Binay urges fellow senators to back 16 as age of consent

Following reports of a policeman raping a 15-year-old girl, Sen. Nancy Binay said on Monday that she would ask her colleagues to support her move to raise the age of consent in the country to 16 years old from 12.

Binay said she would ask the commitment of her fellow senators to fast-track the passage of the Senate Bill No. 1895, which seeks to make 16 years old the minimum age to qualify sex with children that age and below as statutory rape.

Currently, having sex with a child aged from 13 to 17 may fall under qualified seduction, which is a lesser offense than statutory rape.

SB 1895, which Binay filed in July, is still in the committee level.

“Isa ang Pilipinas sa may pinakamababang age of consent, which is presently set at 12 years old. Sa ngayon, our anti-rape law says it will only be considered statutory rape if the child is below 12 years old or is mentally challenged,” Binay said in a statement.

“Ginagamit po ng ilan ang mababang age of consent na ito upang takasan o lusutan ang mas mataas na penalties from their crimes against children,” she added.

The 15-year-old girl, whose parents were apprehended for alleged illegal drug trade in Manila over the weekend, said she was raped in exchange for the freedom of her parents who were facing drug charges. A rookie cop together with two other men allegedly forced the girl to drink beer before she was raped.

Binay stressed that increasing the age of consent can prevent more cases of violence against children.

“Magiging liable for statutory rape na ang taong nagkaroon ng sexual relations or intercourse sa isang menor na below 16 years old kung itataas natin ang age of consent,” Binay said.

“Increasing the age of consent will provide greater protection to our children, and safeguard them from various forms of violence,” she added. /cbb