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GORDON LAUDS RAISING OF STATUTORY RAPE AGE

Senator Dick Gordon welcomed the signing of a law which defines the crime of statutory rape and other acts of sexual abuse, raising the bar from 12 to 16 years of age. Gordon, chairman of the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee, called the signing a big step in the development of children’s rights. “It […]

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BOOST LAWS VS ONLINE CHILD SEX ABUSE – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian is pressing the urgency of strengthening the country’s anti-trafficking laws to address the surge of online child sexual abuse complaints in the country. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has received 2.8 million reports on online sexual abuse of children in 2021, more than twice the 1.3 million reported in 2020. In 2021, […]

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PEACE PARTY LIST TO GOV’T: DO MORE VS CHILD ABUSE

As the Philippines commemorates National Children’s Month, the Philippine Educators Alliance for Community Empowerment (PEACE) Party-list urged the government to “sincerely and comprehensively address” child sexual abuse. “We must do more to protect vulnerable children against sexual abuse. Nagaaral dapat sila, naglalaro. Napakabigat sa damdamin na mas dumami pa ang kabataang biktima ng pangaabuso,” PEACE […]

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ANTI-CHILD MARRIAGE BILL GETS HOUSE OK – HERRERA

The House of Representatives approved on final reading a measure seeking to end child marriages in the country. With 197 affirmative votes, 0 negative votes, and 2 abstentions, the chamber passed on third and final reading House Bill 9943, which seeks to protect children by prohibiting and declaring child marriage as illegal and imposing penalties […]

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GORDON: RAISE AGE OF CONSENT, STOP CHILD ABUSE

Emphasizing the need for an urgent response to child sexual abuse and exploitation in the country, Senator Dick Gordon will sponsor a bill defining the crime of statutory rape and other acts of sexual abuse from 12 to the international standard of 16 years of age. “Keeping 12 as the age of consent endangers children […]

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ABANTE RAILS AGAINST CHILD PORN ‘PANDEMIC’

“We must do everything we can to protect our children against this pandemic of child pornography!” This according to Deputy Speaker and Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante Jr., who on Friday welcomed the intervention of President Rodrigo Duterte, who plans to mobilize cybercrime units and experts to investigate reports of students selling obscene photos […]

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INTENSIFY CRACKDOWN ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING – GATCHALIAN

Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a bill that will intensify the government’s crackdown on human trafficking. Senate Bill No. 1794 strengthens Republic Act No. 9208 as amended by Republic Act No. 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012) to provide standards and guidelines on surveillance, interception, investigation, and prosecution of different forms of human trafficking, including sexual exploitation, prostitution, […]

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HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES STIFFER PENALTIES FOR CHILD ABUSE – ROMUALDEZ

The House Committee on the Welfare of Children chaired by Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez (Party-list, Tingog Sinirangan) has approved House Bill No. (HB) 137, in consolidation with HB 3632 by Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. (3rd District, Pampanga), HB 3520 by Deputy Speaker Michael Romero, Ph.D. (Party-list, 1-PACMAN), HB 3020 by Deputy Majority Leader Wilter […]

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RAISE AGE OF CONSENT FROM 12 TO 16 YEARS OLD – BINAY

Senator Nancy Binay is convinced that the age of consent in the Philippines should be raised to 16 from the present 12, following the alleged rape of a 15-year-old by a policeman. In July, Binay filed Senate Bill No. 1895 which aims to make 16 years old the minimum age to determine statutory rape for […]