Risa Hontiveros heartened by Duterte's signing of law raising age of sexual consent

Senator Risa Hontiveros, the principal author of the law raising age of sexual consent from 12 to 16, lauded President Rodrigo Duterte's enactment of the measure she pushed in the Senate.

In a statement, the opposition lawmaker said she was heartened that those in the government managed to come together for the country's young people. 

"Bilang ina, ako ay mas napanatag na ang ating pamahalaan ay nandiyan para makinig at dumepensa sa ating mga anak," Hontiveros said.

"Bilang principal author, ako ay mas nabuhayan ng loob na kahit iba-iba man ang ating mga politika at paniniwala, kaya nating magkaisa para sa ating kabataan," she added.

[As a mother, I feel more confident that the government is there to hear and defend our children. As the principal author, I am encouraged that while we have different political beliefs, we can unite for the youth.] 

Hontiveros, who's running for reelection in Eleksyon 2022, said it had been decades before the measure moved substantially in the legislative branch.

She said this resulted in many Filipinos, usually women, falling victim to violence.

"Napakaraming Pilipino ang bitbit din ang trauma hanggang sa pagtanda. Ang pagpasa ng RA 11648 ay paghingi rin ng patawad sa kanila, sa lahat ng bata noon, na hindi naprotektahan ng ating mga institusyon," Hontiveros said.

[Many Filipinos still carry the trauma until they come of age. The passage of RA 11648 is an appeal for forgiveness from them, the children who in the past weren't protected by our institutions.] 

Duterte has signed into law the bill defining the crime of statutory rape and raising the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 years old.

The Senate and House of Representatives ratified in December the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed Act Increasing the Age for Determining Statutory Rape and other Acts of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation to Protect Children.

The newly signed Republic Act 11648 amended RA 3815 or the Revised Penal Code, RA 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, and RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

Under RA 11648, there will be no criminal liability on the part of a person having carnal knowledge of another person under 16 when the age difference between the parties is not more than three years and the sexual act in question is proven to be “consensual, non-abusive, and non-exploitative.”

It also indicated that children, whether male or female, are deemed to be exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse if they indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct for money, profit, or any other consideration or due to coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate, or group. —NB, GMA News