MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to support moves to increase the age of sexual consent in determining statutory rape, saying that it would protect young people from being abused sexually.
In a statement on Tuesday, PNP chief General Guillermo Eleazar said that the whole police force agrees with the Senate’s decision to pass on third reading Senate Bill No. 2332 or An Act Increasing the Age for Determining Statutory Rape and other Acts of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation to Protect Children.
If enacted, the law would amend the Revised Penal Code and Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, which means even supposedly consensual sex between a minor aged below 16 and an adult would be considered statutory rape.
“Suportado ng PNP ang panukalang ito upang mas maprotektahan natin ang mga bata na nagiging biktima ng rape sa ating bansa. Naniniwala ako na panahon na rin upang repasuhin ang batas hinggil sa rape dahil na rin sa nagbabagong sitwasyon sa lipunan,” Eleazar said.
(The PNP supports any legislation to further protect children in the country who are falling victims to rape. I believe that it is the right time to revise the law regarding rape because of changing scenarios in society.)
“Any measure that will ensure the creation of a safer environment for children will always be supported by the police organization,” he added.
On Monday, 22 senators voted to pass the legislation on the third reading in an attempt to change the country’s decades-long age of sexual consent.
The Philippines notoriously has one of the lowest ages of sexual consent in Asia, pegged at 12 years old. This means that sexual activity can be considered statutory rape — defined as a non-forcible sexual activity, with one of the persons engaged below the age of consent — if the other actor is below 12 years old.
As of now, an adult having sex with someone under 18 years old may only constitute exploitation.
READ: Senate OKs bill raising age for determining statutory rape from 12 to 16
Eleazar also urged victims of abuse to seek police assistance so that the proper aid and justice would be given to them.
“Kakampi ninyo ang pulis sa bagay na ito. Huwag kayong magdalawang-isip na lumapit sa kapulisan kung kayo ay naging biktima ng sexual abuse. Handa kaming tumulong upang papanagutin ang mga taong gagawa nito sa inyo,” Eleazar said.
(The police is your ally here, please do not hesitate to approach your police officers if you were subjected to sexual abuse. We are always ready to help and hold these perpetrators and suspects accountable.)