Robredo pushes for raising of age of sexual consent to 16 years old

Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday pushed for legislation that would  increase the the age for determining  the commission of statutory rape to 16 years old from the current 12.

"Priority ko na iangat to 16 years old ang age of sexual consent. Anumang anggulong tingnan, bata yung 12 years na nasa batas ngayon," Robredo, a presidential aspirant, wrote on Facebook.

(My priority is to make age of sexual consent to 16. Currently we are at 12.)

Robredo said pushing for a law to raise the age of sexual consent was important because minors are vulnerable to exploitation.

"Ang bata, napupuwersa, nako-coerce ng mas matanda, at traumatic experience na kailangan pang I-prove na statutory rape ang pinagdaanan ng ganun kamurang edad. Dapat baguhin ito," Robredo said.

(Children could be forced, coerced by adults and could cause traumatic experience so it is important to prove that they are experiencing statutory rape. We need to amend the law.)

Currently, the bill to raise age of sexual consent to 16 years old only needs President Rodrigo Duterte's signature after the Senate already ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the measure.

The UNICEF urged authorities to pass the measure as the Philippines' current age of sexual consent  is the "lowest in Asia" and one of the lowest in the world. —NB, GMA News