WITH an overwhelming 272 votes, the House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill defining electronic or online violence against women and their children.
“This proposed law is our answer to rising cases of internet-enabled violence and abuse against women and children, who we should protect. I hope that the bill, when enacted, would stop these acts of wrongdoing,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said.
He said developments in information and communications technology (ICT) have given rise to certain crimes that are not sufficiently covered by existing laws.
“We have to update and strengthen our laws to shield our people, especially our women and children, from criminally-minded individuals,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Aside from defining the crime of electronic violence against women and children, House Bill (HB) No. 8009 also provides protective measures and penalties for violations. It would amend Republic Act (RA) No. 9262, otherwise known as the “Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004.”
HB No. 8009 is a consolidation of four related measures authored by Reps. Marjorie Ann Teodoro, Arlene Brosas, France Castro, Raoul Danniel Manuel, and Gus Tambunting. It was endorsed by the committee on women and gender equality chaired by Rep. Geraldine Roman.
The bill’s short title is, “Expanded Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act.”
The measure defines electronic or ICT-related violence as “any act or omission involving the use or exploitation of data or any form of ICT which causes or is likely to cause mental, emotional, or psychological distress or suffering to the woman and/or her children.”
It would include “recording, reproduction, distribution, use, sharing or uploading of any photograph, video, or other forms of electronic or artistic presentation showing or depicting in any form of manner the genitalia of a woman or those of her children’s genitalia, pubic area, buttocks, breasts, excretory body part or function, nudity, scenes with sexual content or portrayal of sexual conduct such as sexual intercourse, masturbation, kissing, caressing, hugging, and petting.”
