Hefty new fines for sexual misconduct

[Hank]

Here's a recent news item in the Phils Government's newspaper.

"Duterte signs law imposing heftier fines for sexual harassment"

By Azer Parrocha  July 15, 2019 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075014


MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill which will impose heftier penalties for gender-based sexual harassment including catcalling and wolf-whistling in public spaces.

Under the law, crimes of gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassment are committed through “any unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any person regardless of the motive for committing such action or remarks.”

"Gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassment includes catcalling, wolf-whistling, unwanted invitations, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs, persistent uninvited comments or gestures on a person's appearance, relentless requests for personal details, statement of sexual comments and suggestions, public masturbation or flashing of private parts, groping or any advances, whether verbal or physical that is unwanted and has threatened one's sense of personal space such as alleys, roads, sidewalks, and parks,” the law read.

“Acts constitutive of gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassment are those performed in buildings, schools, churches, restaurants, malls, public washrooms, bars, internet shops, public markets, transportation terminals or public utility vehicles,” it added.

Meanwhile, gender-based online sexual harassment includes using information and communications technology in terrorizing and intimidating victims through physical, psychological, and emotional threats, unwanted comments online whether publicly or through direct and private messages, invasion of victim's privacy through cyberstalking and incessant messaging, uploading and sharing without the consent of the victim, any form of media that contains photos, voice, or video with sexual content, and unauthorized recording and sharing of any of the victim's photos, videos, or any information online, among others.

All public spaces must install in their establishments clearly-visible warning signs against gender-based public spaces sexual harassment including the anti-sexual harassment hotline-number in bold letters.

The new law imposes penalties and fines from ranging from PHP1,000 to PHP500,000 including prison terms ranging from six days to six months. (PNA)

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[Peter]

And will DU30 abide by it?

Or will he say, as he said in the past, " Joke lang!"

Peter

[Steve & Myrlita]

And will DU30 abide by it?

Or will he say, as he said in the past, " Joke lang!"

Peter

Do as I say, not what I do.

[Hank]

And will DU30 abide by it? Or will he say, as he said in the past, " Joke lang!"

Do as I say, not what I do.

Yes, agreed guys.   Must say, people in Australia also have just cause to somewhat doubt Duterte's credentials regarding sexual harrassment.

For example, in 2016, Duterte made controversial remarks at one of his campaign rallies relating to a 1989 hostage crisis, and the violent raping of a young Australian missionary who had been working in the Phils prison. He was the mayor for the area at that time.

Duterte made the "joke" on April 12, 2016 when he talked to a crowd about the rape of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill who had been kidnapped, raped and then killed. He said, “She was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first.”

This caused outrage from human rights and women's rights advocates all over the world, and especially in Australia, even though Duterte later apologized for the way he spoke.

Hmm ...

[David690]

Regardless of DU30 previous remarks and comments, this law must be welcomed as it is surely needed.

[Hank]

Yes, I'd say you're right David, any person male or female should not have to put up with such behavior, and if it takes a law to bring this about, then so be it.

Must say I don't know if such laws are very often actually needed for public places in the Philippines, or indeed for any other country, but surely most everyone would support their intent. Should also say they seem comprehensive and well thought-out, and no doubt they will account for the wide variety of just such situations

[Peter]

......Should also say they seem comprehensive and well thought-out, and no doubt they will account for the wide variety of just such situations

Hank.

DU30's PR guy (who is also his personal lawyer) was on the GMA TV news the other evening and was asked if the President would abide by the Law, especially when he was speaking in public to an audience.

The reply was, and I paraphrase,"Before anyone can be prosecuted, someone in that audience must be personally named and that person must then file a personal complaint".

So the excuses and "slope-shouldering" have already started. And that was from a member of the Philippines Bar!

Peter