Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo is pushing for the enactment of a law raising the age of sexual consent in determining statutory rape from the current 12 years old to 16.
Robredo, an opposition leader, posted on Facebook she would prioritize this measure to provide more protection for minors against sexual abuse.
“Priority ko na iangat to 16 years old ang age of sexual consent. Anumang anggulo tingnan, bata ‘yung 12 years old na nasa batas ngayon (My priority is to raise the age of sexual consent to 16 years old. No matter from which angle you look at it, 12 years old stated in the law is young),” she wrote.
The Vice President underscored the need to raise the age of sexual consent because of the possible threat of abuse and exploitation to young people.
“Ang bata napupuwersa, nako-coerce ng mas matanda at traumatic experience na kailangan pang i-prove na statutory rape ang pinagdaanan ng ganung kamurang edad. Dapat baguhin ito (A child can be forced, coerced by adults and it’s a traumatic experience that the statutory rape they went through must be proven. We need to change this),” she said.
Philippines has the lowest age of sexual consent in Asia at 12 years old. It is also one of the lowest in the world.
This means that sexual activity can be considered statutory rape—defined as sexual relations involving a person below the legal age of sexual consent.
Currently, the bill seeking to amend the Revised Penal Code and the Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act only needs President Duterte’s signature before it becomes a law.
READ: Bill raising age of sexual consent to 16 readied for Duterte's signature
Both chambers of Congress had ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the measure last December.