EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
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SENATE
2510
S.B. No
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Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MAR
AN ACT REMOVING AS ABSOLUTORY CAUSE THE SUBSEQUENT MARRIAGE 
OF THE OFFENDED PARTY TO THE OFFENDER IN CASES OF RAPE, THEREBY 
EXTINGUISHING CRIMINAL LIABILITY, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE 
ARTICLE 344 AND REPEALING ARTICLE 266-C OF ACT NO. 3815, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution provides that "ftjhe State 
recognizes the roie of women in nation-buiiding, and shall ensure the fundamental 
equality before the law of women and men."
While we have enacted several laws seeking to protect the rights of women, 
such as Republic Act No. 9710 or "The Magna Carta of Women , many of them still 
become targets of gender-related crimes.
Based on the data from the PNP CIRAS, as of 7 January 2022, a total of eight 
thousand four hundred and sixty (8,460) rape cases were filed for the period covering 
January-December of 2021, two thousand and fifty-six (2,056) of which were filed by 
women, while six thousand four hundred and four (6,404) cases were committed 
against children.
Worse, under our existing laws, marriage of the offended party to the offender
in cases of rape is considered as an absolutory cause, which means that the criminal
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liability shall be extinguished and there shall be no penalty to be imposed against the 
offender.
This antiquated provision is not in consonance with our commitment to uphold 
the rights of women and also serves as a convenient excuse that indirectly reinforces 
forced marriages. In order to uphold a woman's dignity, they should be allowed to 
solely decide on matters pertaining to their body, their life, and their future.
As such, this bill seeks to finally rectify this error by amending the decades-old 
provision of the Revised Penal Code and, in effect, shall delete as absolutory cause the 
marriage of the offended party to the offender in cases of rape, as well as crimes 
against chastity, seduction, abduction, and acts of lasciviousness.
For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
IMEE R. MARCOS


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 2510
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March 8, 2022 mi
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T t i La ■
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
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AN ACT REMOVING AS ABSOLUTORY CAUSE THE SUBSEQUENT MARRIAGE 
OF THE OFFENDED PARTY TO THE OFFENDER IN CASES OF RAPE, THEREBY 
EXTINGUISHING CRIMINAL LIABILITY, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE 
ARTICLE 344 AND REPEALING ARTICLE 266-C OF ACT NO. 3815, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
SECTION 1. Article 266-C of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the Revised 
Penal Code, extinguishing the crime of rape by subsequent valid marriage between the 
offender and the offended party, is hereby repealed.
SEC. 2. Article 344 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Article 344. Prosecution of the crimes of adultery, concubinage, 
seduction, abduction, rape and acts of lasciviousness. - The crimes of 
adultery and concubinage shall not be prosecuted except upon a 
complaint filed by the offended spouse.
The offended party cannot institute criminal prosecution without 
including both the guilty parties, if they are both alive, nor, in any case, 
if he shall have consented or pardoned the offenders.


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The offenses of seduction, abduction, rape or acts of
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lasciviousness, shall not be prosecuted except upon a complaint filed by
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the offended party or her parents, grandparents, or guardian, nor, in
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any case, if the offender has been expressly pardoned by the above
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named persons, as the case may be.
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[In cases of seduction, abduction, acts of lasciviousncGS and
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rape, the marriage of the offender with the offended party shall
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extiftgtHsh the criminal action or remit the penalty already imposed upon
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him. The provisions- of this paragraph shall also be applicable to the co-
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principals, accomplices and-accessories after the fact of the abovc-
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mentioned-erimesr]"
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SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
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modified accordingly.
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SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,