Republic Act No. 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997)

RA 8353 expanded the definition of the crime of rape in the Revised Penal Code (RPC), reclassifying it as a crime against person. This means that rape is no longer a private crime and anyone who knows about the crime can file a case on the victim’s behalf. The expanded definition of the crime of rape allows the prosecution to continue even if the victim drops the case. Subsequently, RA 11648 (adopted in 2021) increased the age of statutory rape from 12 to 16 years old.