Tingog party-list representative Yedda Marie K. Romualdez urged the Senate to pass House Bill 7839 that would champion the rights and protection of children against abuse, exploitation and discrimination, particularly increasing the age for determining the commission of statutory rape.

Romualdez authored the HB 7839 also known as “An Act Providing for Stronger Protection Against Rape and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Increasing the Age for Determining the Commission of Statutory Rape” and was approved by the House of Representatives on its third and final reading last December 2020.

“As we know, increasing the age of statutory rape is an advocacy we have been fighting for a couple of years and we have been successful in passing this measure last December as it was overwhelmingly approved in the HoR.  We hope they continue to raise awareness and support our initiatives which are now pending in the Senate,” said Romualdez.

She acknowledged celebrities Anne Curtis and Catriona Gray who champion the rights and protection of children against abuse, exploitation and discrimination.  Curtis is a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador while Gray’s pageant advocacy is focused on the well-being of children.

HB 7839 will hold an adult criminally liable if he\she had sexual contact with a minor below 16 years old and will be guilty of rape with or without consent. Life imprisonment will be the punishment for offenders. The bill also seeks safety and prevention to such crimes from happening in the future without distinction to sexual orientation of the offender or the victim.

Photo Credit: Facebook/ Yedaa Romualdez