Gordon: Raised statutory rape age further protects child rights

FILE PHOTO: Senator Richard Gordon. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Richard Gordon has hailed the enactment into law of a measure that increased the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16, saying it “fortifies protection of children’s rights, and criminalizes perverted minds.”

Gordon, a co-author and sponsor of the measure in the Senate and chair of the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee, also said that the new law eliminates the “stigma of the Philippines having the lowest age of sexual consent in Asia.”

Citing data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Gordon stressed that the majority of rape and child incest victims were between the ages of 14 and under 18, which is above the minimum age set in the anti-rape law.

“Tayo ay nagpapasalamat dahil may batas nang mangangalaga sa ating mga kabataan at maiiwasan ang kalakip na trauma ng sekswal na pang-aabuso sa kanila,” he said in a statement on Monday.

(We are thankful that there is now a law that will protect our youth and prevent the inherent trauma of sexual abuse against them.)

READ: Duterte signs law raising age of sexual consent from 12 to 16

“Hindi kasalanan ng mga bata ang pang-aabuso. Dapat nating panagutin ang mga responsable sa pagmamanipula at pagyurak sa kanilang dignidad,” he added.

(Abuse is not the fault of the children. We must hold those responsible accountable for manipulating and violating their dignity.)

Gordon also noted that the new law now authorizes public and private institutions to engage in education, training, and care of children, as well as age-appropriate educational awareness in recognizing and addressing sexual abuse acts to minors. – Jericho Zafra, trainee

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