The minimum age of sexual consent in the Philippines was raised from 12 to 16 years old, strengthening the country’s protection of children against abuse and sexual exploitation.
This development happened after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 116481, which amends the Anti-Rape Act of 1997, now stating that it will be considered statutory rape if an adult has sexual intercourse with a person under 16 years old.
There’s a caveat, i.e. No criminal liability can be imposed even if the person is under 16 as long as the partner is not more than three years older and the sexual act is consensual and non-abusive. The exception does not apply if the victim is under 13 years old.
Prior to this, the Philippines had the second lowest age for sexual consent worldwide, next to Nigeria at age 11, according to Child Rights Network.
