The document summarizes Republic Act No. 11313, also known as the "Safe Spaces Act" or "Bawal Bastos Law", which penalizes gender-based sexual harassment in public spaces. It defines sexual harassment as acts, words, remarks directed at another person with sexual undertones/innuendos. Specific punishable acts include catcalling, name-calling, staring, unwanted invitations, taking photos without consent, exposing private parts, and telling sexual jokes. The law does not consider the intention of the act, only the feeling of the receiver. It covers public spaces like streets, parks, and transportation. Online harassment and harassment in the workplace are also prohibited. Penalties include fines and imprisonment depending

1. Republic Act No. 11313 or
the “Safe Spaces Act” or
BAWAL BASTOS LAW

2. What is considered ‘bastos’
under the Bawal Bastos
law?

3. Generally, all those acts, words,
remarks directed towards
another person tainted with
SEXUAL undertones/innuendos.

4. What are some of the specific
acts punishable under the
Bawal Bastos law?

5. (a) Catcalling – wolf-whistling (sipol), unwanted remarks with sexual
innuendos
(b) Name calling – derogatory remarks that have the tendency to offend
the other person (“bakla”, “tomboy”, “pangit”, “pokpok”, etc.)
(c) Staring/Gazing at others – if the other person feels very
uncomfortable and feels sexually harassed as a result
(d) Unwanted invitations / persistent unwanted invitations – with sexual
innuendos
(e) Requesting for the name/contact number/address or other personal
details of the recipient – with sexual innuendos

6. (f) Uploading or sharing pictures of another person in social media
without the latter’s consent
(g) Taking a picture of a fellow passenger inside a jeepney, without the
latter’s consent
(h) Masturbating or exposing private parts inside a jeepney
(i) Brushing of the shoulders or arms with another inside the MRT, and
the other person feels harrassed/offended as a result
(j) Persistent telling of sexual jokes
(k) Giving any statement that has made an invasion on a person’s
personal space or threatens the person’s sense of personal safety

7. If I had no intention whatsoever to offend
the other person when I gave the “remark”
or did the specific “act”, can I raise this as
a defense?

8. The law does not take into consideration the
intention of the person doing the act. Intent
of said person is IRRELEVANT. What the law
considers is the feeling/reaction of the
receiver of the said remark/act. Good faith is
not a defense.

9. What covers “public spaces”?

10. (a) Streets and alleys
(b) public parks
(c) schools
(d) buildings
(e) malls
(f) bars
(g) restaurants
(h) transportation terminals
(i) public markets
(j) spaces used as evacuation centers
(k) government offices
(l) public utility vehicles
(m) private vehicles covered by app-
based transport network services
(like Grab)

11. What are the acts that may be
considered gender-based ONLINE
sexual harassment?

12. (1) Those acts that use information and communications
technology in terrorizing and intimidating victims through
physical, psychological, and emotional threats;
(2) unwanted sexual misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic and
sexist remarks and comments online whether publicly or through
direct and private messages;
(3) invasion of victim’s privacy through cyberstalking and
incessant messaging;

13. (4) uploading and sharing without the consent of the victim, any
form of media that contains photo, voice, or video with sexual
content;
(5) any unauthorized recording and sharing of any of the victim’s
photos, videos, or any information online;
(6) impersonating identities of victims online;
(7) posting lies about victims to harm their reputation;
(8) filing false abuse reports to online platforms to silence victims.

14. What is the difference between
Anti-Sexual Harrassment Law
and Bawal Bastos Law?

15. Anti-Sexual Harassment Law has the primary element of “moral
ascendancy”. If there are sexual favors, sexual harassment, sexual
innuendos committed by a person with moral ascendancy over the
other, (ex. between a boss and a subordinate, between a teacher
and a student, between an employer “amo” and a yaya), the Anti-
Sexual Harassment Law will apply.
For the Bawal-Bastos law, the element of “moral ascendancy” is not
considered. For example, if the subordinate is the one who sexually
harasses his/her boss, the subordinate can be held liable under the
Bawal-Bastos law.

16. What are the acts considered as
gender-based sexual harassment in
the workplace?

17. (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;

18. (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;

19. (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 by a subordinate, or to a teacher by a student, or to a
trainer by a trainee.

20. Specific Acts and Penalties for Gender-Based Sexual
Harassment in Streets and Public Spaces
(a) For acts such as cursing, wolf-whistling, catcalling, leering and intrusive gazing,
taunting, pursing, unwanted invitations, etc.
(1) The first offense shall be punished by a fine of One thousand pesos (₱1,000.00)
and community service of twelve (12) hours inclusive of attendance to a Gender
Sensitivity Seminar to be conducted by the PNP in coordination with the LGU and
the PCW;
(2) The second offense shall be punished by arresto menor (6 to 10 days) or a fine
of Three thousand pesos (₱3,000.00);
(3) The third offense shall be punished by arresto menor (11 to 30 days) and a
fine of Ten thousand pesos (₱10,000.00).

21. Specific Acts and Penalties for Gender-Based Sexual
Harassment in Streets and Public Spaces
(b) For acts such as making offensive body gestures at someone, and exposing private
parts for the sexual gratification of the perpetrator with the effect of demeaning,
harassing, threatening or intimidating the offended party including flashing of private
parts, public masturbation, groping, and similar lewd sexual actions –
(1) The first offense shall he punished by a fine of Ten thousand pesos (₱10,000.00)
and community service of twelve (12) hours inclusive of attendance to a Gender
Sensitivity Seminar, to be conducted by the PNP in coordination with the LGU and the
PCW;
(2) The second offense shall be punished by arresto menor (11 to 30 days) or a fine of
Fifteen thousand pesos (₱15,000.00);
(3) The third offense shall be punished by arresto mayor (1 month and 1 day to 6
months) and a fine of Twenty thousand pesos (₱20,000.00).

22. Specific Acts and Penalties for Gender-Based Sexual
Harassment in Streets and Public Spaces
(c) For acts such as stalking, and any of the acts mentioned in Section 11 paragraphs (a)
and (b), when accompanied by touching, pinching or brushing against the body of the
offended person; or any touching, pinching, or brushing against the genitalia, face, arms,
anus, groin, breasts, inner thighs, face, buttocks or any part of the victim’s body even when
not accompanied by acts mentioned in Section 11 paragraphs (a) and (b) –
(1) The first offense shall be punished by arresto rnenor (11 to 30 days) or a line of Thirty
thousand pesos (₱30,000.00), provided that it includes attendance in a Gender Sensitivity
Seminar, to be conducted by the PNP in coordination with the LGU and the PCW;
(2) The second offense shall be punished by arresto mayor (1 month and 1 day to 6
months) or a fine of Fifty thousand pesos (₱50,000.00);
(3) The third offense shall be punished by arresto mayor in its maximum period or a fine
of One hundred thousand pesos (₱100,000.00).

23. THANK YOU!