The Quezon City local government is concerned about the rising number of incidents of rape and violence against women and children (VAWC) being recorded in the city.
At the last meeting of the Quezon City Peace and Order Council, police reported that the number of VAWC cases increased by 66 percent and more than 21 percent in rape cases in the first eight months of 2021.
One of the visible reasons for the increase in cases is the COVID-19 pandemic because many people just stay in their homes, and financial problems also continue.
The Quezon City government encouraged the victims to report and file a case using the QC Protection Center 122.
They can also go to the women’s desk of the barangay or Quezon City Police District.
He said the government should ensure that every home is still a safe space for women and children.
Last year, Quezon City opened a protection center for victims of gender-based violence, providing them with medical and legal assistance, as well as counseling.
Number of incidents of rape, violence against women in QC increased
He said the Bahay Kanlungan is also open for women, children, and LGBT people who experience discrimination and abuse in their homes.
Meanwhile, the Senate has already approved on third and final reading, raising the 16-year-old statutory rape age from the current age of 12-years.
By a vote of 22 and an abstention, Senate bill 2332 was passed, which stated that Republic 3815 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, exploitation and discrimination act would be amended.
Therefore, sexual intercourse with a woman or man under the age of 16 can be considered statutory rape and charged with any man or woman.
The proposal states that someone can be saved from a criminal case if they are not older than three or without force, but if the victim is 13 years old or younger, it is automatically statutory rape.
The Philippines currently has the lowest age of sexual consent in Asia at 12 years old.
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