A panel in the House of Representatives is poised to pass a measure imposing stiffer penalties for violators of child protection laws to deter future abuses against them.
The House committee on the welfare of children, chaired by Rep. Divina Grace Yu of Zamboanga City, backed House Bill 5662 authored by Rep. Geraldine Roman of Bataan.
The bill proposes to increase the penalties committed against children as embodied in Republic Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act” enacted in 1992.
The bill amends several sections of RA 7610 specifically Section 9 which currently imposes prision mayor in its medium period to any person who shall hire, employ, use, persuade, induce, or coerce a child to perform in obscene exhibitions and indecent shows, whether live or in video, or model in obscene publications or pornographic materials or to sell or distribute the said materials. Under HB 5662, such offense shall be penalized with reclusion temporal in its medium period.
The bill also carries a penalty of reclusion perpetua which shall be imposed if the child used as a performer, subject, or seller/distributor is below 12 years of age.
The penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period is imposed on any ascendant, guardian, or person entrusted in any capacity with the care of a child who shall cause and/ or allow such child to be employed or to participate in an obscene play, scene act, movie of show or in any other acts covered by the section.
On the other hand, House Bill 6295 authored by Rep. Michael Odylon Romero of 1-Pacman Party-list proposes to increase the penalties of offenses committed against children embodied in RA 9231.
RA 9231 enacted in 2003 penalizes certain exploitative acts with regard to child labor.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development expressed support for the approval of the two measures.
At a congressional hearing, DSWD representative Miramel Laxa said the bills will serve as a deterrent to future abuses against children because of the stiffer penalties for the violators of child protection laws.
“We all know that despite the presence of several laws protecting our children, abuses against them still happen,” she said.
The DSWD proposed to the panel that the two proposals be consolidated into one bill.
Among its recommendations for the enhancement of HB 5662 is that violators, especially those entrusted in any capacity with the care of a child, must undergo mandatory seminars on child protection offered by the DSWD and non-government organizations.
The Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Justice, and the Child Rights Network also did not oppose the bills.
