RA 9775 – Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009

 Child as contemplated under RA 9775

Child refers to a person:
a. Below 18 years of age; or
b. Over 18 years of age, but is unable to fully take care of himself/herself from
abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or
mental disability or condition (par. 1, Sec. 3(a,) RA 9775).
A child shall also refer to:
1. A person regardless of age who is presented, depicted or believed to be a child
as defined herein
2. Computer-generated, digitally or manually crafted images or graphics of a
person who is represented or who is made to appear to be a child as defined herein
(par. 2, Sec. 3(a), RA 9775).
 Child pornography refers to:
a. any public or private representation,
b. whether visual, audio, or written combination thereof,
c. by electronic, mechanical, digital, optical, magnetic or by whatever means,
d. of a child engaged in real or simulated explicit sexual activities or any
representation of the sexual parts of a child primarily for sexual purposes
(Sec. 3(b), RA 9775).
 Explicit sexual activity refers to actual or simulated:
1. Sexual intercourse or lascivious act including, but not limited to, contact
involving genital to genital, oral to genital, anal to genital or oral to anal, whether
between persons of the same or opposite sex;
2. Bestiality;
3. Masturbation;
4. Sadistic or masochistic abuse;
5. Exhibition of the genitals, buttocks, breast, pubic area and/or anus; or
6. Use of any object or instrument for lascivious acts (Sec. 3(c), RA 9775).
 Grooming
Grooming refers to the act of preparing a child or someone who the offender
believes to be a child for sexual activity or sexual relationship by communicating
any form of child pornography [Sec. 3(h), RA 9775].
Grooming includes online enticement or enticement through any other
means.
 Luring
Luring refers to the act of communicating, by means of a computer system,
with a child or someone who the offender believes to be a child for the purpose of
facilitating the commission of sexual activity or production of any form of child
pornography (Sec.
3(i), RA 9775).
 Pandering
Pandering is the act of offering, advertising, promoting, representing, or
distributing through any means any material or purported material that is intended
to cause another to believe that the material or purported material contains any
form of child pornography, regardless of the actual content of the material or
purported material (Sec. 3(j), RA 9775).

 Unlawful or Prohibited Acts (Section 4)

a. To hire, employ, use, persuade, induce or coerce a child to perform in the
creation or production of child pornography;
b. To produce, direct, manufacture or create any form of child pornography and
child pornography materials;
c. To sell, offer, advertise and promote child pornography and child pornography
materials;
d. To possess, download, purchase, reproduce or make available child
pornography materials with the intent of selling or distributing them;
e. To publish, post, exhibit, disseminate, distribute, transmit or broadcast child
pornography or child pornography materials;
f. To knowingly possess, view, download, purchase or in any way take steps to
procure, obtain or access for personal use child pornography materials; and
g. To attempt to commit child pornography by luring or grooming a child.

 Syndicated Child Pornography (Section 5)

Syndicated child pornography is committed when it is carried out by a group
of 3 or more persons conspiring or confederating with one another.
 Who may file? (Section 6)
a. Offended Party;
b. Parents or guardians;
c. Ascendant or collateral relative (3rd degree of consanguinity)
d. Officer, Social worker or representative of a licensed child-caring institution;
e. Officer or social worker of DSWD;
f. Local social welfare development officer;
g. Barangay chairman;
h. Any law enforcement officer;
i. At least 3 concerned responsible citizens residing in the place where the
violation occurred; or
j. Any person who has personal knowledge of the circumstances.

 Jurisdiction (Section 8)
 Family Court of the place which has territorial jurisdiction over the place where
the offense or any of its essential elements was committed.
 Duties of an Internet Service Provider/ Mall or Business Establishment
Owners
All ISPs shall notify the PNP or the NBI within 7 days from obtaining facts and
circumstances that any form of violation is being committed using its server or
facility.
 Confidentiality of records
Except upon written request and order of the court, a record shall be released
only to the following:
1. Members of the court staff for administrative use;
2. The Prosecuting attorney;
3. Defense counsel;
4. The guardian ad litem; (particular purpose only)
5. Agents of investigating law enforcement agencies; and
6. Other persons as determined by the court.

 Penalties and Sanctions (Section 15)

a. Syndicated – RP & 2M-5M
b. Sec. 4(a,b,c) – RT max & 1M-2M
c. 4(d,e,f) – RT medium & 750k-1M
d. 4(g) – RT min & 500k-750k
e. 4(h) – PM max & 300k-500k
f. 4(i) – PM min & 300k-500k
g. 4(j) – PC max & 200k-300k
h. 4(k) – PC med & 100k-250k
i. 4(l) – Ama min & 50k-100k
j. Sec. 11 – PC med & 1M-2M
k. Sec. 9 – 500k-1M
l. Sec. 10 – 2M-3M
m. Sec. 13 – AMa min & 100k-300k

 Common Penal Provision (Section 16)

a. If offender is parent, ascendant, guardian, step-parent or collateral relative
within the 3rd degree of consanguinity or affinity or any person having control
or moral ascendancy over the child, MAXIMUM penalty;
b. If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the
owner, manager, and/or any responsible officer who participated in the
commission of the crime or shall have knowingly permitted or failed to prevent
its commissions;
c. If the offender is a foreigner, he/she shall be immediately deported after the
complete service of his/her sentence and shall forever be barred from
entering the country; and
d. Public officer or employee – MAXIMUM duration
RA 10175 – Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
 Punishable Acts (Chapter II)
 Section 4 – Cybercrime Offenses
1. Illegal access – The access to the whole or any part of a computer system
without right
2. Illegal Interception – The interception made by technical means without right
of any non-public transmission of computer data to, from, or within a computer
system including electromagnetic emissions from a computer system carrying
such computer data.
3. Data Interference — The intentional or reckless alteration, damaging,
deletion or deterioration of computer data, electronic document, or electronic
data message, without right, including the introduction or transmission of
viruses.
4. System Interference — The intentional alteration or reckless hindering or
interference with the functioning of a computer or computer network by
inputting, transmitting, damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering or
suppressing computer data or program, electronic document, or electronic
data message, without right or authority, including the introduction or
transmission of viruses.
5. Misuse of Devices:
a. The use, production, sale, procurement, importation, distribution, or
otherwise making available, without right, of a device, including a computer
program, designed or adapted primarily for the purpose of committing any of
the offenses under this Act; or a computer password, access code, or similar
data by which the whole or any part of a computer system is capable of being
accessed with intent that it be used for the purpose of committing any of the
offenses under this Act.
b. The possession of an item referred to in the preceding paragraph with
intent to use said devices for the purpose of committing any of the offenses
under this section 4 of RA 10175.
6. Cyber-squatting – The acquisition of a domain name over the internet in bad
faith to profit, mislead, destroy reputation, and deprive others from registering
the same, if such a domain name is similar, identical, or confusingly similar to
an existing trademark registered with the appropriate government agency at
the time of the domain name registration, identical or in any way similar with
the name of a person other than the registrant, in case of a personal name;
and acquired without right or with intellectual property interests in it.
7. The input, alteration, or deletion of any computer data without right resulting
in inauthentic data with the intent that it be considered or acted upon for legal
purposes as if it were authentic, regardless whether or not the data is directly
readable and intelligible
8. The act of knowingly using computer data which is the product of computer-
related forgery as defined herein, for the purpose of perpetuating a fraudulent
or dishonest design
9. Computer-related Fraud — The unauthorized input, alteration, or deletion
of computer data or program or interference in the functioning of a computer
system, causing damage thereby with fraudulent intent: Provided, that if no
 damage has yet been caused, the penalty imposable shall be one (1) degree
lower
10. Computer-related Identity Theft – The intentional acquisition, use,
misuse, transfer, possession, alteration or deletion of identifying information
belonging to another, whether natural or juridical, without right: Provided, that
if no damage has yet been caused, the penalty imposable shall be one (1)
degree lower.
11. Cybersex — The willful engagement, maintenance, control, or
operation, directly or indirectly, of any lascivious exhibition of sexual organs
or sexual activity, with the aid of a computer system, for favor or
consideration.
12. Child Pornography — The unlawful or prohibited acts defined and
punishable by Republic Act No. 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of
2009, committed through a computer system: Provided, That the penalty to
be imposed shall be (1) one degree higher than that provided for in Republic
Act No. 9775.
13. Libel — The unlawful or prohibited acts of libel as defined in Article 355
of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, committed through a computer
system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.
14. Aiding or Abetting in the Commission of Cybercrime – Any person
who willfully abets or aids in the commission of any of the offenses
enumerated in this Act shall be held liable.
15. Attempt in the Commission of Cybercrime — Any person who willfully
attempts to commit any of the offenses enumerated in this Act shall be held
liable (Sec 6 and 5, RA 10175).

 Search, Seizure And Examination Of Computer Data

Where a search and seizure warrant is properly issued, the law enforcement
authorities shall likewise have the following powers and duties.
Within the time period specified in the warrant, to conduct interception, as
defined in this Act, and:
a. To secure a computer system or a computer data storage medium;
b. To make and retain a copy of those computer data secured;
c. To maintain the integrity of the relevant stored computer data;
d. To conduct forensic analysis or examination of the computer data storage
medium; and
e. To render inaccessible or remove those computer data in the accessed
computer or computer and communications network.
Law enforcement authorities may request for an extension of time to complete
the examination of the computer data storage medium and to make a return
thereon but in no case for a period longer than thirty (30) days from date of
approval by the court (Sec. 15, RA 10175).

 Cybercrime Investigation And Coordinating Center

The CICC shall have the following powers and functions:
 a. To formulate a national cybersecurity plan and extend immediate assistance
for the suppression of real-time commission of cybercrime offenses through
a computer emergency response team (CERT);
b. To coordinate the preparation of appropriate and effective measures to
prevent and suppress cybercrime activities as provided for in this Act;
c. To monitor cybercrime cases being bandied by participating law enforcement
and prosecution agencies;
d. To facilitate international cooperation on intelligence, investigations, training
and capacity building related to cybercrime prevention, suppression and
prosecution;
e. To coordinate the support and participation of the business sector, local
government units and nongovernment organizations in cybercrime prevention
programs and other related projects;
f. To recommend the enactment of appropriate laws, issuances, measures and
policies;
g. To call upon any government agency to render assistance in the
accomplishment of the CICC’s mandated tasks and functions; and
h. To perform all other matters related to cybercrime prevention and
suppression, including capacity building and such other functions and duties
as may be necessary for the proper implementation of RA 10175 (Sec. 27,
RA 10175).
Composition: CICC shall be headed by the Executive Director of the
Information and Communications Technology Office under the Department of
Science and Technology as chairperson; Director of NBI as Vice Chairperson; 1
representative from the private sector and academe as members.

 Relationship of RA 10175 with RPC and other SPLs

The commission of any crime by means of information and communication
technologies shall be qualifying in said crime: ONE DEGREE HIGHER
Sec. 7 of RA 10175: violation of RA 10175 shall be a separate offense (two
crimes are committed – under RA 10175 and under other penal laws. No
absorption.)
RA 9208, as amended by RA 10364 – Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
 Punishable Acts
There are 5 categories of acts that constitute the offense:
1. Trafficking acts similar to acts of the principal;
2. Acts promoting trafficking similar to acts of an accomplice;
3. Qualified Trafficking;
4. Violation of confidentiality or divulging information that could identify both the
victim and the offender; and
5. Use of trafficked persons similar to act of an accessory.

 What ACTS are deemed "TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS"?

It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, to commit any of the
following acts:
"(a) To recruit, obtain, hire, provide, offer, transport, transfer, maintain,
harbor, or receive a person by any means, including those done under the
pretext of domestic or overseas employment or training or apprenticeship, for
the purpose of prostitution, pornography, or sexual exploitation;
"(b) To introduce or match for money, profit, or material, economic or
other consideration, any person or, as provided for under Republic Act No.
6955, any Filipino woman to a foreign national, for marriage for the purpose
of acquiring, buying, offering, selling or trading him/her to engage in
prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery,
involuntary servitude or debt bondage;
"(c) To offer or contract marriage, real or simulated, for the purpose of
acquiring, buying, offering, selling, or trading them to engage in prostitution,
pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor or slavery, involuntary
servitude or debt bondage;
"(d) To undertake or organize tours and travel plans consisting of tourism
packages or activities for the purpose of utilizing and offering persons for
prostitution, pornography or sexual exploitation;
"(e) To maintain or hire a person to engage in prostitution or
pornography;
"(f) To adopt persons by any form of consideration for exploitative
purposes or to facilitate the same for purposes of prostitution, pornography,
sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or debt
bondage;
"(g) To adopt or facilitate the adoption of persons for the purpose of
prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery,
involuntary servitude or debt bondage;
"(h) To recruit, hire, adopt, transport, transfer, obtain, harbor, maintain,
provide, offer, receive or abduct a person, by means of threat or use of force,
 fraud, deceit, violence, coercion, or intimidation for the purpose of removal or
sale of organs of said person;
"(i) To recruit, transport, obtain, transfer, harbor, maintain, offer, hire,
provide, receive or adopt a child to engage in armed activities in the
Philippines or abroad;
"(j) To recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, obtain, maintain, offer, hire,
provide or receive a person by means defined in Section 3 of this Act for
purposes of forced labor, slavery, debt bondage and involuntary servitude,
including a scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause the person either:
"(1) To believe that if the person did not perform such labor or
services, he or she or another person would suffer serious harm or
physical restraint; or
"(2) To abuse or threaten the use of law or the legal processes; and
"(k) To recruit, transport, harbor, obtain, transfer, maintain, hire, offer,
provide, adopt or receive a child for purposes of exploitation or trading them,
including but not limited to, the act of baring and/or selling a child for any
consideration or for barter for purposes of exploitation. Trafficking for
purposes of exploitation of children shall include:
"(1) All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, involuntary
servitude, debt bondage and forced labor, including recruitment of
children for use in armed conflict;
"(2) The use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the
production of pornography, or for pornographic performances;
"(3) The use, procuring or offering of a child for the production and
trafficking of drugs; and
"(4) The use, procuring or offering of a child for illegal activities or
work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out,
is likely to harm their health, safety or morals; and
"(l) To organize or direct other persons to commit the offenses defined
as acts of trafficking under this Act."

 When is there an ATTEMPTED TRAFICKING IN PERSONS?

Where there are acts to initiate the commission of a trafficking offense but the
offender failed to or did not execute all the elements of the crime, by accident or
by reason of some cause other than voluntary desistance, such overt acts shall be
deemed as an attempt to commit an act of trafficking in persons. As such, an
attempt to commit any of the offenses enumerated in Section 4 of this Act shall
constitute attempted trafficking in persons.
"In cases where the victim is a child, any of the following acts shall also be
deemed as attempted trafficking in persons:
"(a) Facilitating the travel of a child who travels alone to a foreign country
or territory without valid reason therefor and without the required clearance
 or permit from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, or a
written permit or justification from the child’s parent or legal guardian;
"(b) Executing, for a consideration, an affidavit of consent or a written
consent for adoption;
"(c) Recruiting a woman to bear a child for the purpose of selling the
child;
"(d) Simulating a birth for the purpose of selling the child; and
"(e) Soliciting a child and acquiring the custody thereof through any
means from among hospitals, clinics, nurseries, daycare centers, refugee or
evacuation centers, and low-income families, for the purpose of selling the
child."

 Who is considered as an ACCOMPLICE under the Anti-Trafficking Act?

Whoever knowingly aids, abets, cooperates in the execution of the offense
by previous or simultaneous acts defined in this Act shall be punished in
accordance with the provisions of Section 10(c) of this Act."

 Who is considered an ACCESSORY under the Anti-Trafficking Act?

Whoever has the knowledge of the commission of the crime, and without
having participated therein, either as principal or as accomplices, take part in its
commission in any of the following manners:
"(a) By profiting themselves or assisting the offender to profit by the
effects of the crime;
"(b) By concealing or destroying the body of the crime or effects or
instruments thereof, in order to prevent its discovery;
"(c) By harboring, concealing or assisting in the escape of the principal
of the crime, provided the accessory acts with abuse of his or her public
functions or is known to be habitually guilty of some other crime.
"Acts defined in this provision shall be punished in accordance with the
provision of Section 10(d) as stated thereto."

 What acts "PROMOTE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS"?

(a) To knowingly lease or sublease, use or allow to be used any house, building
or establishment for the purpose of promoting trafficking in persons;
(b) To produce, print and issue or distribute unissued, tampered or fake
counselling certificates, registration stickers, overseas employment certificates
or other certificates of any government agency which issues these certificates,
decals and such other markers as proof of compliance with government
regulatory and pre-departure requirements for the purpose of promoting
trafficking in persons;
(c) To advertise, publish, print, broadcast or distribute, or cause the
advertisement, publication, printing, broadcasting or distribution by any means,
including the use of information technology and the internet, of any brochure,
flyer, or any propaganda material that promotes trafficking in persons;
(d) To assist in the conduct of misrepresentation or fraud for purposes of
facilitating the acquisition of clearances and necessary exit documents from
government agencies that are mandated to provide pre-departure registration
and services for departing persons for the purpose of promoting trafficking in
persons;
(e) To facilitate, assist or help in the exit and entry of persons from/to the country
at international and local airports, territorial boundaries and seaports who are in
possession of unissued, tampered or fraudulent travel documents for the
purpose of promoting trafficking in persons;
(f) To confiscate, conceal, or destroy the passport, travel documents, or personal
documents or belongings of trafficked persons in furtherance of trafficking or to
prevent them from leaving the country or seeking redress from the government
or appropriate agencies; and
(g) To knowingly benefit from, financial or otherwise, or make use of, the labor or
services of a person held to a condition of involuntary servitude, forced labor, or
slavery.
(h) To tamper with, destroy, or cause the destruction of evidence, or to influence
or attempt to influence witnesses, in an investigation or prosecution of a case
under this Act;
(i) To destroy, conceal, remove, confiscate or possess, or attempt to destroy,
conceal, remove, confiscate or possess, any actual or purported passport or
other travel, immigration or working permit or document, or any other actual or
purported government identification, of any person in order to prevent or restrict,
or attempt to prevent or restrict, without lawful authority, the person’s liberty to
move or travel in order to maintain the labor or services of that person; or
(j) To utilize his or her office to impede the investigation, prosecution or execution
of lawful orders in a case under this Act.

 What acts constitute QUALIFIED TRAFFICKING?

(a) When the trafficked person is a child
(b) When the adoption is effected through RA 8043 aka "Inter-Country Adoption
Act of 1995" and said adoption is for the purpose of prostitution, pornography,
sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or debt bondage
Bar: When the adoption of a child is effected under the Inter-country Adoption
Actof 1995 for the purpose of prostitution, what is the proper charge against
the offender who is a public officer in relation to exploitive purpose?
 -Qualified trafficking in persons.
(c) when the crime is committed by a syndicate (when carried out by a group of
3 or more persons) or in large scale (when committed against 3 or more persons,
individually or as a group)
(d) When the offender is a spouse, an ascendant, parent, sibling, guardian or a
person who exercises authority over the trafficked person or when the offense is
committed by a public officer or employee
(e) When the trafficked person is recruited to engage in prostitution with any
member of the military or law enforcement agencies
(f) When the offender is a member of the military or law enforcement agencies;
(g) When by reason or on occasion of the act of trafficking in persons, the offended
party dies, becomes insane, suffers mutilation or is afflicted with Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS);
(h) When the offender commits one or more violations of Section 4 over a period
of sixty (60) or more days, whether those days are continuous or not; and
(i) When the offender directs or through another manages the trafficking victim in
carrying out the exploitative purpose of trafficking.
 WHO may file a complaint?
Any person who has personal knowledge of the commission of any offense
under this Act, such as the trafficked person, the parents, spouse, siblings, children
or legal guardian may file a complaint for trafficking.
Initiation of Investigation. – Law enforcement agencies are mandated to
immediately initiate investigation and counter-trafficking-intelligence gathering
upon receipt of statements or affidavit from victims of trafficking, migrant workers,
or their families who are in possession of knowledge or information about
trafficking in persons cases.
Affidavit of Desistance. – Cases involving trafficking in persons should not be
dismissed based on the affidavit of desistance executed by the victims or their
parents or legal guardians. Public and private prosecutors are directed to oppose
and manifest objections to motions for dismissal.
Any act involving the means provided in this Act or any attempt thereof for
the purpose of securing an Affidavit of Desistance from the complainant shall be
punishable under this Act.
 What is the VENUE in filing the complaint?
a. Where the offense was committed, or
b. Where any of its elements occurred, or
c. Where the trafficked person actually resides at the time of the commission of
the offense.
  Is the USE OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS punishable?
Yes!
 What is the PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD in trafficking cases?
Trafficking cases under this Act shall prescribe in ten (10) years: Provided,
however, That trafficking cases committed by a syndicate or in a large scale as
defined under Section 6, or against a child, shall prescribe in twenty (20) years.
"The prescriptive period shall commence to run from the day on which the
trafficked person is delivered or released from the conditions of bondage, or in the
case of a child victim, from the day the child reaches the age of majority, and shall
be interrupted by the filing of the complaint or information and shall commence to
run again when the proceedings terminate without the accused being convicted or
acquitted or are unjustifiably stopped for any reason not imputable to the accused."
 Bar:
Conspiracy to commit felony is punishable only in cases in which the law
specifically provides a penalty there for. Under which instance are the conspirators
NOT liable?
- conspiracy to commit trafficking of persons
 Jurisdiction
RTC shall have jurisdiction. Jurisdiction shall lie when:
a. If any of the elements was committed within the Philippines
b. Committed with the use of any computer system wholly or partly situated in
the country
c. By such commission, any damage is caused to a natural or juridical person
who, at the time the offense was committed, was in the Philippines;
d. Committed by a Filipino national regardless of the place of commission.
RA 9262 – Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004