Para sa Senior Citizens
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
20th CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 2519
Introduced by: REP. SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR.
AN ACT PROTECTING SENIOR CITIZENS FROM VIOLENCE, DEFINING ELDERLY ABUSE AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title – This Act shall be known as the “Elderly Protection Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to uphold the dignity and fundamental rights of elderly persons, recognizing their invaluable contributions to society. The State shall ensure their safety, security, and well-being by protecting them from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence, and by providing mechanisms for immediate intervention and redress.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:
a. Elderly Person (or Senior Citizen) – refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines who is sixty (60) years old or above.
b. Abuse – refers to any act or series of acts committed by any person against an elderly person which causes or tends to cause physical, psychological, or economic harm, suffering, or even death, and includes, but is not limited to:
i. Physical Abuse – acts that inflict bodily harm, such as hitting, slapping, pushing, burning, or restraining without consent.
ii. Psychological/Emotional Abuse – acts or omissions that cause mental or emotional suffering, such as intimidation, harassment, threats, isolation, ridicule, verbal assault, or deprivation of dignity and respect.
iii. Financial/Material Abuse – illegal or improper use of an elderly person’s funds, property, or assets, including theft, fraud, coercion, misuse of power of attorney, or unauthorized withdrawal of funds.
iv. Neglect – the failure of a caregiver or any person having custody or care of an elderly person to provide for the basic needs of the elderly person, such as food, water, shelter, clothing, medical care, or supervision, which results in harm or a serious risk of harm.
v. Abandonment – the desertion of an elderly person by an individual who has assumed responsibility for their care.
vi. Sexual Abuse – any sexual act committed against an elderly person without their consent, including sexual assault, molestation, or exploitation.
c. Caregiver – refers to any person who provides care, assistance, or support to an elderly person, whether paid or unpaid, including family members, domestic helpers, or institutional staff.
d. Intervention – refers to the range of services and actions taken to address and prevent the recurrence of abuse against an elderly person, including protection orders, counseling, medical assistance, and legal aid.
e. Barangay VAWC Desk – refers to the Violence Against Women and Children Desk established in every barangay, which shall also serve as the primary receiving and reporting mechanism for cases of elderly abuse.
SEC. 4. Prohibited Acts. – The following acts, when committed against an elderly person, are hereby prohibited:
a. Committing any form of physical abuse.
b. Committing any form of psychological or emotional abuse.
c. Committing any form of financial or material abuse.
d. Committing neglect or abandonment.
e. Committing any form of sexual abuse.
f. Threatening to commit any of the foregoing acts.
g. Attempting to commit any of the foregoing acts.
h. Causing or allowing the elderly person to witness the abuse of another person.
SEC. 5. Penalties –
a. Any person who commits any of the prohibited acts under Section 4 of this Act shall suffer the penalty of:
i. Prision Mayor in its minimum period and a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00), if the abuse resulted in slight physical injuries or psychological harm.
ii. Prision Mayor in its medium period and a fine of not less than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) but not more than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00), if the abuse resulted in less serious physical injuries or severe psychological harm.
iii. Prision Mayor in its maximum period and a fine of not less than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00), if the abuse resulted in serious physical injuries.
iv. Reclusion Temporal in its minimum period 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), if the abuse resulted in mutilation or permanent disability.
v. Reclusion Perpetua 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), if the abuse resulted in death.
b. In addition to the foregoing penalties, the offender shall:
i. Undergo mandatory psychological counseling or psychiatric treatment.
ii. Be ordered to pay actual, moral, and exemplary damages to the elderly person.
c. If the offender is a public officer or employee, in addition to the penalties provided herein, he/she shall suffer the penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification from public office.
d. If the offender is a foreigner, he/she shall be immediately deported after serving his/her sentence and payment of fine.
e. The penalties under this Act shall be without prejudice to any other criminal liability under the Revised Penal Code or other special laws.
SEC. 6. Protection Orders
a. Issuance of Elder Protection Orders. The Barangay VAWC Desk, the Municipal/City Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO/CSWDO), or the court may issue a Protection Order to prevent further acts of abuse against an elderly person. A Protection Order shall include, but not be limited to, any of the following reliefs:
i. Prohibiting the respondent from committing any of the prohibited acts.
ii. Requiring the respondent to stay away from the elderly person, their residence, place of work, or any place specified in the order.
iii. Directing the respondent to provide financial support to the elderly person.
iv. Directing the respondent to surrender any firearms or deadly weapons to the proper authorities.
v. Requiring the respondent to undergo mandatory counseling or psychiatric treatment.
b. Who May File for a Protection Order. Application for a Protection Order may be filed by the elderly person themselves, their children, parents, ascendants, descendants, relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, duly authorized officers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), or any concerned citizen or non-governmental organization.
c. Duration of Protection Orders. A Barangay Protection Order (BPO) shall be effective for fifteen (15) days. A Temporary Protection Order (TPO) issued by the court shall be effective for thirty (30) days. A Permanent Protection Order (PPO) issued by the court shall be effective until revoked by the court upon motion of the elderly person or for good cause shown.
SEC. 7. Duty to Report – Any person who has personal knowledge of or reasonable ground to believe that an elderly person is being abused shall have the duty to report the same to the nearest Barangay VAWC Desk, police station, or MSWDO/CSWDO. Failure to report such abuse, when there is a clear and present danger to the elderly person’s life or safety, shall be penalized with a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00).
SEC. 8. Role of the Barangay. – The Barangay VAWC Desk shall be the primary government unit responsible for receiving complaints of elderly abuse, assisting in the issuance of Barangay Protection Orders, and providing initial intervention services. It shall:
a. Receive complaints of elderly abuse and document them.
b. Conduct immediate investigation and intervention.
c. Assist the elderly person in securing a Barangay Protection Order.
d. Refer cases to the police, MSWDO/CSWDO, or other concerned agencies for further action.
e. Provide counseling and support services to the elderly person and their family.
f. Maintain a confidential record of all cases of elderly abuse reported.
SEC. 9. Role of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The DSWD, through its MSWDO/CSWDO, shall be the lead agency in providing comprehensive social services to elderly victims of abuse. It shall:
a. Provide immediate rescue and temporary shelter for elderly victims.
b. Provide counseling, psychological support, and medical assistance.
c. Facilitate legal assistance and representation for elderly victims.
d. Develop and implement programs for the prevention of elderly abuse.
e. Conduct training for social workers, law enforcement personnel, and other service providers on elderly protection.
f. Establish and maintain a national database on elderly abuse cases.
SEC. 10. Role of Law Enforcement Agencies.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) shall ensure the effective enforcement of this Act. They shall:
a. Respond to calls for assistance from elderly persons or their representatives.
b. Conduct immediate investigation of reported cases of elderly abuse.
c. Arrest offenders in accordance with the law.
d. Assist in the implementation of Protection Orders.
e. Coordinate with the DSWD and other agencies in providing protection to elderly victims.
SEC. 11. Confidentiality. – All information and records pertaining to cases of elderly abuse shall be treated with utmost confidentiality. Any person who discloses confidential information in violation of this Act shall be penalized with prision correccional in its minimum period and a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).
SEC. 12. Mandatory Programs and Services. – The DSWD, in coordination with other relevant government agencies and local government units (LGUs), shall develop and implement mandatory programs and services for the prevention of elderly abuse, including:
a. Public awareness campaigns on elderly rights and protection.
b. Training programs for caregivers on proper elderly care.
c. Establishment of community-based support groups for elderly persons.
d. Provision of legal aid and counseling services free of charge to elderly victims.
SEC. 13. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations – Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other concerned agencies shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause.– All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, ordinances, rules and regulation, and other issuances or part thereof which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 16. Separability Clause – If for any reason any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
SEC. 17. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,