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The militant women's group GABRIELA said in a statement that the recent congressional approval of House Bill 6265 which expanded the definition of rape and reclassified it from a crime against chastity to a crime against persons capped years of women's legislative battle to reform the present rape law.
Ms Liza Largoza-Maza, GABRIELA Secretary-General, cited three positive provisions contained in the bill: the reclassification of the crime of rape from a crime against chastity to a crime against persons, the expansion of the definition of rape which included various forms of sexual assault and incest rape, and the provision meting stiffer penalties for any offender who is a member of the Armed Forces or paramilitary units, Philippine National Police, or any law enforcement agency or penal institutions.
However, Ms Maza pointed out that the same bill contains loopholes which defeat
the very essence of the new definition of rape which is a crime against persons.
In particular, she raised concern over Article 266-C of the bill which extinguishes
the crime of rape if the offender married the victim and the watered down marital
rape provision which allows for forgiveness by the wife as a sufficient ground
for extinguishing the offender's crime.
GABRIELA cautions, however, that the passage of HB 6265 cannot guarantee that
the incidence of rape will be curbed. "For one thing," Ms Maza stressed,
"the justice system has been proven to be partial to the wealthy and the
powerful therefore it is another question if the poor women victims of rape
can seek the kind of justice they deserve."
GABRIELA cited the University of the Philippines Sociology Department study of reported rape cases from 1987 to 1996 which finds that 90% of women victims of rape come from the poor sectors of society.
They urge the public to remain vigilant in the light of these realities. "There should always be a continued effort to raise the consciousness of women of their rights and, through militant and collective actions, be able to assert and fight for these rights and put an end to all forms of violence against women."#
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