House Bill 5627, authored by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), likewise provides that IDPs rights shall be protected in any other land conflict like land conversion, environmental destruction, aggressive implementation of development projects and other man-made disasters. 
Rodriguez said the measure seeks to afford similar protection to citizens who are non-combatants in cases where armed conflict of a non-international character is inevitable, and that they shall not be discriminated against in their enjoyment of rights and freedoms on the ground where they are internally-displaced.
"The bill defines and criminalizes acts of arbitrary internal displacement committed by any person or group of persons and directed against the civilian population," Rodriguez stressed.
Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III (4th District, Quezon), co-author of the measure, said the bill aims to provide monetary compensation, including immediate relief and humanitarian assistance to victims of internal displacement, their families and communities and to ensure their safe return, resettlement and rehabilitation in their respective communities.
The measure, to be known as the "Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Act of 2012," defines "arbitrary internal displacement" as those "acts of displacement or any other coercive act committed by any person or group of persons and directed against the civilian population, which are contrary to law, good morals, public order and public policy, and committed with abuse of authority, oppressive or wanton disregard of the right to life, liberty or property and abode of the residents of an area in which they are lawfully present."
The prohibited acts of arbitrary internal displacement shall include those committed based on policies of apartheid, ethnic cleansing or similar practices, based on situations of armed conflict, large-scale development projects and disasters, and when used as a form of collective punishment and in violation of the rights of IDPs as defined in the proposed Act.
The bill establishes a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee which shall have the power to inquire into, summon and investigate the orders of Battle as defined in the Act, as well as the legal and factual justification for the inclusion of specific persons and groups in the said Order of Battle.
Other co-authors of the measure are Reps. Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao) and several others. (Jazmin S. Camero&Lorelei V. Castillo/MRS-PRIB)
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