Republic of the Philippines
NAVOTAS POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE
Bangus St., Corner Apahap St., NBBS, City of Navotas
Course Title: BS8 Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
Year and Section: BSBA HR 2E
Leader: Cumpa, Jairah Renz P. Candelario, Mary Jane V.
Asst. Leader: Gonzales, Faith Rymzel C. Carpio, Carla May S.
Castro, Ma. Samantha M.
MORAL ISSUES/ REALITY CHECK
PROBLEMS
(Situation Analysis) (Problem Analysis)
1. Divorce In the Philippines, a married couple cannot
divorce by law. A husband and wife can choose
to file for legal separation, which will allow them
to separate their possessions and live apart, but
this will not legally end a marital union. Thus,
remarriage is not permitted. Therefore, it is safe
to say that a Filipino husband and wife can only
part through death, or through torturous and
costly annulment proceedings.
The process of annulment, which is extremely
adversarial in nature, tends to escalate the
tension between the spouses and ultimately
affect the well-being of their common children.
As a result, most couples are forced to remain in
their unhappy, dysfunctional or even abusive
marriages.
Score:
Group Members
Elorde, Davie T.
Escote, Jamaica B.
Galicio, Ezekiel D.
MODULE NO.1 ACTIVITY NO.1
Reasoning and Judgment
MORAL STANDARDS AND MORAL NORMS
(Decision Analysis)
An essential aspect of Filipino culture is the desire to keep the
Filipino family intact.
On Sec. 5, House Bill 2593, introduced by Rep. Ronald V.
Singson: Grounds for Absolute Divorce. — The following are
the grounds for a judicial decree of absolute divorce:
a) The grounds for legal separation under Article 55 of the
Family Code of the Philippines, modified or amended, as
follows:
(1) Physical violence or grossly abusive conduct directed
against the petitioner, a common child, or a child of
the petitioner;
(2) Physical violence or moral pressure to compel the
petitioner to change religious or political affiliation;
(3) Attempt of respondent to corrupt or induce the
petitioner, a common child, or a child of the petitioner,
Group: 2
Grade:
Guevarra, Hakim H.
MORAL JUDGMENT
(Resolution)
House Bill No. 9349 seeks to legalize absolute
divorce in the country. Under the bill, more grounds for
divorce have been included apart from common
reasons for dissolution of marriage like psychological
incapacity, annulment of marriage and legal
separation.
If enacted into law, HB 9349 would also allow divorce
for couples that have been separated for at least five
years, and reconciliation is no longer possible, or they
have been legally separated for more than two years.
As per Sec. 15 of H.B. 2593,
A spouse who is a party to a petition for absolute
divorce who is found by the court to have used threats
or coercion to compel the other spouse in filing the

The debate on whether or not divorce should be
legalized in the Philippines involves moral,
social, economic, and psychological issues.
These issues pose valid considerations in
resolving the debate, given that our Constitution
holds sacred the dignity of every human person,2
the sanctity of family life,3 the protection of the
youth’s moral, spiritual, intellectual and social
well-being,4 as well as the fundamental equality
of men and women before the law.
On the other hand, those opposing the
legalization of divorce in the Philippines include
the Roman Catholic Church and individuals who
believe that divorce is unconstitutional, that it is
anathema to Filipino culture, that it is immoral,
that it will destroy the Filipino family, that it will
legalize promiscuity, that it will contribute to the
increase in broken families, that it will be abused
by spouses who find it easier to give up on their
marriage rather than try to reconcile their
differences, that it will lead to custody battles,
and that it will be detrimental for the children
to engage in prostitution, or connivance in such
corruption or inducement;
(4) Final judgment sentencing the respondent to
imprisonment of more than six (6) years, even if
pardoned;
(5) Drug addiction or habitual alcoholism or chronic
gambling of the respondent;
(6) Contracting by the respondent of a subsequent
bigamous marriage, whether in the Philippines or
abroad;
(7) Marital infidelity or perversion or having a child with
another person other than one's spouse during the
marriage, except when upon the mutual agreement of
the spouses, a child is born to them by in vitro or a
similar procedure or when the wife bears a child after
being a victim of rape;
(8) Attempt by the respondent against the life of the
petitioner, a common child or a child of the petitioner;
(9) Abandonment of petitioner by respondent without
justifiable cause for more than one (1) year;
When the spouses are legally separated by judicial decree
under Article 55 of the Family Code of the Philippines, a two (2)
year period from the time of the issuance of the decree of legal
separation will suffice;
petition, and spouses who are guilty of collusion, shall
be punished with imprisonment of five (5) years and a
fine of Five hundred thousand pesos (PhP500,000.00).
Any person in default of providing court-ordered child
support and/or court-ordered spousal
support/alimony, shall be punished by prision mayor
and shall be fined in the amount of one hundred
thousand pesos (Php 100,000.00) to not more than
three hundred thousand pesos (Php 300,000.00) on
top of the unpaid child support and/or spousal
support/alimony with compounding legal interest
computed from date of default until full payment.
Interest due on the principal amount accruing as of
judicial demand shall separately earn legal interest
from time of judicial demand until full payment.

b) Grounds for annulment of marriage under Article 45 of the

Family Code of the Philippines, restated as follows:
(1) The party in whose behalf it is sought to have the
marriage annulled was eighteen (18) years of age or
over but below twenty-one (21), and the marriage was
solemnized without the consent of the parents,
guardian or person having substitute parental
authority over the party, in that order, unless after
attaining the age of twenty-one (21), such party freely
cohabited with the other and both lived together as
husband and wife;
 (2) Either party was of unsound mind, unless such party
after coming to reason, freely cohabited with the other
as husband and wife;
(3) The consent of either party was obtained by fraud,
unless such party afterwards, with full knowledge of
the facts constituting the fraud, freely cohabited with
the other as husband and wife;
(4) The consent of either party was obtained by force,
intimidation or undue influence, unless the same
having disappeared or ceased, such party thereafter
freely cohabited with the other as husband and wife;
(5) Either party was physically incapable of
consummating the marriage with the other, and such
incapacity continues or appears to be incurable;
(6) Either party was afflicted with a sexually transmissible
infection found to be serious or appears to be
incurable:
Provided, That the grounds mentioned in numbers 2, 5 and 6
existed either at the time of the marriage or supervenes after
the man1age.

c) When the spouses have been separated in fact for at least

five (5) years at the time the petition for absolute divorce is
filed, and reconciliation is highly improbable.

d) Psychological incapacity of either spouse as provided for in

Article 36 of the Family Code of the Philippines, whether or not
the incapacity existed at the time of the marriage or
supervenes after the marriage.

e) When one of the spouses undergoes a gender reassignment

surgery or transitions from one sex to another, the other
spouse is entitled to petition for absolute divorce with the
transgender or transsexual as respondent, or vice versa.

f) Irreconcilable marital differences as defined in the preceding

Sec. 4.o.

2. Abortion In a country where moral standards are high, the
mere mention of abortion is considered a taboo
topic. There are mixed views on abortion, but
most of which are against the idea of legalizing
the act. If a medical practitioner is found guilty of
carrying out abortion, he or she has to face
criminal charges.
Under H.B. 567, Abortion refers to "any act or
practice, whether done intentionally or
g) Other forms of domestic or marital abuse as defined under
Sec. 4. I. The grant of absolute divorce based on domestic or
marital abuse or violation of Republic Act No. 9262 otherwise
known as the “Anti-Violence Against Women and Their
Children Act of 2004” shall be without prejudice to the
prosecution of the errant spouse under the said Act.
h) When a valid Foreign Divorce has been secured by either the
alien or Filipino spouse.
In order that a foreign divorce can be recognized as a ground
for divorce or shall have the effect of a divorce under this Act,
without going through the judicial process, said foreign divorce
must be authenticated by the Philippine Consul in or
proximate to the foreign country where it was secured, and
subsequently filed with the proper civil registrar in the
Philippines or the Office of the Philippine Consul abroad where
the Filipino spouse is residing.
i) When a marriage is nullified or dissolved by the proper
matrimonial tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church or any
other recognized religious sect or denomination which may
have their own matrimonial tribunal, the said nullified or
dissolved marriage shall constitute a ground for divorce or
shall have the effect of a divorce under this Act, without going
through the judicial process, when it is authenticated by the
proper authorities of the Roman Catholic church or any other
recognized religious sect or denomination, and registered with
the proper civil registrar in the Philippines.
The struggle over reproductive health norms in the Philippines Under Philippine law, abortion has been considered a
constitutes an important case because the stakes for the pro- crime since 1930. Whether abortion is intentional or
and anti-reproductive health norm camps are so high, as unintentional, anyone who carries out abortion is said
indicated by the large amount of political resources being to commit the crime. Even physicians and midwives
committed by both sides to promote their respective who perform abortions in the Philippines may be
positions. Because of the centrality of teachings against charged of a crime, which can result in six years in
contraception to the Church and the potentially significant prison under the Revised Penal Code. They are still
impact of reproductive health norms on Philippine society, we going to be subject for criminal punishments. These
would expect the Church to respond with defensive are also supplemented by separate laws, prescribing
sanctions if medical practitioners including doctors,
unintentionally, that causes the premature exit of
the products of conception (e.g. fetus, fetal
membrane, placenta) from the uterus of a
woman.
On the other hand, abortive acts refer "to
abortion practiced by the woman herself or by
her parents; abortion practiced by a physician or
midwife dispensing of abortives; any pharmacist
who, without the proper prescription from a
physician, dispenses abortives, as it is illegal in
the Philippines and is penalized as a crime under
the Revised Penal Code (Arts. 256 - 259)."
sacralization, providing an opportunity to explore its
dynamics.
Abortion is illegal in the Philippines with no exceptions,
including when needed to save the life, or protect the health,
of a pregnant woman. Abortion was made illegal under the
Spanish colonial rule through the Penal Code of 1870, and the
criminal provisions were incorporated into the Revised Penal
Code passed in 1930 under U.S. occupation of the Philippines,
which has continued to be applied up until today.
In Philippine politics, the litmus test of Church-State
independence is the ban on family planning programs and
limits on reproductive rights. The constitution sets forth a
delicate balance:
• The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall
protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous
social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother
and the life of the unborn from conception. ….
• The State shall defend [t]he right of spouses to found a family
in accordance with their religious convictions and the
demands of responsible parenthood; ….
The drafting history of this clause shows that its intention was
to maintain the ban on abortion, which is a crime under the
Revised Penal Code.
On the other hand, The Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy
Network (PINSAN), calling for the decriminalization of abortion
and commending the PCHR for including decriminalization in
its 19th Priority Legislative Agenda.
• Opponents say it’s time for the Philippines to get rid of
“inhumane provisions” in its abortion law and finally
decriminalize abortion to save women’s lives.
• The right to abortion and the right to bodily autonomy are
fundamental human rights. Denying abortion via
pharmacists and midwives participated in the process
of abortion.
As per Sec. 2, Article 256, Act No. 3815, s. 1930,
Intentional Abortion. — Any person who shall
intentionally cause an abortion shall suffer:
1. The penalty of reclusión temporal, if he shall use
any violence upon the person of the pregnant woman.
2. The penalty of prisión mayor if, without using
violence, he shall act without the consent of the
woman.
3. The penalty of prisión correccional in its medium
and maximum periods, if the woman shall have
consented.
As per Sec. 2, Article 257, Act No. 3815, s. 1930,
Unintentional Abortion. — The penalty of prisión
correccional in its minimum and medium period shall
be imposed upon any person who shall cause an
abortion by violence, but unintentionally.
As per Sec. 2, Article 258, Act No. 3815, s. 1930,
Abortion Practiced by the Woman Herself or by Her
Parents. — The penalty of prisión correccional in its
medium and maximum periods shall be imposed
upon a woman who shall practice an abortion upon
herself or shall consent that any other person should
do so.
Any woman who shall commit this offense to conceal
her dishonor, shall suffer the penalty of prisión
correccional in its minimum and medium periods.
If this crime be committed by the parents of the
pregnant woman or either of them, and they act with
the consent of said woman for the purpose of
concealing her dishonor, the offenders shall suffer the
penalty of prisión correccional in its medium and
maximum periods.
criminalization violates the fundamental rights to equality and
non-discrimination; privacy; the highest attainable standard of
health; and freedom from ill-treatment, harmful practices, and
gender-based violence.
• The United Nations and other human rights bodies have
frequently recommended for the right to abortion and its
access and recognized it as an essential health service. Last
year, two United Nations treaty bodies called on the
Philippines to improve sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR)
in the country. Also in 2022, the World Health Organization
issued its 2022 Abortion Care Guideline, affirming abortion
access as essential to health and human rights and calling for
the removal of legal barriers to access.
As per Sec. 2, Article 259, Act No. 3815, s. 1930,
Abortion Practiced by a Physician or Midwife and
Dispensing of Abortives. — The penalties provided in
article 256 shall be imposed in its maximum period,
respectively, upon any physician or midwife who,
taking advantage of their scientific knowledge or skill,
shall cause an abortion or assist in causing the same.
Any pharmacist who, without the proper prescription
from a physician, shall dispense any abortive shall
suffer arresto mayor and a fine not exceeding 1,000
pesos.
However,
• The PCHR viewed abortion as “immoral.” In its
position paper on House Bill 6343 entitled “An Act
Legalizing Abortion on Specific Cases” introduced by
Hon. Roy Padilla Jr., the PCHR registered its
opposition to the bill for being “immoral and/or
contrary to the moral standards and religious
conviction of the Filipino people.” Instead of referring
to human rights standards and principles, the PCHR
referred to the encyclical Evangelium Vitae by Pope
John Paul II.
• 2016: The PCHR’s opposition to abortion shifted to a
call for the review and reexamination of the Filipino
abortion laws. In its report for the National Inquiry on
Reproductive Health and Rights, the PCHR referred to
“the absolute ban on abortion, which has led to
unsafe abortions and to stigma in the access and
availability of post-abortion care” as one of the legal
and policy barriers to fulfilling Filipinos’ reproductive
health and rights. In compliance with the Philippines’
human rights obligations, the PCHR recommended for
Congress to “review the provisions on abortion, taking
into consideration the studies forwarded by the

3. Euthanasia of Animals Euthanasia refers to the process of painless
death to Dogs and other animals.
Euthanasia is the humane means of ending the
suffering of an animal. In and of itself, has always
been a contentious issue as many find
themselves on opposite sides of the debate,
regardless of whether it is to be applied on
humans or animals.
This Administrative Order shall be known as the Revised Rules
and Regulations on the Euthanasia of Animals amending DA
Administrative Order 21 issued on April 26, 1999 pursuant to
the provisions of Republic Act. No. 8485, otherwise known as
the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as well Section 7(9) of
Republic Act. No. 9482 otherwise known as the Anti Rabies Act
of 2007.
Section 6 of R.A. 8485 prohibits the killing of any animal except
as provided in the same law. However, killing shall be done
through humane procedures at all times which shall mean the
use of the most scientific methods available as may be
determined and approved by the Committee on Animal
Welfare. Such methods shall be identified in these rules.
Euthanasia shall only be allowed under the following
conditions or circumstances and performed by a duly licensed
veterinarian:
a.) When the animal is afflicted with an incurable or
communicable disease as determined and certified by a duly
licensed veterinarian;
b.) When the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the
misery suffered by the animals as determined and certified by
a duly licensed veterinarian.
c.) When done for purposes of animal population control.
d.) When the animal is killed after it has been used in
authorized research or experiments.
e.) When done to prevent imminent danger to the life or limb of
a human being.
[Center for Reproductive Rights] and EnGendeRights
and other women’s organizations and on how the
continuing criminalization of abortion affect provision
of post-abortion care.”
• 2022: The PCHR unequivocally articulated its
recommendation for the decriminalization of abortion
as a priority legislation for the 19th Congress.
It is the policy of the state to protect and promote the
welfare of animals in the Philippines and to monitor
the strict implementation and observance of R.A No.
8485 as well as pertinent provisions of R.A. No. 9482
to ensure that only the acceptable and most humane
manner of killing of animals are observed under given
circumstances.
Sec. 11, Prohibited Acts and Penalties: Any activities
or practices not considered acceptable and humane
method under the foregoing rules and regulations is
hereby considered prohibited.
Any person, firm, company, government or non-
government institution, peoples organization and the
like who violates any provision of this Administrative
Order and performs euthanasia of animals contrary or
not in accordance with guidelines set forth herein
shall upon conviction by final judgment be punished
with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months to
two (2) years or a fine of not less than One Thousand
Pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Pesos
(P5,000.00) or both at the discretion of the Court. If the
violation is committed by an alien, he or she shall be
immediately deported after service of sentence
without any further proceedings. This is without
prejudice to whatever administrative sanction that
may be imposed in addition to such fine and
imprisonment such as cancellation of permit of
registration with the Bureau of Animal Industry,

4. Human Trafficking: Trafficking in Persons refers to the recruitment,
Prostitution obtaining, hiring, providing, offering,
transportation, transfer, maintaining, harboring,
or receipt of persons with or without the victim’s
consent or knowledge, within or across national
borders by means of threat, or use of force, or
other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud,
deception, abuse of power or of position, taking
advantage of the vulnerability of the person, or,
the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to
achieve the consent of a person having control
over another person for the purpose of
exploitation which includes at a minimum, the
exploitation or the prostitution of others or other
forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or
services, slavery, servitude or the removal or sale
of organs
The Philippines is one of the largest known
sources of online sexual exploitation of children,
and it is estimated that of the 50,000 Filipino
children employed as domestic workers in the
Philippines almost 5,000 are under 15 years old.
In total, estimates say that between 60,000 and
100,000 Filipino children are impacted by labor
trafficking or sex trafficking.
On the other hand, Prostitution in the Philippines
is illegal, although somewhat tolerated, with law
enforcement being rare with regards to sex
workers. Penalties range up to life imprisonment
f.) Any other grounds analogous to the above as determined
and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian.
As per Republic Act No. 10364, 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) (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
revocation of accreditation of the establishment and
the cancellation of license in the case of veterinarians.
On Sec. 11, (8) of R.A. 9482: Any person found guilty of
using electrocution as a method of euthanasia shall
be fined not less than Five thousand pesos
(P5,000.00) per act and subject to imprisonment for
one to four years.
Sec. 10 of R.A. 10364, Penalties and Sanctions. – The
following penalties and sanctions are hereby
established for the offenses enumerated in this Act:
“(a) Any person found guilty of committing any of the
acts enumerated in Section 4 shall suffer the penalty
of imprisonment of twenty (20) years and a fine of not
less than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not
more than Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00);
“(b) Any person found guilty of committing any of the
acts enumerated in Section 4-A of this Act shall suffer
the penalty of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years and a
fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos
(P500,000.00) but not more than One million pesos
(P1,000,000.00);
“(c) Any person found guilty of Section 4-B of this Act
shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of fifteen (15)
years and a fine of not less than Five hundred
thousand pesos (P500,000.00) but not more than One
million pesos (P1,000,000.00);
“In every case, conviction shall cause and carry the
automatic revocation of the license or registration of
the recruitment agency involved in trafficking. The
license of a recruitment agency which trafficked a
child shall be automatically revoked.
“(d) Any person found, guilty of committing any of the
acts enumerated in Section 5 shall suffer the penalty
of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years and a fine of not
less than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00)
but not more than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00);
“(e) Any person found guilty of qualified trafficking
under Section 6 shall suffer the penalty of life
for those involved in trafficking, which is covered exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary
by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. servitude or debt bondage;
Prostitution is available through bars, karaoke (g) To adopt or facilitate the adoption of persons for the
bars (also known as KTVs), massage parlors, purpose of prostitution, pornography, sexual
brothels (also known as casa), street walkers, exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary
and escort services. 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;
imprisonment and a fine of not less than Two million
pesos (P2,000,000.00) but not more than Five million
pesos (P5,000,000.00);
“(f) Any person who violates Section 7 hereof shall
suffer the penalty of imprisonment of six (6) years and
a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos
(P500,000.00) but not more than One million pesos
(P1,000,000.00);
“(g) If the offender is a corporation, partnership,
association, club, establishment or any juridical
person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the owner,
president, partner, manager, and/or any responsible
officer who participated in the commission of the
crime or who shall have knowingly permitted or failed
to prevent its commission;
“(h) The registration with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) and license to operate of the erring
agency, corporation, association, religious group, tour
or travel agent, club or establishment, or any place of
entertainment shall be cancelled and revoked
permanently. The owner, president, partner or
manager thereof shall not be allowed to operate
similar establishments in a different name;
“(i) If the offender is a foreigner, he or she shall be
immediately deported after serving his or her
sentence and be barred permanently from entering
the country;
“(j) Any employee or official of government agencies
who shall issue or approve the issuance of travel exit
clearances, passports, registration certificates,
counseling certificates, marriage license, and other
similar documents to persons, whether juridical or
natural, recruitment agencies, establishments or
other individuals or groups, who fail to observe the
prescribed procedures and the requirement as
provided for by laws, rules and regulations, shall be
held administratively liable, without prejudice to
criminal liability under this Act. The concerned
“(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
To organize or direct other persons to commit the offenses
defined as acts of trafficking under this Act.”
government official or employee shall, upon
conviction, be dismissed from the service and be
barred permanently to hold public office. His or her
retirement and other benefits shall likewise be
forfeited; and
“(k) Conviction, by final judgment of the adopter for
any offense under this Act shall result in the
immediate rescission of the decree of adoption.”
On Sec. 11. Use of Trafficked Persons. – Any person
who buys or engages the services of a trafficked
person for prostitution shall be penalized with the
following: Provided, That the Probation Law
(Presidential Decree No. 968) shall not apply:
“(a) Prision Correccional in its maximum period to
prision mayor or six (6) years to twelve (12) years
imprisonment and a fine of not less than Fifty
thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One
hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00): Provided,
however, That the following acts shall be exempted
thereto:
“(1) If an offense under paragraph (a) involves sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct with a child, the
penalty shall be reclusion temporal in its medium
period to reclusion perpetua or seventeen (17) years
to forty (40) years imprisonment and a fine of not less
than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) but
not more than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00);
“(2) If an offense under paragraph (a) involves carnal
knowledge of, or sexual intercourse with, a male or
female trafficking victim and also involves the use of
force or intimidation, to a victim deprived of reason or
to an unconscious victim, or a victim under twelve (12)
years of age, instead of the penalty prescribed in the
subparagraph above the penalty shall be a fine of not
less than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not
more than Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) and
imprisonment of reclusion perpetua or forty (40) years

5. Child Labor The State, through the Department of Labour and
Employment, defines "child labour" as "the
illegal employment of children below the age of
fifteen (15), where they are not directly under the
sole responsibility of their parents or legal
guardian, or the latter employs other workers
apart from their children, who are not members
of their families, or their work endangers their life,
safety, health and morals or impairs their normal
development including schooling.
It also includes the situation of children below
the age of eighteen (18) who are employed in
Under R.A. 7610, Sec. 12., Employment of Children – Children
below fifteen (15) years of age may be employed except:
(1) When a child works directly under the sole responsibility of
his parents or legal guardian and where only members of the
employer’s family are employed: Provided, however, That his
employment neither endangers his life, safety and health and
morals, nor impairs his normal development: Provided,
further, That the parent or legal guardian shall provide the said
minor child with the prescribed primary and/or secondary
education; or
(2) When a child’s employment or participation in public &
entertainment or information through cinema, theater, radio or
television is essential: Provided, The employment contract
imprisonment with no possibility of parole; except that
if a person violating paragraph (a) of this section
knows the person that provided prostitution services
is in fact a victim of trafficking, the offender shall not
be likewise penalized under this section but under
Section 10 as a person violating Section 4; and if in
committing such an offense, the offender also knows
a qualifying circumstance for trafficking, the offender
shall be penalized under Section 10 for qualified
trafficking. If in violating this section the offender also
violates Section 4, the offender shall be penalized
under Section 10 and, if applicable, for qualified
trafficking instead of under this section;
“(b) Deportation. – If a foreigner commits any offense
described by paragraph (1) or (2) of this section or
violates any pertinent provision of this Act as an
accomplice or accessory to, or by attempting any
such offense, he or she shall be immediately deported
after serving his or her sentence and be barred
permanently from entering the country; and
“(c) Public Official. – If the offender is a public official,
he or she shall be dismissed from service and shall
suffer perpetual absolute disqualification to hold
public, office, in addition to any imprisonment or fine
received pursuant to any other provision of this Act.”
Accordingly, children above 15 years old but below 18
years of age who are employed in non-hazardous
undertakings, and children below 15 years old who are
employed in exclusive family undertakings where their
safety, health, schooling and normal development are
not impaired, are not considered as "child labour"
under the law.
On Sec. 12 of R.A. 7610,
Any person who shall violate any provision of this
Article shall suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than
One thousand pesos (P1,000) but not more than Ten
 hazardous occupations." This definition was
taken from the existing child labour statutes of
the country and clearly pertains only to the work
situations of children which under Philippine
laws are considered illegal.
ETHICAL ISSUES/ REALITY CHECK
PROBLEMS
(Situation Analysis) (Problem Analysis)
1. Challenges and In the Philippines, approximately 1.44 million or
Solutions: Disability in 1.57% of its population have a certain disability.
the Workplace Out of the 1.44 million working-age Filipinos with
a disability, only 353,000 or less than one in five
were part of the workforce in January 2022.
Despite legal protections, discrimination against
people with disabilities still occurs in the
workplace. This can manifest as hiring bias, lack
of promotion opportunities, or harassment.
Addressing and preventing discrimination
requires proactive efforts from both employers
and employees. People with disabilities often
face barriers to career advancement, such as
limited access to training and development
opportunities or unconscious biases from
managers. Employers should actively promote
equal opportunities for career growth and
advancement.
concluded by the child’s parent or guardian, with the express
agreement of the child concerned, if possible, and the
approval of the Department of Labor and Employment:
Provided, That the following requirements in all instances are
strictly complied with:
(a) The employer shall ensure the protection, health, safety
and morals of the child;
(b) the employer shall institute measures to prevent the child’s
exploitation or discrimination taking into account the system
and level of remuneration, and the duration and arrangement
of working time; and;
(c) The employer shall formulate and implement, subject to the
approval and supervision of competent authorities, a
continuing program for training and skill acquisition of the
child.
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
(Decision Analysis)
In the Philippines, there are laws protecting persons with
disabilities (PWDs) from discrimination and ensuring their
rights. Violations against PWDs can include denial of access to
public places, employment discrimination, and failure to
provide reasonable accommodations. The Republic Act No.
7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons outlines the
rights and privileges of PWDs, and violations can be reported
to the authorities for appropriate action. Additionally, the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified
by the Philippines, provides further protections and guidelines
for addressing violations against PWDs.
According to Sec. 32, R.A. 7277., Discrimination on
Employment – No entity, whether public or private, shall
discriminate against a qualified disabled person by reason of
disability in regard to job application procedures, the hiring,
promotion, or discharge of employees, employee
compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and
thousand pesos (P10,000) or imprisonment of not less
than three (3) months but not more than three (3)
years, or both at the discretion of the court; Provided,
That, in case of repeated violations of the provisions of
this Article, the offender’s license to operate shall be
revoked.
ETHICAL JUDGMENT
(Resolution)
The penalties for violating the rights of persons with
disabilities in the Philippines can vary depending on
the specific offence and the provisions of the Magna
Carta for Disabled Persons. Some common penalties
for violations include fines, imprisonment, and
sanctions against individuals or establishments found
guilty of discrimination or neglecting the rights of
PWDs.
In Sec. 46. Penal Clause. — (a) Any person who
violates any provision of this Act shall suffer the
following penalties:
(1) for the first violation, a fine of not less than Fifty
thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not exceeding One
hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not
more than two (2) years,or both at the discretion of the
court; and
privileges of employment. The following constitute acts of (2) for any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than
discrimination: One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not
(a). Limiting, segregating or classifying a disabled job applicant exceeding Two hundred thousand pesos.
in such a manner that adversely affects his work opportunities; P200,000.00) or imprisonment for not less than two (2)
(b). Using qualification standards, employment tests or other years but not more than six (6) years, or both at the
selection criteria that screen out or tend to screen out a discretion of the court.
disabled person unless such standards, tests or other (b) Any person who abuses the privileges granted
selection criteria are shown to be jobrelated for the position on herein shall be punished with imprisonment of not
question and are consistent with business necessity; less than six (6) months or a fine of not less than Five
(c). Utilizing standards, criteria, or methods of administration thousand pesos (P5,000.00), but not more than Fifty
that: thousand pesos
1). have the effect of discrimination on the basis of disability; (P50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.
or (c) If the violator is a corporation, organisation or any
2). perpetuate the discrimination of others who are subject to similar entity, the officials thereof directly involved
common administrative control; shall be liable therefore.
(d). Providing less compensation, such as salary, wage or other (d) If the violator is an alien or a foreigner, he shall be
forms of remuneration and fringe benefits, to a qualified deported immediately after service of sentence
disabled employee, by reason of his disability, than the without further deportation proceedings.
amount to which a non-disabled person performing the same
work is entitled;
(e). Favoring a non-disabled employee over a qualified
disabled employee with respect to promotion, training
opportunities, study and scholarship grants, solely on account
of the latter’s disability;
(f). Re-assigning or transferring a disabled employee to a job or
position he cannot perform by reason of his disability;
(g). Dismissing or terminating the services of a disabled
employee by reason of his disability unless the employer can
prove that he impairs the satisfactory performance of the work
involve to the prejudice of the business entities; Provided,
however, That the employer first sought provide reasonable
accommodations for disabled persons;
(h). Failing to select or administer in the effective manner
employment tests which accurately reflect the skills, aptitude
or other factor of the disabled applicant or employee that such
test purports to measure, rather than the impaired sensory,
manual or speaking skills of such applicant or employee, if
any; and

2. A long standing Ecological Solid Waste Management under the
problem: Solid Waste law refers to the “systematic administration of
Management in the activities which provide for segregation at
Philippines. source, segregated transportation, storage,
transfer, processing, treatment, and disposal of
solid waste and all other waste management
activities which do not harm the environment.” In
the country, the local government units (LGUs)
hold the primary responsibility for the effective
and efficient solid waste management. Despite
this law, however, poor solid waste management
in the Philippines is still prevalent since open and
controlled dumps are being used in the country.
In the Philippines, around 35,580 tons of garbage
are generated per day, amounting to
approximately 14.66 million tons annually in
2014 (Castillo & Otoma, 2013; DENR, 2018).
Based on 2018 data, the amount of solid waste
has increased to 16.6 million tons, making the
Philippines the third-largest generator of solid
waste per year among Southeast Asian countries
(Romero, 2020). The continuous rise in garbage is
attributed to factors such as increasing
population, higher living standards, urbanization,
and associated problems with excessive waste
(SEPO, 2017).
(i). Excluding disabled persons from membership in labor
unions or similar organization.
Under R.A. 9003, Sec. 48., Prohibited Acts - The following acts
are prohibited:
(1) Littering, throwing, dumping of waste matters in public
places, such as roads, sidewalks, canals, esteros or parks,
and establishment, or causing or permitting the same;
(2) Undertaking activities or operating, collecting or
transporting equipment in violation of sanitation operation and
other requirements or permits set forth in established
pursuant;
(3) The open burning of solid waste;
(4) Causing or permitting the collection of non-segregated or
unsorted wastes;
(5) Squatting in open dumps and landfills;
(6) Open dumping, burying of biodegradable or non-
biodegradable materials in flood prone areas;
(7) Unauthorized removal of recyclable material intended for
collection by authorized persons;
(8) The mixing of source-separated recyclable material with
other solid waste in any vehicle, box, container or receptacle
used in solid waste collection or disposal;
(9) Establishment or operation of open dumps as enjoined in
this Act, or closure of said dumps in violation of Sec. 37;
(10) The manufacture, distribution or use of non-
environmentally acceptable packaging materials;
(11) Importation of consumer products packaged in non-
Despite the law, solid waste management (SWM) is
still a challenge in the Philippines.
Sec.49 stipulated that:
(a) Any person who violates Sec. 48 paragraph (1)
shall, upon conviction, be punished with a
fine of not less than Three hundred pesos
(P300.00) but not more than One thousand
pesos (P1,000.00) or render community
service for not less than one (1) day to not
more than fifteen (15) days to an LGU where
such prohibited acts are committed, or both;
(b) Any person who violates Sec. 48, pars. (2) and
(3), shall, upon conviction be punished with a
fine of not less than Three hundred pesos
(P300.00) but not more than One thousand
pesos (P1,000.00) or imprisonment of not
less than one (1) day but to not more than
fifteen (15) days, or both;
(c) Any person who violates Sec. 48, pars. (4), (5),
(6) and (7) shall, upon conviction, be
punished with a fine of not less than One
thousand pesos (P1,000.00) but not more
than Three thousand pesos (P3,000.00) or
imprisonment of not less than fifteen (15) day
but to not more than six (6) months, or both;
(d) Any person who violates Sec. 48, pars (8), (9),
(10) and (11) for the first time shall, upon
conviction, pay a fine of Five hundred
thousand pesos (P500,000.00) plus and
amount not less than five percent (5%) but not
more than ten percent (10%) of his net annual
income during the previous year.
The additional penalty of imprisonment of a minimum
period of one (1) year but not to exceed three (3) years
at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed for
 environmentally acceptable materials; second or subsequent violations of Sec. 48, pars. (9)
and (10).
(12) Importation of toxic wastes misrepresented as (e) Any person who violates Sec. 48, pars. (12)
"recyclable" or "with recyclable content"; and (13) shall, upon conviction, be punished
with a fine not less than Ten thousand pesos
(13) Transport and dumplog in bulk of collected domestic, (P10,000.00) but not more than Two hundred
industrial, commercial, and institutional wastes in areas other thousand pesos (P200,000.00) or
than centers or facilities prescribe under this Act; imprisonment of not less than thirty (30) days
but not more than three (3) years, or both;
(14) Site preparation, construction, expansion or operation of (f) Any person who violates Sec. 48, pars. (14),
waste management facilities without an Environmental (15) and (16) shall, upon conviction, be
Compliance Certificate required pursuant to Presidential punished with a fine not less than One
Decree No. 1586 and this Act and not conforming with the land hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but
use plan of the LGU; not more than One million pesos
(P1,000,000.00), or imprisonment not less
(15) The construction of any establishment within two hundred than one (1) year but not more than six (6)
(200) meters from open dumps or controlled dumps, or years, or both.
sanitary landfill; and
If the offense is committed by a corporation,
(16) The construction or operation of landfills or any waste
partnership, or other juridical identity duly recognized
disposal facility on any aquifer, groundwater reservoir, or
in accordance with the law, the chief executive officer,
watershed area and or any portions thereof.
president, general manager, managing partner or
such other officer-in-charge shall be liable for the
commission of the offense penalized under this Act.

If the offender is an alien, he shall, after service of the

sentence prescribed above, be deported without
further administrative proceedings.

The fines herein prescribed shall be increased by at

lest ten (10%) percent every three (3) years to
compensate for inflation and to maintain the deterrent
functions of such fines.
3. Violence Against Violence against women (VAW) appears as one of As per Sec. 5, R.A. 9262., Acts of Violence Against Women and The VAWC Law is an essential legal framework for
Women and their the country’s pervasive social problems. Their Children.- The crime of violence against women and their protecting women and children from all forms of
Children According to the 2022 National Demographic and children is committed through any of the following acts: violence. It recognizes that violence against women
Health Survey (NDHS) conducted by the and children is a violation of their human rights and a
Philippine Statistics Authority, 17.5% of Filipino crime that must be punished. By imposing severe
women aged 15-49 have experienced any form of
physical, sexual, and emotional violence from
their intimate partners. As of 2021, there were
8,399 reported cases of physical violence, 1,791
on rape, and 1,505 on acts of lasciviousness. It is
alarming that despite addressing the concern,
VAW persists.
According to Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-
Violence Against Women and their Children Act
of 2004, "Violence against women and their
children" refers to any act or a series of acts
committed by any person against a woman who
is his wife, former wife, or against a woman with
whom the person has or had a sexual or dating
relationship, or with whom he has a common
child, or against her child whether legitimate or
illegitimate, within or without the family abode,
which result in or is likely to result in physical,
sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or
economic abuse including threats of such acts,
battery, assault, coercion, harassment or
arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
(a) Causing physical harm to the woman or her child;
(b) Threatening to cause the woman or her child physical harm;
(c) Attempting to cause the woman or her child physical harm;
(d) Placing the woman or her child in fear of imminent physical
harm;
(e) Attempting to compel or compelling the woman or her child
to engage in conduct which the woman or her child has the
right to desist from or desist from conduct which the woman or
her child has the right to engage in, or attempting to restrict or
restricting the woman's or her child's freedom of movement or
conduct by force or threat of force, physical or other harm or
threat of physical or other harm, or intimidation directed
against the woman or child. This shall include, but not limited
to, the following acts committed with the purpose or effect of
controlling or restricting the woman's or her child's movement
or conduct:
(1) Threatening to deprive or actually depriving the woman or
her child of custody to her/his family;
(2) Depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or her
children of financial support legally due her or her family, or
deliberately providing the woman's children insufficient
financial support;
(3) Depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or her child
of a legal right;
(4) Preventing the woman in engaging in any legitimate
profession, occupation, business or activity or controlling the
victim's own money or properties, or solely controlling the
conjugal or common money, or properties;
(f) Inflicting or threatening to inflict physical harm on oneself
penalties on offenders, the law serves as a deterrent
to potential abusers
Sec. 6, R.A. 9262, Penalties.- The crime of violence
against women and their children, under Section 5
hereof shall be punished according to the following
rules:
(a) Acts falling under Section 5(a) constituting
attempted, frustrated or consummated parricide or
murder or homicide shall be punished in accordance
with the provisions of the Revised Penal Code.
If these acts resulted in mutilation, it shall be
punishable in accordance with the Revised Penal
Code; those constituting serious physical injuries
shall have the penalty of prison mayor; those
constituting less serious physical injuries shall be
punished by prision correccional; and those
constituting slight physical injuries shall be punished
by arresto mayor.
Acts falling under Section 5(b) shall be punished by
imprisonment of two degrees lower than the
prescribed penalty for the consummated crime as
specified in the preceding paragraph but shall in no
case be lower than arresto mayor.
(b) Acts falling under Section 5(c) and 5(d) shall be
punished by arresto mayor;
(c) Acts falling under Section 5(e) shall be punished be
prision correccional;
(d) Acts falling under Section 5(f) shall be punished by
arresto mayor;
(e) Acts falling under Section 5(g) shall be punished by
 for the purpose of controlling her actions or decisions; prision mayor;

(g) Causing or attempting to cause the woman or her child to
engage in any sexual activity which does not constitute rape,
by force or threat of force, physical harm, or through
intimidation directed against the woman or her child or her/his
immediate family;
(h) Engaging in purposeful, knowing, or reckless conduct,
personally or through another, that alarms or causes
substantial emotional or psychological distress to the woman
or her child. This shall include, but not be limited to, the
following acts:
(1) Stalking or following the woman or her child in public or
private places;
(2) Peering in the window or lingering outside the residence of
the woman or her child;
(f) Acts falling under Section 5(h) and Section 5(i) shall
be punished by prision mayor.
If the acts are committed while the woman or child is
pregnant or committed in the presence of her child,
the penalty to be applied shall be the maximum period
of penalty prescribed in the section.
In addition to imprisonment, the perpetrator shall (a)
pay a fine in the amount of not less than One hundred
thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than
three hundred thousand pesos (300,000.00); (b)
undergo mandatory psychological counseling or
psychiatric treatment and shall report compliance to
the court.

(3) Entering or remaining in the dwelling or on the property of

the woman or her child against her/his will;

(4) Destroying the property and personal belongings or

inflicting harm to animals or pets of the woman or her child;
and

(5) Engaging in any form of harassment or violence;

(i) Causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or

4. Technological abuse- Technology abuse is a serious problem among
related violence affects youth, the number of studies on risk and
children and adults protective factors against this problem behaviour
is still low. Thus, our aim was to describe and
humiliation to the woman or her child, including, but not
limited to, repeated verbal and emotional abuse, and denial of
financial support or custody of minor children of access to the
woman's child/children.
R.A. 11930, an Act shall be known as the "Anti-Online Sexual The resolution outlines the requirement for all online
Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child providers of adult content to implement an
Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act." anonymous age verification process before granting
access to such content.
analyse the relations between abuse of
technology and social and emotional
competencies, emotional content in online
communication, and bullying. Both children and
adults are impacted by technology-related
violence. Both sexes have the potential to
commit it, and both sexes have the potential to
become its victims or survivors. Violence caused
by technology in any form is alarming and wrong.
We concentrate on violence against women due
to the Learning Network's mandate. The rapid
improvements in technology and its accessibility
have effects on women in this environment that
are both favourable and unfavourable.
All forms of violence against women, including
sexual assault, stalking, and violence in personal
relationships, are influenced by technology. The
internet, computers, and phones can all be
exploited against women. Technology broadens
the scope of violence and develops new types of
abusive conduct, even though the mechanisms
of violence largely remain the same. Violence
caused by technology damages a woman's sense
of self.
Sec. 2, declares the policy of the State, emphasizing the
importance of safeguarding the well-being of the youth,
including protection from sexual violence and exploitation,
especially involving information and communications
technology (ICT).
A) The State aims to provide special safeguards, sanctions for
offenders, and programs to prevent online sexual abuse and
exploitation of children.
B.) This policy seeks to ensure the fundamental rights of
children, protect them from abuse and exploitation, and cover
various scenarios, whether involving online or offline actions
and inducement or coercion to engage in child sexual abuse or
exploitation materials.
C.) Comply with international treaties concerning the rights of
children to which the Philippines is a signatory or a State party
which include, but is not limited to, the United Nations (UN)
Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Optional Protocol to
the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of
Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, the
International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 182 on
the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, and the
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)
is tasked with conducting a policy study on age-
verification controls and protocols employed by
internet intermediaries. The goal is to develop rules
and regulations to effectively implement anonymous
age verification processes. These regulations must be
established within eighteen months of the resolution's
passage. It's essential to note that this provision does
not exempt online providers from adhering to the
"Data Privacy Act of 2012."
(a) Guarantee the fundamental rights of every child
from all forms of neglect, cruelty and other conditions
prejudicial to their development;
(b) Protect every child from all forms of abuse or
exploitation, whether committed with or without the
use of ICT, such as when the abuse or exploitation
involves:
(c) Ensure the right of children to useful, meaningful
and safe access to digital technologies that will
provide knowledge and develop their understanding of
civil, political, cultural, economic and social rights
and help them achieve their potential to be
empowered, responsible, law-abiding citizens, with
the end in view of protecting them from any form of
violence online; and
(d) Provide paramount consideration to the interests
of children in all actions affecting them, whether
undertaken by public or private social welfare
institutions, courts of law, executive agencies, law
enforcement agencies, local government units
(LGUs), legislative bodies, and private business
enterprises especially those related to the online
safety and protection of children.
5. Gender Based Sexual Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a
Harassment in the sexual nature, which makes a person feel
Workplace offended, humiliated and/or intimidated.
Under Sec. 3., RA 7877, work, education,or
training related sexual harassment is
“committed by an employer, employee,
manager, supervisor, agent of the employer,
teacher, instructor, professor, coach, trainor, or
any person who, having authority, influence or
moral ascendancy over another in a work or
training or education environment, demands,
requests or otherwise requires any sexual favor
from the other, regardless of whether the
demand, request or requirement for submission
is accepted or not by the object of said act.
As per Sec. 16., R.A. 11313, Gender-Based Sexual
Harassment in the Workplace. -The crime of gender-based
sexual harassment in the workplace includes the following:
(a) An act or series of acts involving any unwelcome sexual
advances, requests or demand for sexual favors or any act of
sexual nature, whether done verbally, physically or through the
use of technology such as text messaging or electronic mail or
through any other forms of information and communication
systems, that has or could have a detrimental effect on the
conditions of an individual’s employment or education, job
performance or opportunities;
(b) A conduct of sexual nature and other conduct-based on sex
affecting the dignity of a person, which is unwelcome,
unreasonable, and offensive to the recipient, whether done
verbally, physically or through the use of technology such as
text messaging or electronic mail or through any other forms of
information and communication systems;
(c) A conduct that is unwelcome and pervasive and creates an
intimidating, hostile or humiliating environment for the
recipient: Provided, That the crime of gender-based sexual
harassment may also be committed between peers and those
committed to a superior officer by a subordinate, or to a
teacher by a student, or to a trainer by a trainee; and
(d) Information and communication system refers to a system
for generating, sending, receiving, storing or otherwise
processing electronic data messages or electronic documents
and includes the computer system or other similar devices by
or in which data are recorded or stored and any procedure
related to the recording or storage of electronic data messages
or electronic documents.
Sexual harassment is a form of sex-based
discrimination at the workplace. It is a violation of
fundamental rights of workers and is considered a
problem of safety and health, a problem of
discrimination and an unacceptable working
condition.
R.A. 7877 imposes penalties that: Any person who
violates the provisions of this Act shall, upon
conviction, be penalized by imprisonment of not less
than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or a
fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P 10,000) nor
more than Twenty thousand pesos (P 20,000), or both
such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the
court. Any action arising from the violation of the
provisions of this Act shall prescribe in three (3) years.
On Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in the
Workplace:
Article IV, Sec. 19., R.A. 11313 Liability of
Employers.— In addition to liabilities for committing
acts of gender-based sexual harassment, employers
may also be held responsible for:
(a) Non-implementation of their duties under Section
17 of this Act, as provided in the penal provisions; or
(b) Not taking action on reported acts of gender-based
sexual harassment committed in the workplace.
Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section,
shall upon conviction, be penalized with a fine of not
less than Five thousand pesos (₱5,000.00) nor more
than Ten thousand pesos (₱10,000.00).

LEGAL ISSUES/ REALITY CHECK
PROBLEMS
(Situation Analysis) (Problem Analysis)
1. Farmer’s Rights "Small farmer" refers to natural persons
Violation dependent on small-scale subsistence farming
as their primary source of income and whose
sale, barter or exchange of agricultural products
do not exceed a gross value of One hundred
eighty thousand pesos (P180,000) per annum
based on 1992 constant prices. An inter-agency
committee composed of the Department of
Agrarian Reform, the Department of Trade and
Industry, the Department of Finance and the
National Economic and Development Authority
and headed by the Department of Agriculture
may conduct periodic review and adjustments of
the income level to take into account the effects
of changes in inflation, devaluation and
consumer price index;
The State shall recognize the right of farmers,
farmworkers, and landowners, as well as
cooperatives, and other independent farmers’
organizations to participate in the planning,
organization, and management of the program,
and shall provide support to agriculture through
appropriate technology and research, and
adequate financial, production, marketing, and
other support services.
. landowners, and shall provide incentives for voluntary land-
The violation of Farmers’ Rights is systemic with
the passage of laws that prohibit them from their
age-old practice of saving, sharing and using
POLICY/LEGAL STANDARDS
(Decision Analysis)
As per Republic Act No. 6657, It is the policy of the State to
pursue a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
The welfare of the landless farmers and farmworkers will
receive the highest consideration to promote social justice
and to move the nation toward sound rural development and
industrialization, and the establishment of owner
cultivatorship of economic-size farms as the basis of
Philippine agriculture.
To this end, a more equitable distribution and ownership of
land, with due regard to the rights of landowners to just
compensation and to the ecological needs of the nation, shall
be undertaken to provide farmers and farmworkers with the
opportunity to enhance their dignity and improve the quality of
their lives through greater productivity of agricultural lands.
The agrarian reform program is founded on the right of farmers
and regular farmworkers, who are landless, to own directly or
collectively the lands they till or, in the case of other farm
workers, to receive a just share of the fruits thereof. To this
end, the State shall encourage and undertake the just
distribution of all agricultural lands, subject to the priorities
and retention limits set forth in this Act, having taken into
account ecological, developmental, and equity
considerations, and subject to the payment of just
compensation. The State shall respect the right of small
sharing.
Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section,
shall upon conviction, be penalized with a fine of not
less than Ten thousand pesos (₱10,000.00) nor more
than Fifteen thousand pesos (₱15,000.00).
LEGAL JUDGMENT
(Resolution)
Empowerment of small farmers refers to provision of
opportunities whereby farmers can have access to
ownership or management of production resources.
To achieve this, small farmers' rights and obligations
that specifically promote such empowerment are
hereby given a legislative mantle. Through these
provisions, the farmers' rights to participate in the
charting of their political, economic and social
development are made inviolable. Likewise, the
corresponding obligations of the farmers to initiate, or
undertake patriotic and nationalistic endeavors must
be fulfilled.
On R.A. 7607, Farmers' Rights – The farmers have the
right to:
(1) Conduct their activities in an atmosphere
guaranteed by a support price program for certain
agricultural commodities such as rice and corn;
(2) Participate in a market free from monopoly, cartel
or any other situation which may suppress prices to
their disadvantage;
(3) Be covered by social security to serve as protection
from event such as calamities, death, sickness and
disability.
plant genetic resources or seeds; by imposing
and encouraging intellectual property rights or
patent rights on seeds; ignoring farmers’
traditional knowledge but instead encouraging
public breeding institutions to carry out research
on genetically modified organisms and other
destructive farming practices; allowing bio-
piracy of genetic resources valuable to farmers
by not keenly monitoring and preventing the
patenting and commercialization of these
resources and their by-products thus prohibiting
farmers' free access to such resources; and by
denying farmers participation in processes
affecting them.
The State shall recognize the right of farmers, farmworkers and
landowners, as well as cooperatives and other independent
farmers' organizations, to participate in the planning,
organization, and management of the program, and shall
provide support to agriculture through appropriate technology
and research, and adequate financial production, marketing
and other support services.
The State shall apply the principles of agrarian reform, or
stewardship, whenever applicable, in accordance with law, in
the disposition or utilization of other natural resources,
including lands of the public domain, under lease or
concession, suitable to agriculture, subject to prior rights,
homestead rights of small settlers and the rights of indigenous
communities to their ancestral lands.
The State may resettle landless farmers and farmworkers in its
own agricultural estates, which shall be distributed to them in
the manner provided by law.
By means of appropriate incentives, the State shall encourage
the formation and maintenance of economic-size family farms
to be constituted by individual beneficiaries and small
landowners.
The State shall protect the rights of subsistence fishermen,
especially of local communities, to the preferential use of
communal marine and fishing resources, both inland and
offshore.t shall provide support to such fishermen through
appropriate technology and research, adequate financial,
production and marketing assistance and other services.
The State shall also protect, develop and conserve such
resources. The protection shall extend to offshore fishing
grounds of subsistence fishermen against foreign intrusion.
Fishworkers shall receive a just share from their labor in the
utilization of marine and fishing resources.
(4) Avail of credit at minimal interest rates and with a
minimum of collateral requirements for their farm and
basic household needs;
(5) Avail of and distribute farm inputs and services;
(6) Be heard and represented in the Government;
(7) Be regularly informed of such vital information as
market prices, government agricultural policies,
market demands and farming practices;
(8) Benefit from our country's natural resources under
existing laws;
(9) Pursue any appropriate education and skills
development towards the improvement of the quality
of life;
(10) Eventually assume certain processing and
marketing functions of government agencies; and
(11) Avail of technical assistance from the appropriate
government agency in the preparation of project
feasibility studies in availing loans and other forms of
government economic assistance.
On Sec. 74 of Republic Act No. 6657: Any person who
knowingly or willfully violates the provisions of this Act
shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than
one (1) month to not more than three (3) years or a fine
of not less than one thousand pesos (P1,000.00) and
not more than fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000.00), or
both, at the discretion of the court.
If the offender is a corporation or association, the
officer responsible therefore shall be criminally liable.

2. Extrajudicial Killings Extra-judicial killing (EJK) - refers to the unlawful,
and deliberate killing of targeted individuals or
groups thereof, carried out by agents of the State
and under its order or acquiescence in lieu of
arrest, investigation and prosecution. EJK
includes summary killing perpetrated by private
individuals for purposes of carrying out on their
own or in the context of vigilantism, a campaign
or policy of the State.
Extrajudicial killings have been a significant issue
in the Philippines, especially since 2016, when
Rodrigo Duterte took office as President.
Duterte's presidential campaign was heavily anti-
drug, and in the first five days of his leadership, a
reported thirty "drug-dealers" were killed, and
US$20 million worth of narcotics were seized in
The State shall be guided by the principles that land has a
social function and land ownership has a social responsibility.
Owners of agricultural lands have the obligation to cultivate
directly or through labor administration the lands they own and
thereby make the land productive.
The State shall provide incentives to landowners to invest the
proceeds of the agrarian reform program to promote
industrialization, employment and privatization of public
sector enterprises. Financial instruments used as payment for
lands shall contain features that shall enhance negotiability
and acceptability in the marketplace.
The State may lease undeveloped lands of the public domain
to qualified entities for the development of capital-intensive
farms, and traditional and pioneering crops especially those
for exports subject to the prior rights of the beneficiaries under
this Act.
According to the Proposed Law of Senator Leila De Lima, the
Senate Bill No. 371: It is hereby declared policy, and legally
binding obligation of the State to uphold and protect the non-
derogable human right to life of all, set forth in various
provisions of the Constitution, in Article 3 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 6 of the United
Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other
covenants ratified by the Philippines.
Sec. 9. Prohibited Acts - It shall be unlawful for state actors to
resort to EJK as herein defined in furtherance of campaign for
public order or in the enforcement of laws. Killings perpetrated
by non-state actors and paramilitary groups in furtherance or
in support of government campaign for public order is also
unlawful and prohibited.
The Anti-EJK Council shall establish programs and promulgate
The following sections of the PVP Law outlines
penalties should farmers reproduce patented seeds:
Sec. 52. Damages. - The court may award actual,
moral, exemplary damages and attorney's fees
according to a proven amount including a reasonable
royalty for the use of the protected variety.
Sec. 54. Court to Order Confiscation of Infringing
Materials. - Upon petition by the complainant, the
court may order the confiscation of infringing
materials…
Sec. 56. Criminal Penalty. - Any person who violates
any of the rights of the holder provided for in this Act
may also suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not
less than three (3) years but not more than six (6) years
and/or a fine of up to three (3) times the profit derived
by virtue of the infringement but in no case should be
less than One Hundred Thousand pesos
(P100,000.00).
Extrajudicial killing is executing a person illegally. It
disregards human rights. It is the practice of
unlawfully killing of any person without any sanction
or legal process, by government authorities. The
investigation hardly takes place, there is not even the
proper complaint filed. It straight away violates the
human rights of individuals, denying them any
opportunity of contacting their legal representatives
or legal advisors.
Under Sec. 12 of S.B. 371., The penalty of life
imprisonment without the benefit of parole shall be
imposed upon any public officer, person in authority,
agent of a person in authority, or private individual
found guilty of EJK as defined herein. Public officials
who fail to prevent, investigate, or file necessary
 police operations across the nation.
3. Red-tagging: Attacks Journalists in the Philippines continue to work
against Journalists within hostile environments in fear of attack and
arrest, despite a change in government and
commitments under President Ferdinand
‘Bongbong’ Marcos’ regime to protect press
freedom. The wrongful imprisonment of
journalists resulting in a chilling effect on others,
prevents publication of stories that hold those in
power to account.
measures to 26 ensure that non-state actors who committed
EJK are brought to justice
Red-tagging is an important facet of the human rights crisis in
the Philippines.
Sec. 3., House Bill No. 1152, Forms of Red-tagging - Red
tagging is committed through statements, social media posts,
announcements, declarations, signages, streamers, placards,
public fora, and other similar venues or media where
individuals, entities, groups and/or organizations are publicly
labeled, vilified, branded, named, accused or caricatured as
described in Section 2 of this Act.
In recent years, the Philippine regime has targeted human
rights defenders, journalists, the LGBTQI+ community,
indigenous groups, and labor unions through its red-tagging
campaign. Many of them have been harassed, intimidated.
Some were even murdered at the hands of law enforcement
officers or “unknown groups'' likely linked to the government
In light of the above concerns, the ICJ recommends that:
• National and local government officials must refrain from
labeling human rights defenders as “terrorists”. Any credible
accusations of terrorist conduct must be pursued through the
rule of law, pursuant cognizable charges, compliance with due
process and the right to a fair trial by a competent independent
and impartial court;
actions in court against those suspected of having
committed EJK shall be administratively liable
according to applicable laws.
Sec. 14. Compensation for Victims. - The family of the
victim of EJK shall have the right to claim for
compensation as provided for under Republic Act No.
7309 or “An Act Creating A Board of Claims Under The
Department Of Justice For Victims Of Unjust
Imprisonment Or Detention And Victims Of Violent
Crimes And For Other Purposes.” Provided, that in no
case shall compensation be any lower than Ten
Thousand Pesos (P10 ,000.00).
As per House Bill No. 1152 or “An Act Providing For
The Criminalization Of Red-Tagging” proposed by
Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel,
Red-tagging should be criminalized for two simple
reasons: it is committed through the use of public
funds, and it has an injurious and irreversible impact
on victims.
Sec. 4., H.B. 1152, Offenses.
a. Any public official, employee, and/or their agents
who red-tags any individual in accordance to Section
2 and 3 of this Act shall be punished by prision
correccional for violation of this Act.
b. If the individual red-tagged was injured by reason or
by any cause arising from the red-tagging by the
accountable public official, employee, and/or his/her
agents, the public official, employee, and his/her
agents, shall be punished by a degree higher than
those in accordance with Art. 262 to Art. 265 (Physical
Injuries) of the Revised Penal Code and a fine not
exceeding 6,000 plus damages.
c. If the individual red-tagged was killed by reason or
by any cause arising from the red-tagging by the

4. Animal Abuse Animal abuse, or animal cruelty is the crime of
inflicting physical pain, suffering or death on an
animal, usually a tame one, beyond necessity for
normal discipline or the Active Cruelty. It can
include neglect that is so monstrous (withholding
food and water) that the animal has suffered,
• The Department of Justice and Office of the Ombudsman
should investigate and if warranted prosecute individual
government officials who engage in red-tagging in proper
administrative and criminal proceedings;
• Congress should amend the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 in
order to conform with international human rights law and
standards pursuant to obligations under the ICCPR; and
• Social media companies should consistently observe their
responsibility to respect human rights, consistent with the UN
Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including,
but not limited to, taking further steps and increasing capacity
to address red-tagging on its platforms inciting discrimination,
hostility or violence; engaging with civil society before
implementing policies impacting human rights; and applying
the principles of transparency and due process in the
moderation of online content on the platform.
Under Sec. 2, R.A. 8485: No person, association, partnership,
corporation, cooperative or any government agency or
instrumentality including slaughter houses shall establish,
maintain and operate any pet shop, kennel, veterinary clinic,
veterinary hospital, stockyard, corral, stud farm or stock farm
or zoo for the breeding, treatment, sale or trading, or training of
accountable public official, employee, and/or hi/her
agents, the public official, employee, and his/her
agents, shall be punished in accordance with Art. 248
(Murder) of the Revised Penal Code.
d. If the individual red-tagged was involuntarily
disappeared by reason or by any cause arising from
the red-tagging by the accountable public official,
employee, and/or his/her agents, the public official,
employee, and his/her agents, shall be punished
under R.A. 10353 or An Act Defining And Penalizing
Enforced Or Involuntary Disappearance.
e. Any public officer, employee, and/or their agents
who are found guilty of any of the aforementioned
offenses shall also be imposed a penalty of perpetual
absolute disqualification to hold public office.
f. The penalties for violation of this act and their
probable consequences shall be without prejudice to
the filing of administrative and civil cases against the
offender/s.
As per Senate Bill 2121 or the proposed "Act Defining
and Penalizing Red-Tagging" proposed by Minority
Leader Franklin M. Drilon
• Any person found guilty of red-tagging shall be
imprisoned for 10 years and shall suffer the accessory
penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification to hold
public office.
Animal cruelty and pet neglect are criminal offenses.
Any type of Animal Abuse is unlawful and can be
penalized.
R.A. 8485, Sec. 8., Any person who violates any of the
provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction by final
died or been put in imminent danger of death or
the Passive Cruelty.
Happens a lot nowadays, for example, Handling
of animals bred for leather, fur (inhumane
methods of killing), Circus training of animals,
Hunting of endangered and other species,
Neglected or abused pets, Lab animals used for
testing cosmetics, medicines and other things
and Poisoning stray animals.
Animals should have the same basic rights as
human beings. Animals are sentient beings, they
feel pain, they feel stress, they feel happy, they
feel sad, they feel the same as human beings so
deserve to be treated with the same respect.
animals without first securing from the Bureau of Animal
Industry a certificate of registration therefore.
As per Sec. 6, It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any
animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance or
shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog or horse
to dogfights or horsefights, kill or cause or procure to be
tortured or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or shelter,
or maltreat or use the same in research or experiments not
expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare.
The killing of any animal other than cattle pigs, goats, sheep,
poultry, rabbits, carabaos, horses, deer and crocodiles is
likewise hereby declared unlawful except in the following
instances:
(1) When it is done as part of the religious rituals of an
established religion or sect or a ritual required by tribal or
ethnic custom of indigenous cultural communities; however,
leaders shall keep records in cooperation with the Committee
on Animal Welfare;
(2) When the pet animal is afflicted with an incurable
communicable disease as determined and certified by a duly
licensed veterinarian;
(3) When the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the
misery suffered by the animal as determined and certified by a
duly licensed veterinarian;
(4) When it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life or
limb of a human being;
(5) When done for the purpose of animal population control;
(6) When the animal is killed after it has been used in
authorized research or experiments; and
(7) Any other ground analogous to the foregoing as determined
judgement, be punished by imprisonment of not less
than six (6) months nor more than two (2) years or a
fine of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00)
nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or
both at the discretion of the Court. If the violation is
committed by a juridical person, the officer
responsible therefore shall serve the imprisonment
when imposed. If the violation is committed by an
alien, he or she shall be immediately deported after
service of sentence without any further proceedings.
Section 8 of Republic Act No. 8485 which shall now
become Section 9 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
SEC. 9. Any person who subjects any animal to
cruelty, maltreatment or neglect shall, upon
conviction by final judgment, be punished by
imprisonment and/ or fine, as indicated in the
following graduated scale:
“(1) Imprisonment of one (1) year and six (6) months
and one (1) day to two (2) years and/or a fine not
exceeding One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) if the animal subjected to cruelty,
maltreatment or neglect dies;
“(2) Imprisonment of one (1) year and one (1) day to
one (1) year and six (6) months and/or a fine not
exceeding Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) if the
animal subjected to cruelty, maltreatment or neglect
survives but is severely injured with loss of its natural
faculty to survive on its own and needing human
intervention to sustain its life; and
“(3) Imprisonment of six (6) months to one (1) year
and/or a fine not exceeding Thirty thousand pesos
(P30,000.00) for subjecting any animal to cruelty,

5. Child Marriage “Child Marriage” refers to any marriage entered
into where one or both parties are children as
defined in the paragraph above, and solemnized
in civil or church proceedings, or in any
recognized traditional, cultural or customary
manner. It shall include an informal union or
cohabitation outside of wedlock between an
adult and a child or between children for
purposes of the Act;
and certified licensed veterinarian.
In all the above mentioned cases, including those of cattle,
pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, horses, deer
and crocodiles the killing of the animals shall be done through
humane procedures at all times.
For this purpose, humane procedures shall mean the use of
the most scientific methods available as may be determined
and approved by the committee.
Only those procedures approved by the Committee shall be
used in the killing of animals.
According to Sec. 2 of Republic Act 11596 or “An Act
Prohibiting the Practice of Child Marriage and Imposing
Penalties for Violations Thereof” Consistent with Section 13,
Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the State
recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and
promotes and protects their physical, moral, spiritual,
intellectual, and social-well-being. In pursuit of this policy, the
State shall abolish all traditional and cultural practices and
structures that perpetuate discrimination, abuse and
exploitation of children such as the practice of child marriage.
maltreatment or neglect but without causing its death
or incapacitating it to survive on its own.
If the violation is committed by a juridical person, the
officer responsible thereof shall serve the
imprisonment. If the violation is committed by an
alien, he or she shall be immediately deported after
the service of sentence without any further
proceeding.
The foregoing penalties shall also apply for any other
violation of this Act, depending upon the effect or
result of the act or omission as defined in the
immediately preceding sections.
However, regardless of the resulting condition to the
animal/s, the penalty of two (2) years and one (1) day
to three (3) years and/or a fine not exceeding Two
hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000.00) shall be
imposed if the offense is committed by any of the
following: (1) a syndicate; (2) an offender who makes
business out of cruelty to an animal; (3) a public
officer or employee; or (4) where at least three (3)
animals are involved.
In any of the foregoing situations, the offender shall
suffer subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency
and the inability to pay the fine.
Under Sec. 5 of R.A. 11596, The following are declared
unlawful and prohibited acts:
(a) Facilitation of Child Marriage – any person who
causes, fixes, facilitates or arranges a child marriage
shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its medium
period and a fine of not less than Forty Thousand
Pesos (P40,000.00): Provided, however, that should
the perpetrator be an ascendant, parent, adoptive
parent, step parent or guardian of the child, the
R.A. 11596, Sec. 7., Child marriage is void ab
initio and the action or defense for the
declaration of absolute nullity of a child marriage
shall not prescribe in accordance with Articles 35
and 39 of the Family Code of the Philippines.
Articles 50 to 54 of the Family Code of the
Philippines shall govern on matters of support,
property relations, and custody of children after
the termination of the child marriage.
Further, the State recognizes the role of women in nation-
building and shall therefore protect and promote their
empowerment. This entails the abolition of unequal structures
and practices that perpetuate discrimination and inequality.
The State affirms the human rights of children consistent with
its obligations under
(1) International Conventions to which the Philippines is a
State Party, including, but not limited to the (a) Universal
Declaration of Human Rights; (b) Convention on Consent to
Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of
Marriages; (c) UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; (d)
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women (CEDAW); and (e) Optional Protocol to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children,
child prostitution and child pornography; and
(2) Domestic Laws such as (a) Republic Act No. 7610 (R.A.
7610), otherwise known as the "Special Protection of Children
Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act", (b)
R.A. 9710, otherwise known as "An Act Providing for the Magna
Carta of Women", (c) R.A. 9262, otherwise known as the "Anti-
Violence Against Women and Their Children Act", (d) R.A.
11930, otherwise known as "The Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or
Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse
or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM_ Act", (e) R.A. 9208,
otherwise known as "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as
amended by R.A. 10364, Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons
Act of 2022, and (f) R.A. 11648, otherwise known as the "An Act
Providing for Stronger Protection Against Rape and Sexual
Exploitation and Abuse, Increasing the Age for Determining the
Commission of Statutory Rape", amending for the Purpose Act
No. 3815 as amended, otherwise known as "The Revised Penal
Code," R.A. 8353, also known as "The Anti-Rape Law of 1997",
and R.A. 7610, as amended, otherwise known as the "Special
Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act""
penalty shall be prision mayor in its maximum period,
a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos
(P50,000.00) and perpetual loss of parental authority:
Provided further, that any person who produces,
prints, issues and/distributes fraudulent or tampered
document such as birth certificates, affidavits of
delayed registration of birth and/or foundling
certificates for the purpose of misrepresenting the age
of a child to facilitate child marriage or evade liability
under this Act shall be liable under this section
without prejudice to liability under other laws:
Provided, finally, that if the perpetrator is a public
officer, he or she shall be dismissed from the service
and may be perpetually disqualified from holding
office as may be finally adjudged by a court.
(b) Solemnization of Child Marriage – any person who
performs or officiates a child marriage shall suffer the
penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period.
(c) Cohabitation of an adult with a child outside
wedlock – An adult partner who cohabits with a child
outside wedlock shall suffer the penalty of prision
mayor in its maximum period and a fine of not less
than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00): provided,
however, that if the perpetrator is a public officer, he
or she shall likewise be dismissed from the service
and may be perpetually disqualified from holding
office at the discretion of the courts: Provided finally,
that this shall be without prejudice to higher penalties
that may be imposed in the Revised Penal Code and
other special laws.
 The State affirms that a marriage shall be entered into only with
the free and full consent of capacitated parties, and that child
betrothal and marriage shall have no legal effect.

Pursuant to these policies, the State views child marriage as a

practice constituting child abuse because it debases,
degrades, and demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of
children.

References:
MORAL ISSUES/PROBLEMS
1. Divorce

• https://hrep-website.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/legisdocs/basic_19/HB02593.pdf
• https://www.zigguratrealestate.ph/post/divorce-law-to-boost-women-s-economic-role
• https://unstats.un.org/wiki/download/attachments/106499491/Who%20Needs%20Divorce%20in%20Philippines_Philippines.pdf?api=v2
2. Abortion
• https://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=9262
• https://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/law/article/viewFile/2365/2250
• https://escholarship.org/content/qt125971gn/qt125971gn_noSplash_b890c71300515469a071f6ffc8d18261.pdf
• https://reproductiverights.org/pchr-philippine-commission-human-rights-abortion-decriminalization/
• https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/18/asia/philippines-abortion-ban-debate-women-rights-roe-wade-intl-hnk-dst/index.html
• https://www.howtouseabortionpill.org/abortion-laws-by-country/philippines/
• https://attorney.org.ph/legal-news/35-the-criminal-law-on-abortion
• https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1930/12/08/act-no-3815-s-1930/
3. Euthanasia of Animals
• https://paws.org.ph/euthanasia/
• https://paws.org.ph/downloads/AO%209%20and%20%20AO%2013%20Euthanasia%20of%20Animals.pdf
• https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2007/05/25/republic-act-no-9482/
4. Human Trafficking: Prostitution
• https://dbpedia.org/page/Prostitution_in_the_Philippines
• https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2013/ra_10364_2013.html
• https://theexodusroad.com/human-trafficking-in-the-philippines/
• https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2013/02/06/republic-act-no-10364/

5. Child Labor
 • https://www.ilo.org/manila/areasofwork/child-labour/lang--en/index.htm
• https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1992/06/17/republic-act-no-7610/
• https://ipecphils.tripod.com/phillaws/intro.htm#:~:text=The%20State%2C%20through%20the%20Department,from%20their%20children%2C%20who%20are

ETHICAL ISSUES/PROBLEMS

1. Challenges and Solutions: Analysing Disability in the Workplace

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8501486/#:~:text=In%20the%20Philippines%2C%20approximately%201.44,population%20have%20a%20certain%20disabilit
y
• https://disabilityin.org/country/the-philippines/#:~:text=7277%3A%20This%20Act%20provides%20for,and%20political%20and%20civil%20rights
• https://ncda.gov.ph/disability-laws/republic-acts/republic-act-7277/#:~:text=March%2011%2C%202024)-
,An%20Act%20Providing%20For%20The%20Rehabilitation%2C%20Self%2DDevelopment%20And%20Self,For%20Other%20Purposes%20%E2%80%93%20RA%207277

2. A long standing problem: Solid Waste Management in the Philippines

• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357392729_A_Long-Standing_Problem_A_Review_on_the_Solid_Waste_Management_in_the_Philippines
• https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2001/ra_9003_2001.html
• https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jsmcwm/24/0/24_677/_pdf#:~:text=Ecological%20Solid%20Waste%20Management%20under,not%20harm%20the%20environment%C2%
B4.

3. Violence Against Women and their Children

• https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2004/ra_9262_2004.html
• https://pcw.gov.ph/violence-against-women/
• https://attorney.org.ph/legal-news/413-protecting-women-and-children-vawc-law-in-the-philippines

4. Technological abuse-related violence affects children and adults

• https://gbvlearningnetwork.ca/our-work/issuebased_newsletters/issue-4/index.html
• https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2022/ra_11930_2022.html

5. Gender Based Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

• https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/---ilo-jakarta/documents/publication/wcms_149651.pdf
• https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1995/02/14/republic-act-no-7877/

LEGAL ISSUES/PROBLEMS
1. Farmer’s Rights Violation

• https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1988/ra_6657_1988.html
• https://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78025:republic-act-no-7607&catid=2149:republic-act-nos-7601-
7700&Itemid=738#:~:text=Every%20farmer%20shall%20be%20assisted,inputs%20through%20their%20farmers'%20organizations.
• https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/lib-
docs/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/session13/PH/SEARICE_UPR_PHL_S13_2012_S.E.A_SoutheastAsialInitiativesforCommunityEmpowerment_E.pdf

2. Extrajudicial Killings

• https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/3066327517!.pdf
• https://theowp.org/reports/extrajudicial-killing-in-the-philippines-protecting-human-rights-in-the-wake-of-presidential-endorsement/
• https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-2777-a-short-study-on-extrajudicial-killings.html

3. Red-tagging: Attacks against Journalists

• https://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/philippines-journalists-under-attack-despite-government-commitments.html

• https://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-the-commission-on-human-rights-on-the-attempt-to-trivialize-and-justify-the-dangers-of-red
tagging/#:~:text=The%20harms%20linked%20to%20red,enforced%20disappearance%2C%20and%20even%20killings.
• https://hrf.org/red-tagging-in-the-philippines-a-license-to-kill/
• https://www.icj.org/philippines-cease-dangerous-practice-of-red-tagging-human-rights-
defenders/#:~:text=The%20Philippine%20authorities%20must%20refrain,new%20legal%20briefing%20published%20today.
• https://hrep-website.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/legisdocs/basic_19/HB01152.pdf
• https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2021/0325_drilon1.asp
4. Animal Abuse

• https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2013/10/03/republic-act-no-10631/
• https://dictionary.law.com/Default.aspx?selected=411
• https://www.emaze.com/@afztwlt/Untitled

• https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1998/ra_8485_1998.html
5. Child Marriage

• https://pcw.gov.ph/assets/files/2022/12/RA-11596-Child-Marriage-Implementing-Rules-and-Regulations.pdf?x81634