EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
s. No. 1258
S enate
of tijf ^rfrp tn rf
20 
JAN-7 P2 *32
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG R E V lE lA ^ik;
AN ACT
PROVIDING STRONGER PROTECTION TO CHILDREN BY INCREASING THE 
AGE FOR DETERMINING STATUTORY RAPE AND OTHER ACTS OF SEXUAL 
ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION AND AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ACT NO. 
3815/ AS AMENDED/ ALSO KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE, 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8353/ OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ANTI-RAPE LAW OF 
1997 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7610/ ALSO KNOWN AS THE SPECIAL 
PROTECTION 
OF 
CHILDREN 
AGAINST ABUSE/ 
EXPLOITATION 
AND 
DSICRIMINATORY ACT
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to a report done by CNN Philippines, from January to October 2018, 
there are more than 7,000 reported rape cases nationwide. That means approximately 
one (1) Filipino is raped every hour in this country alone. The country already has an 
existing law to defend rape victims. However, this law needs revisions to prevent 
loopholes and protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
This bill seeks to provide stronger protection for children from sexual abuse. It 
accordingly aims to increase to sixteen (16) years from the current twelve (12) years 
the age for determining the crime of statutory rape, wherein for reasons of his or her 
age, the consent of the victim, even if present or was presumed given, cannot be used 
in defense of the offender.
The establishment of a minimum age of sexual consent is a critical component 
in shielding children from sexual violence. Children below such age are considered


without the power to resist and to give their genuine and fully informed consent to 
any sexual activity.
The Philippines is party to the Convention on the Rights of a Child which obliges 
all State parties to take ail measures to protect children from all forms of sexual 
exploitation and sexual abuse including coercion to engage in any unlawful sexual 
activity, inciuding the passage of laws that prohibit engaging in sexual activity with 
children below the age of sexual consent.
Current Philippine laws provide that sexual intercourse with children below 12 
years old is illegai and tantamount to rape. In addition, sexual activity with a person 
below 18 years of age may constitute child abuse and exploitation.
However, the current age for determining the crime of statutory rape is not 
compliant with the international average as evidenced by a 2015 Report released by 
the United Nations Chiidren's Fund (UNICEF) East Asia and Pacific Region. In fact, the 
same study revealed that the age of sexual consent in the Philippines is the lowest in 
the Southeast Asian region.
It is highly imperative that a significant reform in our current legislation is 
required in order to comply with our international commitments in terms of the 
protection of children. To this end, this bill proposes amendments to the Revised Penal 
Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 8353, otherwise known as the Anti-Rape Law 
of 1997 and Republic Act No. 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children 
Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discriminatory Act.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill into law is earnestly sought.
RAMON^i^G^VILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S enate
V 
®Ouf of tfjc &(?crrtnrp
JAN-7 P2 32
1258
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PROVIDING STRONGER PROTECTION TO CHILDREN BY INCREASING THE 
AGE FOR DETERMINING STATUTORY RAPE AND OTHER ACTS OF SEXUAL 
ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION AND AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ACT NO. 
3815, AS AMENDED, ALSO KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE, 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8353, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ANTI-RAPE LAW 
OF 1997 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7610, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SPECIAL 
PROTECTION 
OF 
CHILDREN 
AGAINST ABUSE, 
EXPLOITATION 
AND 
DSICRIMINATORY ACT
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f 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)] SIXTEEN 
(16) years of age or is demented, even though none of the 
circumstances mentioned above be present."


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Sec. 2. Separability Cause. -  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. Repeating Cause. -  Republic Act No. 7610, Section 5 (b) and Section
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10 (b). Act No. 3815, Articles 337, 338, 339, 340, 342 and 343, and all laws, acts,
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presidential decrees, executive orders, administrative orders, proclamations, rules
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and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are
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deemed repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 4. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after Its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
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Approved,