Mina, 12 years old, was raped by her stepfather. Her mother refuses to file a complaint against her partner. The case worker assigned to the case filed the complaint. A man sexually assaulted a woman. He claims that he cannot be charged of rape since the woman is a known prostitute and he can pay her anyway. Under RA 8353, rape is a crime against persons. It recognizes that rape violates a person's well-being, and not just one’s purity or virginity. Any person, whether a prostituted person, non-virgin, or one who has an active sexual life, may be a victim of rape. 6 By reclassifying it as Crime Against Persons, it no longer considers rape as a private crime. The victim or anyone who has knowledge of the crime, may file the complaint. Can a husband be charged for raping his wife? Husbands may also be liable for raping his own wife as, generally, the penalty of rape may apply to marital rape.