Raise age of consent: Anne Curtis, Catriona Gray back amendments to statutory rape law

By Billy Begas

Actress-television host Anne Curtis and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray have expressed their support for the passage of a measure that will amend the law on statutory rape.

House Committee on Welfare of Children chairperson and Tingog Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez lauded Curtis and Gray for “taking cognizance of our efforts in championing the rights and protection of children against abuse, exploitation and discrimination.”

Curtis, a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador, posted in her Twitter account the importance of amending the law stating that a 12 year old can give her sexual consent.

“Today, children 12 years old and above who were raped need to testify n court retraumatizing them as they recount the abuse. Change is long overdue. Rape is rape. #EndChildRape now,” Curtis said.

In the same social media platform, Gray said “It’s MORE than alarming that the age of sexual consent in our country is still 12 YRS OLD. Not only is it one of the lowest in Asia and in the world, but it leaves young children in the PH vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Please act now!”

Romualdez has called on the Senate to pass House Bill 7839, which provides stronger protection against rape and sexual exploitation and abuse.

The House of Representatives has approved the measure on third and final reading in December 2020.

“As we know, increasing the age of determining statutory rape is an advocacy we have been fighting for a couple of years and we have been successful in passing this measure last December as it was overwhelmingly approved in the House of Representatives. We hope they continue to raise awareness and support our initiatives which are now pending in the Senate,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez also expressed hope that the measure will be certified as urgent by Malacañang.

“Child rape is an ugly and painful reality that we must collectively confront and address immediately and decisively. But it is not enough that we are indignant. Our indignation must translate into action, and concrete measures to stop it,”

Romualdez added.

Under the measure, the minimum age of sexual consent will be increased to 16 years old from 12 years old.

If enacted into law, any adult who had 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.

A penalty of life imprisonment will also be imposed against the offenders under the measure.

The measure also “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” and “gives no distinction to the sexual orientation of the offender or the victim.”

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