Lawmakers are seeking the establishment of a national sex offender registry similar to existing ones in the United States, for the protection of children and other vulnerable sectors and guaranteeing the rights of victims of sexual abuse.
“The establishment of this registry will aid the government in ensuring public safety and in increasing the awareness of the community, thereby providing stronger protection to Filipinos, especially the children and the vulnerable,” Tingog party list lawmakers Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre said.
A measure would that proposed the creation of a national registry of sex offenders was initially proposed in Congress in 2015. The Tingog party list representatives’ bill find in the 19th Congress has been referred to the House committee on public order and safety.
The proposed measure would make it mandatory for sex offenders register in the database, where they would be listed for life. Failure to do so would mean up to five years of jail time and a P10,000 fine.
Under House Bill No. 2714, or the proposed Sex Offender Registry Act, the Department of Justice would be tasked to set up the database of sex offenders, persons convicted in final judgement by local and foreign courts of rape, crimes against chastity and violations of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004, which would allow information sharing between countries and their law enforcement agencies.
It would require convicted sex offenders, prior to their release from prison, to register and regularly update their registration in each province, city or town where they are residing, working or studying. Changing addresses, employment or school would require them to update their registration within 10 days of the change.
The penalty for knowingly and willfully failing to register or update their information is one to five years imprisonment and a fine of P10,000. If such people who are unregistered or have outdated information commit another crime, regardless of nature, the penalty of 5-10 years imprisonment and a P50,000 fine shall be imposed in addition to other penalties for crimes committed.
Despite women and children of the Philippines being among the most vulnerable to harassment, sexual abuse and exploitation, this is a country that hasn’t done much to protect them. The age of sexual consent has just been raised last year and up to now, there is no national sex offender registry. Hopefully we are just behind the times and this onerous delay is not because too many powerful and influential people would end up on this list.*
