Women and Children Protection Group Act

Senate TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) Difice of the secretarp REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JAN 22 P3:27 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1676 Introduced by Senator Bam Aquino AN ACT REORGANIZING THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION CENTER (WCPC) OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE INTO THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION GROUP (WCPG), DEFINING ITS FUNCTIONS, STRUCTURE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE EXPLANATORY NOTE The protection of women and children from violence, exploitation, and trafficking continues to be a fundamental duty of the State. These crimes violate human rights, weaken the social fabric, and hinder progress at every level of society. Their lasting impacts on health, productivity, and well-being continue to affect millions worldwide. Since its establishment, the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has played a vital role in safeguarding vulnerable sectors. Through dedicated operations, investigations, and rescue missions, and despite limited resources, the WCPC has worked steadfastly to uphold the rights and dignity of women and children who are victims of violence and trafficking. However, the nature of crimes against women and children continues to evolve. The rise of online platforms and transnational criminal networks has created new forms of exploitation that demand a stronger, more specialized, and more agile law enforcement response. This measure seeks to reorganize the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) into the Women and Children Protection Group (WCPG), elevating it into a National Operational Support Unit under the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM). The reorganization will enhance the unit's operational capacity, expand its regional reach, and institutionalize its mandate to lead the enforcement of laws protecting women and children. This bill also reaffirms the Philippines' commitment to maintaining its Tier 1 ranking in the United States Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report, reflecting full compliance with international standards for the elimination of human trafficking.

Ultimately, the safety, dignity, and well-being of women and children must remain at the heart of public service. Strengthening the Philippine National Police through the establishment of the Women and Children Protection Group is a vital step toward realizing this commitment. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. BamAquins

Office of the seemarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 26 JAN 22 P3:27 SENATE RECEIVED BY S. No. 1676 Introduced by Senator Bam Aquino AN ACT REORGANIZING THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION CENTER (WCPC) OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE INTO THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION GROUP (WCPG), DEFINING ITS FUNCTIONS, STRUCTURE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Women and Children

2 Protection Group Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect women

4 and children from abuse, exploitation, and trafficking. To strengthen the enforcement of laws addressing these concerns, the Philippine National Police (PNP) shall 6 reorganize its Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) into a National 7 Operational Support Unit to be known as the Women and Children Protection Group 8 (WCPG).

Sec. 3. Reorganization and Renaming. - The Women and Children Protection

10 Center (WCPC) is hereby reorganized and renamed as the Women and Children 11 Protection Group (WCPG).

Sec. 4. Mandate and Functions. - The WCPG shall be the lead unit of the PNP

in enforcing relevant and pertinent laws against trafficking in persons (TIP) and 14 violence against women and children (VAWC), such as:

(a) Anti-Mail Order Spouse Law (RA No. 10906); (b) Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act (RA No. 7610); (c) Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (RA No. 7877); (d) Anti-Rape Act of 1997 (RA No. 8353); (e) Rape Victims Assistance Act (RA No. 8505); (f) Enhanced Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (RA No. 9208 as amended by RA 10364 and RA 1186) (g) Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 (RA No. 9262); and (h) TIP-OSAEC/CSAEM as prohibited under the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act (RA No. 11930).

Sec. 5. Functions. - The WCPG shall:

(a) Maintain a "one-stop shop" of the PNP for the investigation and treatment of victims of child abuse, violence against women, trafficking in persons, and other similar crimes, through a multi-disciplinary approach; (b) Conduct intelligence gathering, operations, and investigation of cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) and trafficking in persons (TIP) and initiate necessary actions against these offenders for prompt prosecution and arrest; (c) Conduct computer-based investigations to identify and apprehend suspects who utilize the internet as a means of enticing and/or coercing young people into prostitution, in coordination with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group and other law enforcement agencies;

(d) Conduct rescue operations of victims of VAWC and TIP; (e) Monitor, evaluate, and assist the Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPDs) established in local police units in the conduct investigation of cases of VAWC and TIP; (f) Formulate and implement policies and strategies for effective law enforcement and public awareness on VAWC and TIP; (g) Maintain linkages with local and international authorities or non- government organizations for exchange of information and necessary assistance for the protection, rehabilitation, and health related services of rescued victims; (h) Maintain and update relevant database including watchlist of most wanted traffickers in compliance with Section 16 of Republic Act No. 10364; and (i) Proactively determine whether the crime has a nexus abroad and coordinate respectively with foreign law enforcement agencies for the exchange of intelligence and information for the purpose identifying additional victims and suspects, and carrying out further investigation, case build-up, including the referral of information to foreign law enforcement agencies for the conduct of a parallel investigation; (j) Perform other tasks as directed by the Chief, PNP or Director, DIDM.

Sec. 6. Organizational Structure. - The WCPG shall be headed by a female

Director with the rank of Police Brigadier General except in cases where there are no qualified female police commissioned officers. The Director shall be assisted by a Deputy Director for Administration, Deputy Director for Operations, and Chief of Staff, 24 all with the rank of Police Colonel. 25 The WCPG shall maintain: (a) Four (4) Support Staff Divisions, namely: (1) Administrative and Resource Management Division (ARMD);

(2) Operations Management Division; (3) Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID); and (4) Legal Affairs Division. (b) Three (3) Operating Divisions, namely: (1) Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Division (AVAWCD); (2) Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATIPD); and (3) Social Services and Facility Security Division (SSFSD). 8 Each Division shall be headed by a Police Commissioned Officer with a rank of Police 9 Colonel. (c) Six (6) WCPG Field Units, namely: (1) National Capital Region Field Unit (NCRFU) (2) Northern Luzon Field Unit (NLRFU) (3) Southern Luzon Field Unit (SLRFU) (4) Visayas Field Unit (VFU) (5) Eastern Mindanao Field Unit (EMFU) (6) Western Mindanao Field Unit (WMFU) These field units shall perform WCPG's investigative and operational functions in anti- trafficking in persons and violence against women and children in their respective areas of jurisdiction;

Sec. 7. Personnel Complement. - The WCPG shall have an initial complement

of 702 personnel, composed of 153 Police Commissioned Officers with the ranks of 22 Police Captain (PCPC) to Police Brigadier General (PBGEN) and 549 Police Non- 23 Commissioned Officers with the ranks of Police Corporal (PCpl) to Police Executive Master Sergeant (PEMS). It shall be supported by four (4) Legal Officers detailed from the PNP Legal Service and two (2) Information Technology personnel detailed from the Information 27 Technology Management Service.

Sec. 8. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. - Within thirty (30) days

after the activation of the WCPG, the Director of the WCPG shall formulate an organizational structure and staffing pattern and submit the same to the Chief, PNP, 4 for approval.

Sec. 9. Delineation of Functions with other PNP Units. - Within sixty (60) days

after the activation of the WCPG, appropriate directives providing for a clearer delineation of functions and responsibilities of the Director of the WCPG, Directors of 8 other national support units and the Regional Directors of Police Regional Offices in 9 addressing VAWC and TIP shall be formulated by the DIDM, subject to the approval 10 of the Chief, PNP. The DID shall likewise issue detailed implementing directives necessary for the enhancement of the operational capability of the WCPG.

Sec 10. Five Year Development Plan - Within ninety (90) days from the

activation of the WCPG, the Director of the WCPG shall submit to DIDM for subsequent approval of the Chief, PNP, a Five-Year Development Plan to include facilities and equipment acquisition, personnel recruitment and training as well as manpower build- up for the 17 Regional Women and Children Protection Units (RWCPUs) following the approved organizational structure and staffing pattern.

Sec 11. Transitory Provisions. - Upon approval of this Act, the functions,

personnel, records, equipment, facilities, funds, and other resources of the WCPC shall be absorbed and transferred to the newly activated PNP Women and Children Protection Group. The WCPG shall occupy the current facility being occupied by the deactivated WCPC.

Sec 12. Appropriations. - The initial funding shall be sourced from the existing

WCPC budget. Thereafter, the annual fund support for the full operationalization of the WCPG should be programmed in the regular appropriation of the PNP by the 27 Directorate for Comptrollership.

Sec 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations

inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

•• •

Sec 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

2 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,