Hontiveros files 'Tres Marias' bills to protect women from violence
November 22, 2016 | 2:34pm
Senator Risa Hontiveros after winning the May 2016 senatorial elections.
Philstar.com / AJ Bolando
MANILA, Philippines -- Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday filed the Tres Marias bills -- three pieces of proposed legislation to fight against sexual and gender-based discrimination.
In a press conference, Hontiveros said the 'Tres Marias' include the Anti-Rape bill, Anti-Sexual Harassment bill, and Gender-Based Electronic Violence bill.
The Anti-Rape bill seeks to amend and modernize the current law on rape, including raising the age of consent to 18 from 12, emphasize the absence of consent as an essential element in citing the crime as rape.
Additionally, a person who uses his authority to commit rape adds to the severity of the crime, as well as using rape as a hate crime or crime motivated by prejudice.
The bill, according to Hontiveros, also seeks to revoke the forgiveness clause in the Revised Penal Code which states that the offender will be cleared of the charges as long as he marries the victim of rape.
"Isa pong napaka masahol na aspeto sa kasalukuyang batas na kung magpakasal ang biktima sa yung nang gahasa sa kanya, napapawalang sala yung aggressor," Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros said that they are adding factors that increases the severity of the crime including the use of video recording or electronic devices during the commission of rape.
The Anti-Sexual Harassment bill seeks to amend current anti-sexual harassment legislation to cover harassment between peers and between subordinates and their superiors.
"Nakasanayan po kasi natin na yung sexual harrassment ay kinikilala lamang kung ginagawa ng nakatataas ang posisyon, sa mas nakakababa sa kanya," Hontiveros said.
The Gender-based Electronic Violence bill meanwhile lays out legal options for women who are victims outside of the context of domestic or social violence.
However, she said that there are important gaps in the laws she mentioned.
"May vacuum of legal remedies available when the nature of the violence tends to disparage the person who'd and identity of the victims on account of his or her gender," Hontiveros said, adding that there is still discrimination.
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