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MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday in its third and final reading that increases the age for determining rape from 12 to under 16.
With 207 affirmative votes, three negative votes and no abstention, the legislators approved the House Bill No. 7836, which modifies the Law of the Republic No. 7610 or the Law on the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination.
The bill establishes that rape with minors is committed when the victim is under 16 years of age or if the victim is 16 years of age or older but has a physical, mental or psychological disability or condition.
Under current Philippine law, sexual relationships with children under the age of 12 are illegal and amount to rape.
Tingog representative Yedda Marie Romualdez, chair of the House committee on child welfare and one of the main authors of the bill, said that “this progress signifies another step towards justice that we have been fighting for our children victimized by heartless individuals and the gap in current laws “.
“I appeal to our colleagues in the Senate: Let us pass this bill as a gift and a commitment to the safety of our children. Definitely, no child should be left without sufficient protection, especially against rape. Child rape is an ugly and painful reality that we must collectively confront and address immediately and decisively, ”Romualdez said in a statement.
“But it is not enough that we are outraged. Our outrage must be translated into concrete actions and measures to stop it, ”he added.
According to Romualdez, the establishment of a minimum age of sexual consent is the most important and critical criterion to protect minors from sexual violence since the current Anti-Rape Law establishes the age of sexual consent at 12 years.
“This means that any sexual relationship with a minor under the age of 12 is automatically considered rape, regardless of whether he or she claims or appears to have voluntarily participated in the sexual act. However, by the time the child reaches the exact age of 12, the law assumes that the child is mature enough to consent to another person for any sexual activity, “he said.
Explaining her affirmative vote, Representative Gabriela Arlene Brosas, one of the authors of the bill, praised the approval of the amendments to the Anti-Rape Law as “a historic victory in the long campaign by Filipino women for legislative reforms on the matter. sexual violence. “
“This is also a great step towards prosecuting powerful and wealthy abusers and raising the awareness of the Filipino people,” Brosas said.
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