SENATE PRESIDENT Aquilino L. Pimentel III said he will order a review on the country’s sexual harassment laws to toughen its penalties following increased reports of sexual abuse and intimidation.

“I’m planning to direct the appropriate Senate committees to look into increasing the penalties for acts of sexual harassment and sexual abuse,” he said in a statement Sunday.

“The law should be a strong shield that provides protection to victims of harassment and stiffer penalties to offenders and would-be offenders,” he added.

Mr. Pimentel said Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004 and R.A. 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 need to be updated and adjusted to “the demands of the times.”

“For example, under the 1995 Harassment Law, those convicted only face imprisonment (of) not more than six months or a fine of not more than P20,000. We should update these penalties to reflect modern realities,” he said.

The Senate leader cited reports of sexual abuse and intimidation in the show business and sports industries of the United States. He also cited a disclosure by Assumption College president Carmen Valdes about experiencing sexual abuse as a child.

Several Filipino women also shared their personal stories of sexual abuse on Twitter when the hashtag #MeToo trended last December in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against now-disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) showed it has assisted over 200,000 victims of sexual and physical abuse from January to September 2016.

“As a lawyer and legislator, I consider sexual harassment as one of the sickest and most deplorable offenses that can be committed because it goes into the very dignity of the victim,” Mr. Pimentel said. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

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