Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri is pushing to amend the current age for statutory rape from 12 years old to 16 years old.
In an interview with GMA News TV, Zubiri said: "At the moment, almost 500 teenagers are getting pregnant each day because no one is afraid they would be arrested. You can only file charges of seduction against an adult who had sex with a 14-year-old girl."
He continued, "The penalty is so minimal. I feel pity for the parents and the young girls who get swayed by these sexual predators."
Zubiri also expounded on the effects of statutory rape on young women and teen births. He cited the results of a study conducted by the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) that showed that 85 percent of victims have dropped out of school.
On Friday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made a statement saying the decision to increase the age of minority for statutory rape is up to Congress.
