House panels okay bill raising statutory rape age to 16

Romualdez, who is one of the principal authors, said any adult who has sexual intercourse with a minor below 16 years old will be guilty of rape even if the minor has given his or her consent to the sexual act under the proposed law. (File photo: Hailey Kean/Unsplash)

MANILA – Two committees in the House of Representatives approved on Thursday a substitute bill raising the age of statutory rape from the current 12 years old to 16 years old to protect young people from sexual exploitation and abuse.

The House Committees on the Revision of Laws and Welfare of Children, chaired by Zambales Rep. Cheryl Deloso-Montalla and Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, respectively, approved the substitute measure, which seeks to impose reclusion perpetua or 40 years imprisonment for the crime of statutory rape against minors who are under 16 years old, regardless of the sexual orientation of the offenders or the victims.

Romualdez, who is one of the principal authors, said any adult who has sexual intercourse with a minor below 16 years old will be guilty of rape even if the minor has given his or her consent to the sexual act under the proposed law.

She said aside from the certainty of punishment for statutory rape as a deterrent against possible offenders, the bill also aims to strengthen the protection of children in order to enable them to “grow and live in a safe environment and a caring community”.

“By establishing the crime of statutory rape to be any sexual activity with a child, of either sex, under the age of 16 – the law makes certain the punishment of those who commit such crime, without unnecessarily furthering the emotional and physical trauma of the child that may be brought about by a lengthy court proceeding or the need for any further physiological or material evidence,” she said.

By strengthening the protection of children, Romualdez said the proposed legislation puts firmly the safety and welfare of children “as a foremost concern – not only of the family – but that of the entire community”.

She noted that the bill seeks to educate and empower the home, the school, and the community to put safeguards that will prevent any such crimes from happening in the future.

“Prosecution can only go as far to eradicate the crime – but ensuring that children grow up to their fullest potential requires utmost attention and affirmative action on our part,” she said.

Statutory rape is non-forcible sexual activity in which one of the individuals is below the age of consent or the age required to legally consent to the behavior.

Current Philippine laws provide that sexual intercourse with children below 12 years old is illegal and tantamount to rape.