House panel OKs bill raising statutory rape age

MANILA, Philippines — A House panel has approved a bill seeking to expand the coverage of statutory rape law in the country.

In a virtual hearing on Thursday afternoon, the committees on the revision of laws and on the welfare of children passed on first reading the substitute bill for the proposed measure that raises the maximum age covered by statutory rape from the current 12 years old to 16 years old.

The bill, prepared by a technical working group, also imposes the penalty of reclusion perpetua or 40 years imprisonment for guilty offenders.

Panel co-chair and Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez stressed that the measure would provide “stronger protection against acts of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse against children, regardless of the sexual orientation of the offenders or the victims.”

Romualdez, author of House Bill 4160 that was one of the 10 consolidated bills, said the measure would penalize with the crime of rape any adult who has sexual intercourse with a minor below 16 years old even if the minor has given his or her consent to the sexual act.

She said that the current age of 12 years old for determining the crime of statutory rape is not compliant with the international average as evidenced by a 2015 report released by the United Nations International Children’s Fund East Asia and Pacific Region.

Sexual activity with a person below 18 years old, on the other hand, is considered child abuse and exploitation.