Senate, House ratify bill banning child marriage

The Senate and the House of Representatives on Monday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed measure seeking to prohibit child marriage in the country.

The measure will be transmitted to Malacanang for the President's signature.

The House approved the bicameral report on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill 9943 and Senate Bill 1371, which aims to ban the practice of child marriage.

At the Senate, Senator Risa Hontiveros who sponsored the bicameral report, said the consolidated version of the measure imposes penalties on specific acts such as facilitation and solemnization of child marriage and the cohabitation of an adult with a child outside wedlock.

"I know it is not easy to legislate a policy that would change a product of culture and religion. But it is not a reason not to keep on trying. The evidence against child marriage and its effects on children is clear and compelling," Hontiveros said.

Under the House bill, child marriage is defined as the formal marriage between children under 18 years of age, or between an adult and a child, which is considered to be a form of forced marriage, given that one or both parties have not expressed full, free, and informed consent.

The bill also declares facilitation of child marriage, solemnization of child marriage, and cohabitation of an adult with a child outside wedlock as unlawful and prohibited acts.

The measure punishes any person who causes, fixes, facilitates, or arranges a child marriage with the penalty of prision mayor in its medium period or a fine of not less than P40,000; provided, however, that should the perpetrator be an ascendant, parent, adoptive parent, step-parent, or guardian of the child, the penalty shall be prision mayor in its maximum period, a fine not less than P50,000 and perpetual loss of parental authority.

It also penalizes an individual who officiates the child marriage with prision mayor in its maximum period, and a fine not less than P50,000. Further, the officiator may be penalized with perpetual disqualification from office if the person is a public officer.

This bill also sanctions an adult partner who cohabits with a child outside wedlock to suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period, and a fine not less than P50,000 as well as perpetual disqualification from appointive or elective office.—LDF, GMA News