Sign-on Petition site
Petition to Immediately Pass the Anti-Prostitution Bill

HB 970

We, the undersigned citizens, believe that prostitution is a severe form of women’s human rights violation and should be immediately addressed, towards elimination.

We, therefore, strongly urge our honorable Senators and House Representatives to immediately pass the anti-prostitution bill or Committee Report No. 50 on SB 1836, sponsored by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Sen. Pia Cayetano, amending the Revised Penal Code provision on White Slavery and repealing Art. 202, with reference to prostitutes. The counterpart bill at the House of Representatives is HB 970, sponsored by Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Darlene Custodio, Liza Masa, etc.) The bill decriminalizes persons exploited in prostitution and punishes the business and buyers of prostitution as they consist the demand side to this system of exploitation.

The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP), together with survivors and other women’s groups, have been lobbying for its passage in the last 9 years. The Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004 (RA 9262), the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (RA 9208) and the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 (RA 8353), all took 8-10 years before passage. It must be more than enough waiting for the women’s groups for this law to be enacted.

Rest assured that we will support and continue to monitor developments regarding this bill.

Signed,

Signatories at Sign-on Petition site

Is this Government Really Criminal-Friendly?

We, women’s groups, are outraged by the impending transfer of convicted rapist Francisco Juan “Paco” Larrañaga to a penal facility in Spain to serve the remainder of his life sentence for the rape and murder of the Chiong sisters in Cebu in 1997.

Not many Filipinos are aware that a RP-Spain Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement has been signed by our government in May 2007, and supported by a domestic law that became effective in January 2008. The local law was authored by Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu, 2nd District).

First, may we ask the responsible legislators as to why they prioritized the country of Spain for this treaty? In November 2007, while this bill was being deliberated on, the Chiong family already expressed objection to the passage of the RP-Spain TSPA for favoring Larrañaga. During the same period, Larranaga was appealing his conviction to the Supreme Court.[1] Is it pure coincidence that the rapist is a “scion of the powerful and wealthy Osmeña clan of Cebu”[2]?

Second, why prioritize Spain when 128 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are languishing in Kuwaiti jails compared to seven (7) detained in Spain? Then Executive Director Ed Malaya of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Legal Affairs Office commented that the law will benefit Filipinos serving their sentences in other countries. The Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur reported that the most number of Filipino detainees is found in Malaysia with 1,600. DFA itself reported that as of June 2007, there were 4,770 Filipinos languishing in jails in 63 countries and territories. Following Malaysia was Japan with 734, with 130 in the Osaka area; Qatar, 554; U.S., 406; Abu Dhabi, 198; Saudi Arabia (Jeddah only) 161; Hong Kong, 127.[3]

Let us not forget the cases of Romeo Jalosjos, Claudio Teehankee, Jr., Chavit Singson and other criminals who got executive pardon for financial and political reasons. When government favors convicted rapists or simply “reprimands” its appointed officials accused of wife battering, who all come from the elite, where do ordinary citizens turn to for justice? Yet, we must remain vigilant and pursue perpetrators of sexual crimes against women, even as they may be protected by this government itself.

We stand in solidarity with the family of the victims. Justice must be served to the end.

Signed:

Jean Enriquez, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP) and World March of Women – Pilipinas

Marlene Sindayen, Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)-Women

Atty. Cristina Sevilla, WomenLEAD and ECPAT-Philippines

Lotlot D. Requizo, KAISA-KA

Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, WomanHealth, Philippines

Liza Gonzales, Bagong Kamalayan Collective, Inc. (BKCI)

Monina Geaga, Sarilaya

Mercedes Fabros, Welga ng Kababaihan

Anna Leah Sarabia, Kababaihan Laban sa Karahasan Foundation

Yuen Abana, Task Force Subic Rape (TFSR)

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[1] http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2007/11/17/news/rp.spain.treaty.to.benefit.ofws.lawmaker.html

[2] http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090905-223627/Cebu-rapist-going-to-Spain

[3] http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2008/0528_villar1.asp