EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
F irs t R egular Session 
)
S E N A T E
v,V .c -v  
rr of ti,r 
f ri. ; i'
*19 JULIO A9-.06
In tro d u ce d  by Senator Juan M iguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
INCREASING THE AGE FOR DETERMINING STATUTORY RAPE TO PROVIDE 
STRONGER PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN, AND AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE, 
AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT 8353, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE AN TI­
RAPE LAW OF 1997
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Children are one o f the most valuable groups of society and yet, they are the most 
vulnerable. It is in their hands that the hope and future o f our nation lie. Thus, it is of 
utm ost im portance that we provide them  w ith the necessary care and protection.
Alarming cases o f child abuse have recently plagued the country, w ith the recent 
report o f a security guard killing a 15 year old student out o f jealousy. Prior to this incident, 
the young man filed sexual abuse charges against the said security guard.1 Disturbing 
cases like this and the needless loss o f lives can be prevented if there is a stricter law and 
harsher punishm ent fo r people who com m it sexual abuse to children.
The 89-year-old Revised Penal Code of the Philippines puts the age fo r determ ining 
statutory rape to under 12 years old, which is the lowest age o f consent for sexual acts 
among the countries in Asia, w ith the rest o f the countries having an average age o f 16 
years old. This outdated law allows more child predators to com m it sexual acts against 
children. Based on the 2016 report o f the National Baseline Study on Violence against 
Children (NBS-VAC), one in every five children below 18 years o f age experience sexual 
violence.2
This bill seeks to amend the provisions o f the Revised Penal Code as amended, by 
raising the m inim um  age o f consent to determ ine statutory rape to 15 years o f age. This 
am endm ent will provide more protection to our children and will prevent furthe r cases of 
sexual abuse against them .
In view o f the foregoing, approval o f this bill is earnestly sought.
JUAN^MIGUEL F. ZU BIR I
1 https://news.nib.com.ph/2019/07/09/securitv-giiard-who-shot-to-deatli-grade-7-student-inside- 
classroom-finallv-arrested/ (Accessed July 9, 2019)
2 https://preen.inqiiirei-.net/79776/ph-age-consent-12-vears-old-alarmed (Accessed July 9, 2019)


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
F irs t R egular Session 
)
S E N A TE
Senate Bill No.
305
4 
t 
t. 
* » 1 I • ' .
of t n r v'-
*19 jaio A 9-.06
RECl IVED e
In tro d u ce d  by Senator Juan M iguel F. Zubiri 1
AN ACT
INCREASING THE AGE FOR DETERMINING STATUTORY RAPE TO PROVIDE 
STRONGER PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN, AND AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE, 
AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT 8353, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE AN TI­
RAPE LAW OF 1997
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Be it  enacted b y  the Senate a n d  House o f Representatives o f  the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, 
Article 266-A (I) (d) is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Article 266-A. Rape, When a n d  H ow  Com m itted.-Rape is com m itted:
1. By a man who shall have carnal knowledge o f a woman under any o f the 
following circumstances:
X X X
(d) When the offended party is [under] FIFTEEN (1 5 ) [tw elve (12)] years o f age OR 
BELOW or is demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned above be 
present."
X X X
SEC. 2. Repealing Clause -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential issuances 
and other adm inistrative rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent 
w ith the provisions o f this Act are hereby repealed, amended or m odified accordingly.
SEC. 3. E ffe ctivity -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the O fficial Gazette ox in a newspaper o f general circulation.
Approved,