EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
of llj: ik.'trrtarp
S.B. No. 
(
•19 JUL 24 P5:22
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOSaVcOBV.
AN ACT RAISING THE AGE OF CONSENT AND AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE ARTICLE 266 OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Age of Consent is the legal age at which an individual is considered 
mature enough to agree to have sexual relations. It varies, from ages eleven (11) to 
twenty-one (21), from country to country around the world. For instance, Nigeria 
has the lowest at age eleven (11) then followed by Philippines and Angola at twelve 
(12) years of age, and several other countries, including South Korea and Japan at 
thirteen (13) years old. This means that the Philippines is second from the lowest in 
the world and the lowest in Southeast Asia.
Article 1 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, to which 
the Philippines is also a signatory, defines a child as a human being below the age o f 
eighteen years unless under the law applicable, the age of majority is attained. 
There is a delicate balance between the children's right to be protected and the 
recognition that they also have evolving capacities which has an effect in making 
decisions about their lives.
According to the Center for Women's Resources, rape happens every 62 
minutes in the country, with seven (7) out of ten (10) victims being children. 
According to UNICEF, one in every twenty-five (25) Filipino children, between 
thirteen (13) to seventeen (17) years old, had experienced rape. This means that a 
significant number of children are not as protected because they are above the age 
of statutory rape. In addition, the Philippine National Police (PNP) also reported that 
there is a forty-eight percent (48% ) increase in reported cases of child rape, 
including incest and attempted rape, from 2008 to 2014.


Given the abovementioned circumstances, there is a need to raise the age 
limit for statutory rape to protect young people from sexual abuse and exploitation. 
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is necessary.
eer.Tiarcos
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SEN
S.B. No.
of :ljr ferrretaip
'19 
JUL24 P5:22
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOSREC£,VtJBY:- J
AN ACT RAISING THE AGE OF CONSENT AND AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE ARTICLE 266 OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE
Be it  enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
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SECTION 1. Article 266-A (l)(d ) of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise
2 
known as the Revised Penal Code, shall be amended as follows;
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"Article 266-A. Rape, When and How Committed. -  Rape is committed
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1. By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the
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following circumstances:
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XXX XXX XXX
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(d) When the offended party is under [twelve (12)] EIGHTEEN (18) years of
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age or is demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned above
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be present."
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Sec. 2. Separibiiity Clause. -  If, for any reason, any section or provision of
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this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions which
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are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 3. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
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rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are repealed, amended,
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or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
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other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


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Sec. 5. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of 
general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,