Senate approves bill punishing catcalling, street harassment

MANILA – The Senate yesterday approved a bill seeking to protect women from catcalling and other forms of street harassment.

Senate Bill 1326 or the Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017 seeks to penalize catcalling, wolf-whistling, cursing, leering, groping, and persistent requests for name and contact details after clear refusal, public masturbation, and stalking, among others.

The measure is still far from becoming a law, as a counterpart bill remains pending with the House committee on women and gender equality.

Under the bill, there are three kinds of violations: light, medium, and severe.

Light violations

These include cursing, wolf-whistling, catcalling, leering, persistent requests for information, the use of ridicule words including sexist, homophobic and transphobic slurs, or the persistent telling of sexual jokes.

First offense would be punished by a fine of P1,000 and/or community service of 8 hours inclusive of a Gender Sensitivity Seminar by the Philippine National Police, local government unit, and the Philippine Commission on Women.

Second offense would face 6 to 10 days imprisonment or a fine of P2,000. Third time violators would be jailed for 11 to 30 days or a fine of P3,000.

Medium viola ons

These include offensive body gestures at someone, exposing private parts meant to demean, harass, threaten, or in midate the offended party.

First offense would be punished by a fine of P3,000 and/or an 8‐hour community service and Gender Sensi vity Seminar; Second offense, 11 to 30 days of imprisonment or a fine of P4,000; and Third offense, 1 to 6 months imprisonment or a fine of P5,000.

Severe viola ons

Stalking, acts previously men oned that are accompanied by touching, pinching or brushing against the body of a person; or any touching, pinching, or brushing against the genitalia and other body parts of the vic m.

First offense would be punished by 11 to 30 days of jail me or a fine of P4,000, with a Gender Sensi vity Seminar.

Second offense shall be punished by 1 to 6 months of imprisonment or a fine of P5,000. Third offense shall be punished by 1 to 6 months imprisonment or a fine of P10,000.

In addi on to these, government employees may face administra ve sanc ons.

Those who harass others in public u lity vehicles may also face cancella on of license and revoca on of franchise.