Anti-rape law should be amended

Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Luzviminda Ilagan, Gabriela party-list, wants the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 amended.  They have filed House Bill 6170, which they said would provide for clearer instances or situations as basis for the filing of rape cases. Under the bill, lack of consent is presumed under the following circumstances: when there is act of force, threat and intimidation; grave abuse of authority; victim is unconscious; victim has mental disability; victim is below 15 years old, and when the offender is a biological or adoptive parent.

Rape is deemed consummated when the victim’s genital, mouth or anal orifice is touched by another person’s sexual organ or any part of his or her body, or any object used to commit rape. The lawmakers said a non-consensual sexual act committed through fraudulent machination, grave abuse of authority or moral ascendancy is as deplorable as a non-consented sexual act perpetrated with the use of force or physical violence. It also provides that video recording acts of sexual abuse and disseminating the recorded material are aggravating circumstances of the offense.

“Rape is no doubt the most horrendous of all forms of sexual violence and is one of the most heinous crimes that can be committed against a person,” the lawmakers said.- ( Philstar)