THE HOUSE Committee on Revision of Laws has finalized the draft substitute bill prohibiting all forms of sexual abuse or exploitation against children.

Committee Chairperson and Zambales Representative Cheryl Delloso-Montalla called for a meeting even after the approval last June 4, 2021 of the draft substitute bill to reconsider the same after seeking the guidance of the House leadership.

She said this is amid the pressing concerns of government agencies particularly on the provision of the referral pathway under Section 28 of the draft substitute bill.

She said the substitute bill has been  approved but the Department of Justice submitted some changes.

“We presented that request to Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and he approved, especially the amendment on the change of referral pathway,” Montalla explained.

She added that the panel made some final amendments on the draft substitute bill based on what transpired during the committee’s last meeting when it approved the measure.

Some of the amendments were on the correction of possession of sexual abuse and exploitation materials under the section on unlawful or prohibited acts; the requirement storage of one year for content data and other information for six months only; the transfer of referral pathway from Cybercrime Investigation Coordinating Center to the DOJ; and inclusion of the rehabilitation of families of child victims to all government programs.

“The Senate has already approved it on third reading but we don’t want to hasten the passage of this bill without considering its legal implications and ramifications,” Montalla said.