of tijp ifei’crrt.ii-p
*22 NOV 23 PI 52
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
RECEIVED BV:
SENATE ^
S.B. No. 1 535
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
EXTENDING THE PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD OF OFFENSES UNDER THE 
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN ACT, THE CRIME OF 
RAPE AND THE CRIMES CHARACTERIZED AS CRIMES AGAINST CHASTITY 
UNDER TITLE ELEVEN OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTION TWENTY-FOUR OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9262, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND 
THEIR CHILDREN ACT OF 2004," AND ARTICLE 90 OF THE REVISED PENAL
CODE, AS AMENDED.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution recognizes the role of women in 
nation-building and ensures the fundamental equality before the law of women and 
men.
Violence against women (VAW) is one of the most prevalent social problems in 
the country. The Philippine Commission for Women (PCW) pointed out that the cause 
of VAW lies on the inequitable relationship between men and women, and archaic 
societal norms. Despite the country's unwavering efforts to develop effective 
legislation, inequities in power - economic, social, and financial, persist.
The 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey by the Philippine 
Statistics Authority showed that seventeen percent (17%) of women age 15 to 49 
experienced physical violence, and about 1 in 20 women endured some form of sexual 
violence. Strikingly, 1 in 4 married women endured physical, sexual, or emotional 
violence inflicted by their husband or partner. Further, the Philippine National Police 
(PNP) stated that a total of 6,383 violence against women cases and 9,677 cases of 
violence against children were reported to the PNP Women and Children Protection 
Center as of August 2022.
The fear of reporting to and seeking assistance from proper authorities is one of 
the perennial challenges in domestic and sexual violence incidents. Psycho-social


syndromes, such as the 'battered woman' and other trauma prevent victims from 
reporting these crimes for years on end, such that surveys reveal a mere 1/3 of women 
seek help, while the rest never sought help.
The infamous conviction of Harvey Weinstein, a former American film producer 
just this year, underlies the need and impossibility for a victim to break her silence and 
bring the case to court. In 2017, records reveal that while dozens of women had 
accused the latter of rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse over a period of at least 
thirty years, they were barred by statute of limitations from pursuing criminal charges.
This bill thus seeks to amend Section 24 of Republic Act No. 9262 otherwise 
known as the "Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004," and 
Article 90 of the Revised Penal Code by extending the prescriptive period of, and by 
making imprescriptible, certain offenses and crimes committed against women and 
children. The bill acknowledges the overwhelming psychological cost and social 
punishment that renders women and children unable to file said cases in court at the 
required period set by existing laws. If enacted into law, the State will no longer lose 
its right to prosecute the offenders and, shall be better able to protect women and 
children who have been victimized and silenced for too long.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
/l./yiQ/Cn/ 
IMEE R. M^^COS


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1- N
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
F/rsf Regular Session 
)
of t!)f fSi-frctar?
*22 NOV 23 PI 52
RECEiVtD BV.
S.B. No.sen1^5
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
EXTENDING THE PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD OF OFFENSES UNDER THE 
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN ACT, THE CRIME OF 
RAPE AND THE CRIMES CHARACTERIZED AS CRIMES AGAINST CHASTITY 
UNDER TITLE ELEVEN OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTION TWENTY-FOUR OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9262, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND 
THEIR CHIDLREN ACT OF 2004," AND ARTICLE 90 OF THE REVISED PENAL
CODE, AS AMENDED.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 24 of Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the "Anti- 
Violence Against Women and Their Children Act Of 2004," shall be amended to read as 
follows:
"SEC. 24. Prescriptive Period. - Acts falling under Sec. 5(a) to 5(f) shall prescribe 
in twenty (20) years. Acts falling under Sec. 5(g) to 5(i) shall prescribe in ten 
(10) years.
"PROVIDED, THAT WHEN THE OFFENDER IN THE ACTS FALLING 
UNDER SEC. 5(A) TO 5(G) IS A PARENT, ASCENDANT, STEP-PARENT, 
GUARDIAN, RELATIVE WITHIN THE FOURTH CIVIL DEGREE OF 
CONSANGUINITY OR AFFINITY OF THE OFFENDED PARTY, OR HAS 
AUTHORITY, INFLUENCE OR MORAL ASCENDANCY OVER THE 
OFFENDED PARTY IN A WORK OR TRAINING OR EDUCATION 
ENVIRONMENT, THE OFFENSE SHALL BE IMPRESCRIPTIBLE; 
PROVIDED THAT, SHOULD SAID OFFENDER COMMIT ANY OFFENSE 
FALLING UNDER SEC. 5(H) TO 5(i) , THE OFFENSE SHALL PRESCRIBE 
IN TWENTY (20) YEARS."
SEC. 2. Art. 90 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 4661 
shall be further amended to read as follows:


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"Art. 90. Prescription of crimes.—Crimes punishable by death, reclusion 
perpetua or reclusion temporal shall prescribe in twenty years.
Crimes punishable by other afflictive penalties shall prescribe in fifteen years.
Those punishable by a correctional penalty shall prescribe in ten years; with the 
exception of those punishable by arresto mayor, which shall prescribe in five 
years.
The crime of libel or other similar offenses shall prescribe in one year.
The offenses of oral defamation and slander by deed shall prescribe in six 
months.
Light offenses prescribe in two months.
"PROVIDED, THAT WHEN THE OFFENDER IN THE CRIMES AGAINST 
CHASTITY IS A PARENT, ASCENDANT, STEP-PARENT, GUARDIAN, 
RELATIVE BY CONSANGUINITY OR AFFINITY WITHIN THE FOURTH 
CIVIL DEGREE, OR A PERSON HAVING AUTHORITY, INFLUENCE OR 
MORAL ASCENDANCY OVER THE OFFENDED PARTY IN A WORK OR 
TRAINING OR EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT, THE CRIME, 
IRRESPECTIVE OF THE PENALTY, SHALL PRESCRIBE IN TWENTY (20) 
YEARS; PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT IF RAPE, WHETHER ATTEMPTED 
OR CONSUMMATED, IS COMMITTED BY THE SAID OFFENDER, THE 
CRIME SHALL BE IMPRESCRIPTIBLE."
When the penalty fixed by law is a compound one, the highest penalty shall be 
made the basis of the application of the rules contained in the first, second, and 
third paragraphs of this article."
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, letters of instructions, 
executive orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, 
are hereby repealed or amended as the case maybe.
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - In case any provision of this Act or any portion 
thereof is declared unconstitutional by a competent court, other provisions shall not be 
affected thereby.
SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after its complete 
publication in at least three (3) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,