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    SexAndSensibilities
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    A policy brief provides the rationale for amending Articles 96 and 124 of the family Code of the Philippines. In some jurisdictions, husbands are exempted from criminal liability for the murders or other forms of violence they committed against their wives, daughters or sisters. A somewhat similar law still exists in our Revised Penal Code: "art. 247. Death or physical injuries inflicted under exceptional circumstances"

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    A policy brief provides the rationale for amending Articles 96 and 124 of the family Code of the Philippines. In some jurisdictions, husbands are exempted from criminal liability for the murders or other forms of violence they committed against their wives, daughters or sisters. A somewhat similar law still exists in our Revised Penal Code: "art. 247. Death or physical injuries inflicted under exceptional circumstances"

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    215 views2 pages

    5 RPC Article 247

    Uploaded by

    SexAndSensibilities
    A policy brief provides the rationale for amending Articles 96 and 124 of the family Code of the Philippines. In some jurisdictions, husbands are exempted from criminal liability for the murders or other forms of violence they committed against their wives, daughters or sisters. A somewhat similar law still exists in our Revised Penal Code: "art. 247. Death or physical injuries inflicted under exceptional circumstances"

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    of 2

    PhilippineCommissiononWomen

    Policy Brief No. 5

    UpholdingtheRightofLifeandSecurityofSpousesandDaughters: REPEALINGARTICLE247OFTHEREVISEDPENALCODE

    ThispolicybriefprovidestherationaleforamendingArticles96and124oftheFamilyCodeofthePhilippines.Itputstogetherillustrationsonhowtracesof inequalitybetweenthespousesarestillmaintainedinthesaidlaw,aswellaslegalandpracticalbasesforpolicymakerstoaddresstheissue.

    WHAT IS THE ISSUE?

    Insomejurisdiction,therearethesocalledlawsindefense ofhonor.Undersuchlaws,husbandsorfamilymembersare exemptedfromcriminalliabilityforthemurdersorother formsofviolencetheycommittedagainsttheirwives, daughtersorsisters.Therationalebehindsuchlawsisthat womensunacceptablesexualbehaviorbesmirchesfamily honor.1 AsomewhatsimilarlawstillexistsinourRevisedPenal Code:


    Art.247.Deathorphysicalinjuriesinflictedunder exceptionalcircumstances.Anylegallymarriedperson whohavingsurprisedhisspouseintheactofcommitting sexualintercoursewithanotherperson,shallkillanyof themorbothofthemintheactorimmediatelythereafter, orshallinflictuponthemanyseriousphysicalinjury,shall sufferthepenaltyofdestierro. Ifheshallinflictuponthemphysicalinjuriesofanyother kind,heshallbeexemptfrompunishment. Theserulesshallbeapplicable,underthesame circumstances,toparentswithrespecttotheirdaughters undereighteenyearsofage,andtheirseducer,whilethe daughtersarelivingwiththeirparents. Anypersonwhoshallpromoteorfacilitatetheprostitution ofhiswifeordaughter,orshallotherwisehaveconsented totheinfidelityoftheotherspouseshallnotbeentitledto thebenefitsofthisarticle.

    parricideorseriousphysicalinjuries,destierroonlyprohibits theconvictedpersonfromenteringcourtdesignatedplaces oraspecifiedradiusofthoseplaces.Thisisnotsomucha penaltybutameansofprotectingtheconvictedperson fromretaliationofthefamilymembersofthedeceased. Thelawhasbeenrationalizedasfollows:(The)law,when thecircumstancesprovidedbythisarticlearepresent, considersthespouseasactinginajustifiedburstof passion.3Whilepassioncanbeconsideredasamitigating circumstancewhichcouldlowerthepenaltybyonedegree underothercircumstances,Article247providesadifferent appreciationofpassionasitprovidesfortheabsolutionof theconvictedperson. Therearegenderbasedassumptionsunderlyingthisthat shouldbeexposed,andsomeoftheseare: thatwomenshouldkeepaparticularsexual conductorshouldmaintaincertainmoral standards; thattheyarewardsorpropertyofthemenorthe parents;and thattheirdeviationfromthesexualormoral norm(thegoodbadwomandichotomy), excusestheparents,particularlythefathersand husbandskillingorinjuringthem.4
    WHAT ARE THE EXISTING LAWS OR POLICY ISSUANCES RELATED TO THE ISSUE?

    WHY IS THE ISSUE IMPORTANT?

    Deathpenaltyhasbeenoutlawedinourcountrywiththe enactmentofRA9346in2006,2butArticle247practically penalizeswithdeathaspouseordaughterwhoiscaughtin theactofcommittingsexualintercourse.Underthelaw,a spouseadjudgedguiltyofkillingorinflictingseriousphysical injuriesontheotherspousecaughtintheactofcommitting sexualintercoursewithanotherpersonshallonlybe penalizedwithdestierro.Incontrasttothepenaltiesfor


    1

    RepublicActNo.9710ortheMagnaCartaofWomen providesthatthegovernmentshalltakeallappropriate measurestoeliminatediscriminationagainstwomeninall mattersrelatingtomarriageandfamilyrelations.Further, theprovisiononequaltreatmentbeforethelawmandates theStatetotakestepstoreviewandamendand/orrepeal existinglawsthatarediscriminatorytowomen,which includeArticle247oftheRPC.

    Santos, Aida F. et. al. Toward a Gender-Responsive Legislation. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, 1999 2 R.A. 9346 Ant Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines

    People vs. Gonzales, 69 Phil 65, quoted in Toward a Gender-Responsive Legislation. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, 1999 4 Santos, Aida F. et. al. Toward a Gender-Responsive Legislation. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, 1999

    REPEALING ARTICLE 247 OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE

    PCWPolicyBrief No.5

    August 2013

    The1987ConstitutionArticleIII,SectionIprovidesthat,"No personshallbedeprivedoflife,liberty,orpropertywithout dueprocessoflaw." RPCArticle246providesthatanypersonwhoshallkillhis father,mother,orchild,whetherlegitimateorillegitimate, oranyofhisascendants,ordescendants,orhisspouseshall beguiltyofparricideandshallbepunishedbythepenaltyof reclusionperpetua. SexualInfidelityisagroundforlegalseparationunderthe FamilyCodeofthePhilippines.Itisalsoconsideredacrime underspecificcircumstancesprovidedforinRPCArticles 333and334.

    ItisalsoinresponsetotheConventionoftheRightsofthe Child,specificallyArticle19whichmandatesour governmenttotakeallappropriatelegislative, administrative,socialandeducationalmeasurestoprotect thechildfromallformsofphysicalormentalviolence,injury orabuse,neglectornegligenttreatment,maltreatmentor exploitationincludingsexualabuse,whileinthecareof parent(s),legalguardian(s)oranyotherpersonwhohas careofthechild.


    Alignment with National Priorities

    Withregardstotheprovisionpertainingtodaughters,the DeclarationofPolicyofRepublicActNo.7610ortheSpecial ProtectionofChildrenAgainstAbuse,Exploitationand DiscriminationActmandatesthat,Thebestinterestsof childrenshallbetheparamountconsiderationinallactions concerningthem,whetherundertakenbypublicorprivate socialwelfareinstitutions,courtsoflaw,administrative authorities,andlegislativebodiesEveryeffortshallbe exertedtopromotethewelfareofchildrenandenhance theiropportunitiesforausefulandhappylife.
    WHAT ARE THE CONSIDERATIONS IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY? Promoting womens rights and gender equality

    RepealingRPCArticle247isconsistentwithitem13on GenderEqualityofthegovernments16PointAgendaon GenderEqualitywhichstates,fromalackofconcernfor genderdisparitiesandshortfall,tothepromotionofequal genderopportunityinallspheresofpublicpoliciesand programs. Moreimportantly,itrespondstothemandateofCongress undertheMagnaCartaofWomentoamendorrepeallaws thatarediscriminatorytowomen.


    POLICY RECOMMENDATION

    RepealingRPCArticle247willcontributetopromoting womensrightsandenhancingthestatusofwomeninthe Philippinesociety.Itwillalsoupholdtherighttolifeofgirl children.


    Responding to International Commitments

    ItisrecommendedthatArticle247oftheRPCberepealed, consistentwiththeConstitutionalprovisionthatnoperson shallbedeprivedoflife,liberty,orpropertywithoutdue processtolaw.Thesaidprovisionclearlyrejectsthepolicy ofallowingpeopletotakethelawintotheirownhands. Itisfurtherrecommendedthatthecircumstancesreferred toinArticle247shouldbetreatedasapossiblemitigating circumstancethatwouldallowimpositionoflesserpenalty, butnotabsoluteexemption.


    CONCLUSION

    RepealingRPCArticle247respondstothePhilippine GovernmentsStateObligationundertheConventiononthe EliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen (CEDAW),particularlytheStateobligationtorepealall discriminatorylawsandpractices,andprovideeffective mechanismsandremedieswherewomencanseekredress forrightsviolations.

    LegislativeproposalstorepealRPCArticle247werefiledbut remainedpendingduringthepreviousCongress.Itishoped that,intheinterestoffulfillingtheirmandatesunderthe ConstitutionandtheMagnaCartaofWomen,ourlegislators willprioritizeandfavortheimmediateenactmentofalaw torepealthesaidprovision.#

    PCWPolicyBriefsaimtostimulateinformeddiscourseandguidepolicyactionsonissuesconcerningthe empowermentofwomenandpromotionofgenderequality.
    OFFICEOFTHEPRESIDENT

    PhilippineCommissiononWomen 1145J.P.LaurelStreet,SanMiguel,1005Manila http://www.pcw.gov.ph|pdad@pcw.gov.ph|+6327358918 REPEALING ARTICLE 247 OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE

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