MANILA -- A party-list lawmaker has filed a measure repealing the law that allows killing of daughters and spouses caught in the act of sexual intercourse.
Article 247 of the Revised Penal Code states that “any legally married person who, having surprised his spouse in the act of committing sexual intercourse with another person, shall kill any of them or both of them in the act or immediately thereafter, or shall inflict upon them any serious physical injury, shall suffer the penalty of destierro”.
“If he shall inflict upon them physical injuries of any other kind, he shall be exempt from punishment. These rules shall be applicable, under the same circumstances, to parents with respect to their daughters under eighteen years of age, and their seducer, while the daughters are living with their parents,” the law further states.
Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares said it is "incomprehensible" why the law allows parents to kill their daughters and the spouse to kill the offending spouse remains in the criminal code.
“Despite the fact that the imposition of the death penalty has been abolished, there exists in the Philippines a law that practically penalizes with death spouses and daughters for committing the act of sexual intercourse,” Colmenares added. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)