xxx
(2) The right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and
special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation,
and other conditions prejudicial to their development.[20]
Clearly, the objective of the law, more so the Constitution, is to provide a special
type of protection for children from all types of abuse. Hence, it can be rightly
inferred that the title used in Article III, Section 5, "Child Prostitution and Other
Sexual Abuse" does not mean that it is only applicable to children used as
prostitutes as the main offense and the other sexual abuses as additional offenses,
the absence of the former rendering inapplicable the imposition of the penalty
provided under R.A. 7610 on the other sexmil abuses committed by the offenders
on the children concerned.
Even if the remaining issue in the en banc decision in Dimakuta v. People[21] was
whether or not an accused is disqualified to apply for probation even if such appeal
resulted in the reduction of the nonprobationable penalty imposed to a
probationable one, the majority has nonetheless discussed at length the matters of
sexual abuse under R.A. 7610 and acts of lasciviousness under the RPC, thus:
Petitioner was charged and convicted by the trial court with violation of Section 5
(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610 based on the complaint of a sixteen (16)-year-old
girl for allegedly molesting her by touching her breast and vagina while she was
sleeping.
xxxx
The elements of sexual abuse are as follows:
1. The accused commits the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct.
2. The said act is performed with a child exploited in prostitution or subjected to
sexual abuse.
3. The child, whether male or female, is below 18 years of age.
Under Section 5, Article III of R.A. No. 7610, a child is deemed subjected to
other sexual abuse when he or she indulges in lascivious conduct under
the coercion or influence of any adult. This statutory provision must be
distinguished from Acts of Lasciviousness under Articles 336 and 339 of the RPC. As
defined in Article 336 of the RPC, Acts of Lasciviousness has the following elements:
(1) That the offender commits any act of lasciviousness or lewdness;
(2) That it is done under any of the following circumstances:
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents