MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers should consider including members of the LGBTQIA+community in the amendments to the anti-rape law, a lawyer said at a Senate public hearing on Thursday. Lorna Kapunan, a human rights lawyer, proposed this before the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media where discussions focused on the policies of television networks and artist management agencies concerning complaints of sexual abuse and harassment. Kapunan emphasized the need to ensure that the LGBTQIA+ community was represented in the planned updates to the country's anti-rape Law. Kapunan highlighted that both the laws of 1932 and 1997 explicitly defined rape as an act occurring solely between men and women. Kapunan said the current law specified rape as non-consensual sexual intercourse involving the penetration of the female organ (vagina) by the male organ (penis). She pointed out that the law did not address cases involving anal or oral sex. Kapunan emphasized that in today's society, a broader spectrum of sexualities and genders, including those within the LGBTQIA+ community, has been recognized. Kapunan's remark follows an observation by Sen. Robin Padilla, committee chairman, that the current laws on rape, sexual harassment, and abuses involve power play, the one who has the power, who can promote or give any incentive has always been found guilty. “There should be no power play,” the senator said. “We would like to find out if the current laws favor women only. What about men? Someone tells that there is no rape if the victim is a man. That's what we want to talk about this time. Are our laws equal?” Padilla asked. The discussions stemmed from a recent incident of alleged sexual harassment by television network executives against the son of actor Nino Mulach. The Mulachs have since filed a case against the suspects while the network is investigating the complaint.
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