lf r o m a b u s ea n d e x p l o i t a t i o n ;
(f) thc right to seek redressfbr violations ol their ri uhtc rnd t,. hr'r. rhelr
c o m p l a in t s a p p r ( ) p r i a t c l ya d d r e s s e d :
(g) the right to {air and humane treatment;
(h) the right to sensitive and appropriate legal, hcalth, and other social
services;
( l ) t h e r i g h t t o o r g a n i z e t h e m s e l v e sa n d f i g h t f b r t h e i r l c g i t i m a t e c o n c e r n s ;
and
(j) the right to be consulted on any governmental initiative affecting them.
 P e r s o n se r p l o i t e d i n p r o s t i t u t i o n s h a l l n o t b e d e t a i n e d o n r h e o c c a s i o n o f o n b y r e a s o n o f a
raid or in the name of law enforcement. There shall be at least one social worker or one
representative from a non-governmental organization known to be working with women exploited
in prostitution present during raids.

D u r i n g r a i d s o f e s t a b l i s h m e n t ,a n d a t a n y s t a g e o f t h e i n v e ' s r i g a r i o n p , rosecurionancl rrial of

c o m p l a i n t s f o r v i o l a t i o n o f t h i s A c t , l a w e n f o r c e r s , p r o s e c u t o r sa n c l j r - r d g e s h a l l n o t d i s c l o s e r o r h e
p u b l i c t h e n a m e , p e r s o n a l c i r c L l m s t a n c e sa n d o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n r h a r w i l l e s t a b l i s ht h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e
p e r s o n e x p l o i t e d i n p r o s t i t u t i o n , u n l e s s t h e l a t t e r c o n s e n t st h e r e t o i n w r i t i n g .

I t s h a l l a l s o b e t h e d u t y o f l a w e n f b r c e r s t o c n s u r e t h a t p e r s o n sc x p l o i t c c l i n p r o s t i t u t i o n a r c
not exposed to 1[" media on the occasiolro{'a raid. Law enforcers who allow or faci]itare thc,
e x p o s u r e t o t h e m e d i a o f p e r s o n s c x p l o i t e d i n p r o s t i t u t i o n s h a l l s u f ' f ' e rt h c p e n a l t y o { s i x ( 6 ) m o n t h s
i m p r i s o n m e n t , w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e t o t h e f i l i n g o f ' o t h e r c r i m i n a l , c i v i l a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v c .c h a r g e s
u n d e r a p p l i c a b l el a w s .

SECTION 15. eqrfidenqality. It shall be thc responsibility of any journalist, reporrer, erditor,
p u b l i s h e r o r p r o d u c e r o f p r i n t a n c l h r o a c l c a s tm e d i a t o p r o l c c t t h e i c l c n t i t y a n d p r i v a c y o f p e r s o n s
e x p l o i t e d i n p r o s t i t t t t i o n , m o s t p a r t i c u l a r [ y o n t h e o c c a s i o n o f ' a r a i c l o r r e ] s c u ( -o p e r a t i o n . A n y
j o u r n a l i s t , r e p o r t e r , e d i t o r , p u b l i s h c r o r p r o c l u c e r o { p r i n t a n c l b n r a c l c ' a sm
t e c l i a w h o c x l l o s c st o t h c
p u b l i c t h e i d c n t i t y o f a n y p e r s o n e x p l o i t c d i n p r o s t i t r - r t i o rw . ri t h o u t h e r o r h i s c ' o n s e n t t h e r e t o i n
w r i t i n g , o r c a u s e st h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f ' a n y p i c t u r e o r v i c l c o t l - r a tv i o l a t e s t h e d i g n i t y a n c i o t h c r h u m a n
r i g h t s o f t h e p e r s o n e x p l o i t e c li n p r o s t i t u t i o n , s h a l l s u f T e rt l - r cp e n a l t y o f i m p r i s o r - r m e n ro { ' s i x ( 6 ) v e a r s
a n d a f i n e o f n o t l e s st h a n I i v e h u n c l r c c lt h o u s a n c lp e s o s( P 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 )b u t n o t m o r e t h a n O n c m i l l i o n
p e s o s( P 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 )l n. a d d i t i o n , t h c o w n e r o r p r - r b l i s h eor f ' t h c p r i n t o r b r o a c l c a s m t edia fbuncl
'l'his
g u i l t y o f t h e v i o l a t i o n s h a l l p a y a f l n e o l ' f l v e l - r u n c l r e dt h o u s n n c l p e s o s( P 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) . shall be
w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e t o t l - r er i g h t o f p c r s o n s e x p l o i t c c li n p r o s t i t r , r t i o nt o { ' i k -a c i v i l a c r t i o nf i r r d a r n a g e sf o r
t h e v i o l a t i o n o f t h e i r h u m a r - rr i g h t s o r f o r a n y i n j u r y c a u s c dt h e r m b y t h c p u b l i c a t i o n .

S E C T I O N 1 6 . E n t q q p m q t n tp r o h i b i t e c l . l . a w e n f o r c e r ss h a l l n o t L l s ce n l r a p m e n t a s : r m c t h o d i n l a w
e n f o r c e m e n t a c t i v i t i e s w h e n t h c s a m e w i l l i n v o l v e t h e s e x u a l e x p k r i t a t i o n o f p e r r s o n sa s c l c ' f i n c ciln
S e c t i o n 3 ( b ) o f t h i s A c t . A l a w e n f b r c e m c n t o f f i c e r w h o r e s o r t s t o t h i s r n c t l ' r o c ls h a l l s u l l c r t h e
p e n a l t yo I e i g h t ( 8 ) y c a r si m P r i s 1 r p 1 n , . ' 1 1 1 .

SECTION 17. Reqqtrc-g!!$ for hote'ls,4lotcls ancl lodgir-rghonscs. NorwithstanJingany

legislation,
ordinanceor rulc'to thc contrary,everyhotcl, motcl or lodgingareashall:

( a ) m a i n t a i n a r e c c p t i o n a n d r c g i s t r a t i o n a r c a f o r g u c s t sa n d p a t r o n s t h a t i s r e a c l i l y w i t h i n t h c
nublic vicw:
(b) maintain open garageso , r those that clonot have doors clr any closing mechanisrn;
( c ) m a i n t a i n g o o d l i g h t i n g i n a l l i t s e n t r a n c e s ,e x i s t s ,clriveways and garagr:s.

N o h o t e l , m o t e l o r l o c l g i n g h o u s e s h a l l b e a l l o w e c i l ( ) ( ) p ( ' r r l , i' n ; r n y l l r t ( ) [ ' t h r 'l ) h i l i p p i p s .

w i t h o u t c o m p l y i n g w i t h t h e p r e c e c l i n gr e q u i r e m e n t s .

For the purposeof this Section,hotels,motelsand ioclginghousesalreadyoperatingshallhavc.

six (6) months from the eff'ectivityofthis Act to comply with this provision. Failure of any hotel,
motel and lodging houseto comply with rhis Sectionshall result in the cancellationof their licenseor
nerrnil- rn nntrrrl e
r-^----'

SECTION 18. &e_gpqusibjlitres q{ LocC governmL.tlgunitss in anri-prostitlrtion.effbrts. Local

government units shall exercise their powers to curb prostitution within their rcspective
jurisdictions.lt shall be unlawful for any local governmentunit to issuelicensesor permits for the
operationof any estabiishmentthat is used or intended to be used for any prostitution activity. Any
 s u c h l i c e n s eo r p e r m i t a l r e a d y i s s u e dp r i o r t o t h e e f f e c t i v i t v o f t h i s A c t s h a l l b e d e e m e d a u r o m a r i c a l l y
revoked or cancelled and shall not be renewed.

Their responsibility shall include conducting public information campaign against

prostitution, carrying ollt rescue operations and ensuring ther safetv or security of victims of
Drostitution.

Localgovernmentunits may employ elemenrso|the National Bureauof lnvestigarion(NBI)

or the PhilippineNationalPolice(PNP)asprovicledfor under RepublicAct No. 6975,as amencled
by
RepublicAct No. 8551.

The national government sl'rall ensure that local government units conscientiously engage in
a n t i - p r o s t i t u t i o n a c t i v i t i e s ,p r o v i d e s u p p o r t f o r t h e s a m e ,a n d i n t e r v c n e w h c n n e c e s s a r y .

SECTION19. The NatiolralAltr-Pro5ltutiqn Cczqqqil. '['l-rcre

shall bc a NationalAnri Prosrirution
Councilcomposedof the Departmcntof SocialWelfarcasthe lcaclagcncyand sl-rallhaveas membcrs
the following:

(a) Dcpartment of SocialWcl{arc and Dcvelopmcnt (l)SWD) as lead ag€rrcy

( b ) N a t i o n a l C o m r n i s s i o no n r h c l l o l e o f ' l ] i l i p i n o W o m e n ( N ( l R [ W )
( c ) D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r a n d [ , i m p l o y m e n r( D O I - L ] )
( d ) T ' e c h n i c aE
l d u c a t i o na n d S k i l l s D e v e l o p m e n tA u r h o r i r y ( ' l ' 1 , : S D A )
( e ) N a t i o n a l l i c o n o m i c D e v e l o p r n e n t A r - r r h o r i t y( N E l l A )
( 1 )D e p a r t m e n t o f H e a l t h ( D O I I )
(g) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
( h ) D e p a r t m e n t o f J r - r s r i c(eD O J )
( i ) D e p a r t m e n t o 1 ' ' l ' o u r i s m( D O ' f )
( j ) N a t i o n a l B u r e a uo f ' T n v e s t i g a t i o (nN l l l )
( k ) P h i l i p p i n e N a t i o n a l I ) o l i c ' c( 1 , N P ;
( l ) t h r e e ( 1 3n) o n g o v e r n m e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s( N ( i O s ) t o b e s c l c c t c d b y N ( i O s p r o v i c l i n g s L r p p o r r
s e r v i c e lso v i c t i r n so f i r r o s t i t u l i o r r
( n ) t h r e e ( 3 ) r c p r e s e n t a t i v c so { ' p e r s o n se x p l o i t e d i n p r o s t i r u r i o n

'l'he
National Anti-[)nrstitLltion(]ouncil shall per{brm thc following iunctior-rs:

i . d e v e l o p a p r o g r a m a c l d r e r s s i t - rpgr o s t i t r , r t i o n a n c l t h e n c c c l s o f p e r r s o n s c x p l o i t e d i n
'l'he
p r o s t i t u t i o n a n d t h o s e v u l n e r a b l e t o b e e x p l o i t e . di r - rp r o s t i t u t i o n . p r o g r a m s h a l l i n c h , r c l ep u b l i c :
i n f o r m a t i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n c a m p a i g n a g a i n s t p r c l s t i t u t i o n t, r i s i s i n t t ' r v c n l i o n s c r v i c e , t ' d t r t u l i t r r r
a s s i s t a n c e ,s o c i o - e c o n o m i c u s s i s L a u c cs u c i ' r a s s u s t a i n a b l e l i v e l i h o o d s k i l l s t r a i n i n g a n d f i n a n c i a l
support for scale businesscs,and inte6lration ancl complete a{ter carc programs for persons exploitecl
in prostitution, among others;

i i . i d e n t i f y a n d , i f ' n e c e s s a r y ,c r e a t c c c n t e r s i n s t r a t c ' g i cp i a c e sa l l o v e r t h e P h i l i p p i n e s r h a t w i l l
provide health services, including counseling and therapy, tcmpc)rary shelrcr and othcr crisis
'fhc
i n t e r v e n t i o n s e r v i c e st o p e r s o n s e x p l o i t e d i n p r o s t i t u t i o n . rapc trisis centcrs erstablished under
R e p u b i i c A c t N o . 8 5 0 5 a n d t h e h o s p i t a l - b a s e . lp r o t e c t i o n u n i t s f o r \ , v o m e n a n c l c h i l . l r c n m . r 1 , r l s o
s e r v e a s c e n t e r s s e r v i c i n g p e r s o n s e x p l o i t e d i n p r o s t i t u t i o n . E a c h c e n t c r s h a l l e s t a b l i s ha n e t w o r k o l '
health care and other service providers to addressthe needs of persons exploited in prostitr,rrion;

iii. ensure that units are created or identified within relevant government agencies,
particularly those composing the Council, that shall focus on addressing prostitution and the needs of
p e r s o n se x p i o i t e d i n p r o s t i t u t i o n . T h i s s h a l l i n c l u d e u n i t s w i t h i n t h e N a t i o n a l P r o s e c u t i o n S e r v i c e
Offices in local government units that shall speci{ically fbcus on the prosecution of ofl'enders under
this Act;
 iv' ensure that relevant government agencies work in close coordination
with each other in
addressingprostitution and the needs of persons exploited in prostitution;

v' develop and implement a training program for law enlbrcers,public prosecuLors, judges,
government lawyers, government health care providers,social workers and barangay
officials that
aimsto increasetheir understanding of prostitutionasa sysrem,and ecluipthem with the perspective
and skills to appropriatelyaddressthe needsof personsexploiteclin prostitution,
respect,protect and
promotetheir human rights,and pursuerhe prosecutionof ofTenders;

v i . e n s u r e t h a t l o c a l c o l l n t c r p a r t s o l t h e c o u n c i l a r e c r c i t t c c li n e v e r y m u n i c i p a l i r y ,
c r i t ya n d
province;

v i i . u n d e r t a k e a n d l e a d t h e p r o s e c u t i o no f a n y v i o l a t i o r - o
r { rhrs Act; ancl

v i i i ' p r o m u l g a t e ' w h c n n c c e s s a r y ,r u l e s a n c l r e g u l a t i o n s l o r t h e e r f f e c t i v ei m p l e m e n t a t i g n
ancl
enfbrcemento{ this Act.

i x ' c o n t i n u o u s l y c o n c l u c t s u r v c i l l a n c e a n d m o n i t o r e - s t a b l i s h m e n t st o p r e v e n t p r o s t l t u t t o l t
T h e y s h a l l p r o m p t l y i n v e s t i g a t e a n y c s r a b l i s h r n e n ts l r s p c c t e ctlo b c e r n g a g e ci nl l ) r ( ) si ll r r ti , , n a n . l r l r a L l
t a k e a p p r o p r i a t e m e a s u r e s ,i n c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h t h c l o c a l g o v c l r m e n t L l n r t c o n c c r n e d
and othcr
r e l e v a n t g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s ,f b r t h e s p e e d yp r o s e c u t i o n o f ' t h e o f f e n c l e r s .

x . u n d e r t a k e c o r r c c t i v c a n d e r n l i r r c e m € t nm I e a s l l r e st o s t ( ) p a c t i v i t i c s i n t o l l n s m c o n s t i t u t i n g ,
promoting or f a c i l i t a t i n g p r o s ti t u t i ( ) n i n c : o r . r s u l l a t i o nw i t l ' r g o v e r n m c n t a g c n c i c s a n c l n o n ,
g o v e r n m c n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s( N C i O s )w o r k i n g f i r r t l - r ec l i r n i n a t i o n o f ' p r o s li t r - r t i 6 p .

SECTION 20' Mq!drtqqry se'rvic't]ste v!qq!r19of prestillrtion. 'l'o

cnsurc healing, rccovcry,
rchabilitationanrl reintegratictninto the'mainstreamof socicty,concerncclgovcrnnrcntagenclcs,
p a r t i c u l a r l yt h e m e r n b e r so f ' t h e ( l o u n c i l ,s h a l l m a k c a v a i l a b l et h c f i r l f t r w i n qs e r v i c c st . t r a f T l c k e d
persons:

\4,
(Jounsc.lling;

(b) Free legal serviceswhich shall i n c l u c l e i n f o r m a t i o n i i b o r - r t t l ' r c v i c t i m ' s r i g h t s , t h e

procedure{br filing cornplaints,c l a i m i n g c o m p e n s a t i o n a n c l o t h c . r l c g a l r c m e c l i c s t o
them;

(c) Emergencyshelteror appropriatehousing;

(d) Medicalor psychological

scrvrces;

(e) Livelihooclanclskillstrainins;and

SECTION 21. ,Appre?riatiqqs. The amor-rntnecessaryto carry oLrrrhe provisionso|this Act is

hereby authorizedto be appropriatedin the (leneralAppropriationsAcr o{'rhe year following the
enactmentof this law and every year thereafter.

All local government units are likewise mandatedto allot nor lcssthan five percenr (5olo)of
their gender and development (GAD) budget and not less than five percent (5o/o)of the local
developmentfund of local government units (LGUs) for programs,projecrsand activities aimed to
control prostitution activities within their jurisdiction, including the development ancl conduct of
deterrentinformation campaignsdirectedto potentialand actualbuyersof prostitutionsex.
SECTION22. ImplementingRulesand Regulations. - The Council sha11 promulgatethe necessary
impiementingrulesand regulationwithin sirty (60) daysfrom the efi'ecrivityof this Act.

SECTION 23. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional,the remaining provisionsnot affectedthereby shall continue in full force and effect.

SECTION 24. Bepealn€,-C1ause.- Articles 202 and il41 of the Revised Penal Code are hereby
repealed.All other laws,decrees,ordinancesand rules inconsistc'nt
rvith rhF'nrr)visions
of this Act
are herebymodifiedor repealedaccorclingly.

SECTION25. EffbetrvityClaue. This Act shail take eff'ectupon completion of its publicationin ar
leasttwo (2) nationalnewspapersof generalcirculation.

APPROVED,