EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 2345
71 AUG-3 P5-.03
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
RAISING THE AGE OF SEXUAL CONSENT FROM TWELVE (12) 
YEARS OLD TO EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OLD, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE ARTICLE 266-A (1) (d) OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Consent must be voluntary and intelligent. Unfortunately, the Philippines ranks 
second with the lowest age of sexual consent, beating only Nigeria, which set the age 
of sexual consent at 11 years old in 2015. The age of sexual consent around the world 
ranges from 11 to 21 years of age.
Our conservative society is reluctant to educate children about sex, and rightly 
so. Sigmund Freud tells us that children 12 years of age are scarcely past the latency 
stage of psychosexual development.1 The onset of what Freud calls the genital stage 
of psychosexual development happens at puberty, ranging between ages 10 to 14 for 
girls and ages 12 to 16 for boys.2 It is hard to imagine how a 12-year-old child can 
freely and Intelligently give any consent, much less sexual consent.
This bill seeks to remedy one big loophole in our Revised Penal Code by raising 
the age of sexual consent to 18 years old to construe any sexual advantage committed 
against any Filipino youth below 18 years of age as statutory rape.
Pedophiles, sex predators, and human traffickers can easily take sexual 
advantage of young Filipinos aged 12 to 17. The Center for Women's Resources 
(CWR) estimated a 92% increase in rape cases from 2010 to 2014 and a 200% 
escalation in Violence Against Women and Children from 2010 to 2014.
1 https://www.verywellmind.com/freuds-stages-of-psychosexual-development-2795962
2 https://medlineplus.gov/puberty.html


Rape takes physical, social, emotional, and psychological tolls on the victims, 
and the offense is particularly damaging if the victim is a minor. The CWR claims that 
70% of rape victims are children. Moreover, 90% of children rape victims are females.
Different organizations are fighting to ensure that Filipino children are safe from 
sexual abuse and exploitation. Despite these, the incidents of prostitution and sexual 
solicitation involving victims under 18 years old are usual news that we encounter 
every single day.
As a State Party, the Philippines is bound, particularly by Article 34 of the 
Convention on the Rights of the Child, to protect children from all forms of sexual 
exploitation and abuse. Our task is to take all appropriate measures to prevent all 
forms of child engagement in any unlawful sexual activity and the exploitative use of 
children in prostitution and other illicit sexual practices.
We consider a person mature enough to exercise all rights and assume all the 
responsibilities of an adult upon reaching the age of majority. One acquires upon 
reaching the age of majority the right to vote, the right to obtain a Professional Driver's 
License, and the right to give consent to a contract. The age of majority is the proper 
age to give sexual consent because it is then that one gains the right to marry subject 
to obtaining parental consent.
This amendment will create a policy framework to protect children from rape and 
sexual violence, ensure justice for rape victims, address teen prostitution, and expand 
the scope of prohibited sexual relations with a minor construed as rape under any 
circumstances.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
EL VILLANUEVA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session
•21 aUS-3 ?5:C3
SENATE
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
RAISING THE AGE OF SEXUAL CONSENT FROM TWELVE (12) YEARS 
OLD TO EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OLD, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
ARTICLE 266-A (1) (d) OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION 1. Article 266-A (1) (d) of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the 
Revised Penal Code, shall be amended as follows:
“Article 266-A. Rape, When and How Committed. - Rape is committed
1. By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the 
following circumstances:
XXX XXX XXX
(d) When the offended party is under [twelve (12)] EIGHTEEN (18) years of age or is 
demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned above be present.”
SEC. 2. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provisions of this Act that may be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions and 
provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can still subsist and be 
given effect in their entirety.
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and 
administrative regulations, or any parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby revoked, repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) national papers of general circulation or in the Official 
Gazette.
Approved,