Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 28) — A senator has filed a bill to extend the prescriptive period for acts of violence against women and their children (VAWC), especially when the offender is a victim’s next of kin, custodians, or a person in authority.
Sen. Imee Marcos said her Senate Bill 1535 dated Nov. 23 acknowledges the overwhelming psychological cost and social punishment that causes women and children unable to file cases at the required period.
“Despite the country’s unwavering efforts to develop effective legislation, inequities in power – economic, social, financial – persist,” Marcos said in a statement Monday.
“Victims should be given more time to come out publicly. The personal trauma and the social stigma attached to reporting VAWC offenses cannot be underestimated,” she added.
The Senate bill aims to amend Section 24 of the Republic Act 9262 or the “Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004” and Article 90 of the Revised Penal Code.
Marcos listed specific offenders for whom longer prescriptive periods will take effect: “parent, ascendant, step-parent, guardian, relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity of the offended party, or has authority, influence or moral ascendancy over the offended party in a work or training or education environment.”
According to the bill, major VAWC offenses will be made imprescriptible when the offender involved is part of the specific list. Such acts include:
– attempted or consummated rape
– causing or attempting to cause a woman or child to engage in sexual activity not constituting rape
– causing or threatening to cause physical harm
– depriving or threatening to deprive a mother of custody of her child or of ample financial support for her child
– and denying a woman her right to work or controlling her money or personal and conjugal property.
Meanwhile, the prescriptive period of “lighter” VAWC crimes will be extended from 10 to 20 years for the same set of offenders. Included are the following:
– stalking
– peering
– entering a dwelling against a woman’s will
– destroying her property
– verbal and emotional abuse
– and public ridicule of a woman or child.
The proposal coincides with this year’s global campaign to end violence against women, which continues until Dec. 10, Sen. Marcos said.
The Philippines has extended its national campaign until Dec. 12, which marks the historic signing in 2000 of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, she added.
