Yedda grateful for support to higher age of consent bill

Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Sunday thanked actress-television host Anne Curtis and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray for supporting the swift passage of a proposed law seeking to consider as rape the sexual contact with a minor below 16.

“I am very happy that Ms. Anne Curtis and Ms. Catriona gray are taking cognizance of our efforts in championing the rights and protection of children against abuse, exploitation and discrimination,” she said.

She endorsed House Bill 7839 or “An Act Providing for Stronger Protection Against Rape and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Increasing the Age for Determining the Commission of Statutory Rape” for plenary approval as the committee on welfare of children chairperson.

Voting 207 against three, Congress approved on third and final reading the measure last Dec. 1.

The bill sets the age of sexual consent to below 16 years old from 12 years old below, regardless of sexual orientation of the offenders and victims, and amends the 23-year-old Anti-Rape Law and the Revised Penal Code.

“As we know, increasing the age of determining 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 House of Representatives. We hope they continue to raise awareness and support our initiatives which are now pending in the Senate,” the party-list representative said.