The New Definition of Statutory Rape under Republic Act No. 116481
On March 4, 2022, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 116481 or the Act Providing for Stronger Protection Against Rape and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Increasing the Age for Determining the Commission of Statutory Rape, Amending for the Purpose Act No. 3815, as Amended, Otherwise Known as "The Revised Penal Code", Republic Act No. 8353, Also Known as "The Anti-Rape Law of 1997", and Republic Act No. 7610, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the "Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act." So this law amended the following: 1. Act No. 3815, as amended, or "The Revised Penal Code". 2. Republic Act No. 8353, or "The Anti-Rape Law of 1997". 3. Republic Act No. 7610, as amended, or the "Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act." This new law provides the new definition of statutory rape . Thus, rape is committed by a person