Exactly a year since the Lower Chamber approved on third and final reading House Bill 8009 and passed the same for Senate's concurrence, the amended/expanded bill on violence against women and children languishes at the Upper Chamber - the Senate.
It was but fitting that last Mother's Day - Sunday, May 12 - Representative Kristine Alexie Besas Tutor (Bohol, 3rd district) sent out press statements regarding the bill, which was passed in the Senate for reconciliation and consolidation since May 2023 but has still unacted on.
As one of the co-authors, I laud Speaker Martin Romualdez, the Makabayan bloc, Rep. Geraldine Roman, and Rep. Marjorie Ann Teodoro for their leadership and collaboration on HB 8009," Tutor said in the statement.
HB 8009, or the Expanded Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act was approved on third and final reading and sent to the Senate in May 2023.
"[The bill] is the product of multi-partisan support in the House. It is one of the bills that prove how well the House majority and minority work together for the common good," the representative added.
Tutor added that the House is now waiting for senators to invite them for a bicameral conference committee to reconcile HB 8009 with the Senate version.
"The House prioritized HB 8009 because criminals have resorted to using new tech to inflict harm upon women and children," she stressed.
HB 8009 updates and upgrades RA 9262 by integrating provisions to protect women and their children against violence committed through electronic and information and communications technological means.
The bill defines abuse or violence as physical, verbal, emotional abuse and those using electronic or ICT devices or other means that cause or likely to cause mental, emotional suffering; intentional harassment, stalking, damage to property; public ridicule and humiliation; marital infidelity,; causing the abused party to witness physical, sexual or psychological abuse of a member of the family through pornography; abusive injury to pets and more.
The bill provides a penalty for such violations of P300,000 to P500,000 plus reclusion temporal or a prison term of 12 years plus one day up to 20 years.
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