Manila, Philippines - A party-list lawmaker yesterday sought to regulate the proliferation of sex toys in the country, warning their continued use could lead to an increase in sex-related crimes.
Buhay party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng filed a proposal seeking to penalize the sale and possession of a sex toy.
Tieng, along with Buhay party-list Rep. Michael Velarde, defined a sex toy under House Bill 4509 as “any device for the physical stimulation of human genitals for anything of pecuniary value.”
Tieng said he was seeking to safeguard the moral, spiritual and social being of the citizens from the destructive effects of what he called “obscene devices.”
“The influence of obscene devices designed primarily for the physical stimulation of human genitals, commonly called sex toys and gadgets, may seem unnoticed. However, there is now an influx of these kind of devices in the Philippines, especially in Metro Manila,” Tieng said.
Tieng noted the sex toys, particularly dildos and vibrators most of which are imported, are openly displayed in some shops and stalls in Quiapo, Sta. Cruz and C.M. Recto in Manila.
“The proliferation of these obscene devices which are insensitively and openly displayed in shops or stalls is very alarming. The public, especially minors, being exposed to these obscenities may suffer disturbing effects and could trigger sexually impure ideas and acts that give rise to sex-related offenses,” he said.
He said most of the sex toys are openly peddled at the university belt in Manila.
Tieng wanted to penalize the sale and possession of sex toys “in order to protect the morals of society.”
“This is also in keeping with the policy of the state to value the dignity of every human person and to promote and safeguard its integrity and the moral, spiritual and social being of its citizenry from the pernicious effects of obscene devices,” he said.
Tieng called on the government to “pursue an intensive and unrelenting campaign against the distribution, possession with intent to distribute and production of any obscene device.”
Under the bill, it will be unlawful for any person to distribute, possess with intent to distribute, or offer or agree to distribute, any obscene device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the physical stimulation of human genital organs.
The bill also punishes the manufacturer and distributor of sex toys.
The bill tasks the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Justice to implement the proposed measure.