The Gabriela Women’s Party has welcomed the committee-level approval of a substitute bill strengthening Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (Anti-VAWC) Law, calling it a decisive step toward addressing the growing and evolving forms of violence faced by women and children, especially in digital spaces.
The approved substitute bill consolidated key provisions of House Bill 4779, or the Expanded Anti-VAWC (EVAWC) Bill, authored by the Gabriela Women’s Party. The bill seeks to recognize and penalize technology-facilitated violence against women and children, including abuse involving artificial intelligence (AI).
Among the major reforms approved by the committee are stricter penalties for offenders, including fines of up to P500,000 and imprisonment; the criminalization of unauthorized sharing of intimate images and the creation of fake accounts used to harass victims; and the formal recognition of online harassment, stalking, hacking, and other forms of digital abuse as acts of violence.
The substitute bill also introduces up to 20 days of paid leave for victims to attend to medical, legal, psychosocial, and recovery needs, and strengthens provisions on confidentiality and protection programs to ensure the safety and dignity of survivors.
House Assistant Minority Leader Sarah Elago underscored the significance of the committee approval, noting that the law must keep pace with how violence against women has expanded beyond physical spaces.
“This is an important step to recognize that violence against women is also happening online—on social media, on messaging apps, and on digital platforms,” said Elago, a Gabriela nominee in Congress. “The law cannot remain blind while AI and technology continue to be used to hurt, intimidate, and silence women and children.”
The committee also approved amendments to the Safe Spaces Act, incorporating provisions from House Bill 5198, also authored by the Gabriela Women’s Party, which seeks to impose higher penalties of up to ₱500,000 for gender-based sexual harassment in public spaces and online.
With the approval at the committee level, both the amended Anti-VAWC measure and the Safe Spaces Act amendments are set to be elevated to the House plenary for deliberation.
Elago urged Congress to act swiftly on the measures, stressing that women have long waited for stronger and more responsive legal protections.
“Women have been ready for a long time, and they have been waiting for this for a long time,” Elago said. “It is time for Congress to pass these bills immediately and ensure that there is real justice and protection in our laws for victims of violence.”
