President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a proposed law raising the age of sexual consent in the country from 12 to 16 years old.
The president signed the Republic Act No.7610 last March 4 but the copy of the signed law was only released this week.
The amendment on the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act aims to protect children better against sexual abuse and exploitation.
“Any person who shall keep or have in his company a minor 16 years of age or under or who is 10 years or more his junior in any public or private place, hotel, motel, beer joint, discotheque, cabaret, pension house, sauna or massage parlor, beach, and/or other tourist or similar places shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its maximum period and a fine of not less than P50,000,” part of the law read.
The new law also exempts minors from crime if its consensual sex and if their age gap is not more than three years old.
The new law will take effect 15 days after publication.
