STATEMENT OF SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON THE PASSAGE OF THE RAISING THE AGE OF SEXUAL CONSENT ACT ON THIRD READING IN THE SENATE

With great enthusiasm, I welcome the passage of the Raising the Age of Sexual Consent Act on third and final reading in the Senate. This is a historic legislation that we have long owed our children. As principal author of the act, I am heartened that I, along with my colleagues in the Senate, have been given the opportunity to be part of this groundbreaking measure. I would also like to thank Senator Richard Gordon for sponsoring this bill in this 18th Congress.

Our current law allows adults to have sex with children who are as young as 12 years old. Our children would be made to testify in court, recall traumatic events, just to prove the crime of rape. The pain of remembering alone has scarred many Filipino kids. The lifelong psychological and emotional injury inflicted upon them is a cruelty we should no longer allow.

This is as much a victory for our children as it is a victory for all advocates, civil society organizations, women's rights groups, and concerned parents and individuals who are committed to protect and defend every Filipino child. Today, the Senate has finally and clearly said no to child rape. Today, the Senate has sounded the clarion call for change.