SENATE Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has proposed to raise the age of statutory rape to 15 years old from the current below 12 years old to protect children and provide them with necessary care.
"Sa ngayon, ang rape ng isang bata ay itinuturing na statutory rape kapag siya ay may kapansanan sa pag-iisip o ang edad niya ay mababa sa 12 taon. Ibig sabihin ng statutory rape ay ituturing na rape ang pagkakaroon ng 'carnal knowledge' o pagniniig -- basta ang edad ng bata ay mas mababa sa 12 taon -- at hindi kailangan patunayan na gumamit ng pwersa o pananakot ang may sala. Sa aking proposal, itataas natin ang edad sa 15 taon gulang," he said in a press release Wednesday, July 17.
Zubiri said he believes there are several cases of sexual violence involving children ages 12 to 15 years old, but the offenders could not be penalized as they can easily claim that the victims conceded to sexual acts.
He said his proposal, Senate Bill 305, rooted from the 2016 National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children, which reported that one in every five children below 18 years old experience sexual violence.
"I hope that we could put a dent on the number of children victimized since 'carnal knowledge' of children aged 12 up to 15 years will now be considered statutory rape," said Zubiri.
"Huwag na nating pahirapan ang mga batang biktima at ang kanilang mga magulang o guardians na makahanap ng hustisya," he added.
He also said the amendment of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) "is long overdue considering that the RPC is 89 years old and should be put at par with the expanding measures to protect children, our most valuable asset."
Zubiri filed the Senate Bill 305 on July 10. (Ryniel Berlanga/SunStar Philippines)