Dear PAO,
My girlfriend commutes daily in going to work. From our place, she rides the tricycle then jeepney and then a UV Express van. When she came home the other day, she told me about her harrowing experience with the driver of the UV Express she rode. According to her, the driver of the UV Express harassed her by making lewd comments about her body as he kept on giving her malicious glances while she sat next to him during her ride home. We heard about the new law about safe spaces in the streets for women. We are wondering if the incident in the UV Express is within the scope of this law. I hope you can advise and explain the law to us.
Milcah
Dear Milcah,
It appears from your narration that the law you are talking about is Republic Act (RA) 11313, known as the "Safe Spaces Act." This law was passed as part of the policy of the State to value dignity of every human person and guarantee full respect for human rights and to ensure that both men and women must have equality, security and safety not only in private, but also in the streets and public places, among others. (Sec. 2, RA 11313)
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