Hontiveros urges strict implementation of Safe Spaces Act
Published Jun 25, 2020 12:00 am
By Hannah L. Torregoza
Law enforcement authorities should strictly implement the Safe Spaces Act or Republic Act No. 11313, as more women are now subjected to online harassment especially now during the time of the COVID-19 crisis, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Thursday.
Senate Risa Hontiveros
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Hontiveros directed her appeal to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), following the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) report on the increasing number of cases of sexual harassment committed against women, especially on social media, during the quarantine period. “Dapat mahuli at maparusahan na ang mga online harassers at predators. Dahil marami ang online ngayong naka-quarantine, dumami din ang mga pambabastos, (they should arrest and prosecute those online harassers and predators. Because more people are now online because of the quarantine, cases of scurrility increased),” noted Hontiveros, principal author of the law, which is also known as the “Bawal Bastos Law.” “Dapat klaro sa mga kababaihan (It should be clear to all women) that this law protects us from online sexual harassment,” Hontiveros added. The senator also said it should be clear to every Filipino that making any sexist and/or homophobic comments and messages has a corresponding penalty. Under the law, she said, those who commit gender-based online sexual harassment faces a penalty of a maximum of six years in prison or a fine of not less than P100,000. At the same time, Hontiveros also welcomed the swift response of the NBI to address a recent online rape threat directed to a celebrity. “Under no circumstances is any kind of sexual harassment acceptable, sikat man o hindi, online man o hindi. Dapat gawin itong standard para sa mga ordinaryong kababaihang nagrereklamo, (This should be the standard for any ordinary woman who files a complaint),” she said. She also urged the PNP and NBI, along with local government units (LGUs), to maintain aggressive information campaign on the kinds of online behavior that are prohibited by the law. The senator reminded that under Section 8 of the law also mandates LGUs to hold premium responsibility in the implementation of the law. “Kung hindi naiinform ang mga tao tungkol sa batas at mga parusa, ang mga walang hiyang nambabastos ay patuloy na mambabastos. (If people are not informed about this law and the penalty that comes with it, those who sexually harass will just continue with their illegal acts),” she pointed out. “This law aims to promote cultural and behavioral changes, and if implemented properly, it will,” she said. Earlier, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and his wife, celebrity Sharon Cuneta, were angered after their 19-year old daughter, Frankie, received a rape threat through social media after she took a stand against blaming victims for acts of sexual misconduct. “As any regular father, I am worried for her, her safety and her well-being. Nakakagalit at nakakalungkot din na merong mga ganyang tao, merong mga ganyang tatay pa naman. Rape is never, never a joke,” the senator had said in a statement. The couple eventually sought the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) help to file a criminal complaint against the person who posted the offending message against their daughter on social media.
Senate Risa Hontiveros(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Hontiveros directed her appeal to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), following the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) report on the increasing number of cases of sexual harassment committed against women, especially on social media, during the quarantine period. “Dapat mahuli at maparusahan na ang mga online harassers at predators. Dahil marami ang online ngayong naka-quarantine, dumami din ang mga pambabastos, (they should arrest and prosecute those online harassers and predators. Because more people are now online because of the quarantine, cases of scurrility increased),” noted Hontiveros, principal author of the law, which is also known as the “Bawal Bastos Law.” “Dapat klaro sa mga kababaihan (It should be clear to all women) that this law protects us from online sexual harassment,” Hontiveros added. The senator also said it should be clear to every Filipino that making any sexist and/or homophobic comments and messages has a corresponding penalty. Under the law, she said, those who commit gender-based online sexual harassment faces a penalty of a maximum of six years in prison or a fine of not less than P100,000. At the same time, Hontiveros also welcomed the swift response of the NBI to address a recent online rape threat directed to a celebrity. “Under no circumstances is any kind of sexual harassment acceptable, sikat man o hindi, online man o hindi. Dapat gawin itong standard para sa mga ordinaryong kababaihang nagrereklamo, (This should be the standard for any ordinary woman who files a complaint),” she said. She also urged the PNP and NBI, along with local government units (LGUs), to maintain aggressive information campaign on the kinds of online behavior that are prohibited by the law. The senator reminded that under Section 8 of the law also mandates LGUs to hold premium responsibility in the implementation of the law. “Kung hindi naiinform ang mga tao tungkol sa batas at mga parusa, ang mga walang hiyang nambabastos ay patuloy na mambabastos. (If people are not informed about this law and the penalty that comes with it, those who sexually harass will just continue with their illegal acts),” she pointed out. “This law aims to promote cultural and behavioral changes, and if implemented properly, it will,” she said. Earlier, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and his wife, celebrity Sharon Cuneta, were angered after their 19-year old daughter, Frankie, received a rape threat through social media after she took a stand against blaming victims for acts of sexual misconduct. “As any regular father, I am worried for her, her safety and her well-being. Nakakagalit at nakakalungkot din na merong mga ganyang tao, merong mga ganyang tatay pa naman. Rape is never, never a joke,” the senator had said in a statement. The couple eventually sought the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) help to file a criminal complaint against the person who posted the offending message against their daughter on social media.