A 32-year-old Filipino man, using the pseudonym Lemuel, has sought urgent advice after a shocking discovery about his girlfriend's age, raising serious legal concerns about statutory rape.
A Relationship Built on a Misunderstanding
Lemuel wrote to the advice column "Tambagi ko Noy Kulas," published on December 1, 2025, detailing his predicament. He explained that he has been in a relationship for four months with a woman he knew as Reah. From the beginning, she told him she was 18 years old.
Despite warnings from friends who described Reah as a known "playgirl" with a history of short-lived relationships, Lemuel pursued the opportunity when she flirted with him. He was captivated by her beauty, pleasant demeanor, and appealing presence.
The Disturbing Truth and Legal Fears
The situation took a serious turn when Lemuel discovered the truth. Reah is actually only 17 years old and will not turn 18 until next year. The couple has already been physically intimate, and Lemuel learned he was not her first partner.
This revelation filled him with anxiety, leading to his core question: "Di ba makiha ko ani if ireklamo ko kay minor pa siya?" (Can I be charged if she files a complaint since she is still a minor?).
Expert Advice on RA 11648 and a Stern Warning
Noy Kulas, the columnist, provided a crucial analysis based on Philippine law. He clarified that since Reah is 17, the case does not automatically fall under statutory rape as defined before recent amendments.
The response highlighted Republic Act 11648, the amended anti-rape law, which includes an important exception. If both parties are adolescents with an age gap not exceeding three years and the act was consensual, it may not be considered statutory rape.
However, Noy Kulas issued a strong warning. The legal protection could vanish if Reah falsely accuses him of rape, a scenario that becomes dangerously likely if she gets pregnant and Lemuel refuses to take responsibility.
The final advice was unequivocal: "Undangi na ang paghilabot niya kay basin magbunga ug mapugos ka pagpanubag kay minor pa." (Stop being intimate with her because if she gets pregnant, you could be forced to take responsibility since she's a minor). The columnist urged Lemuel to heed his friends' earlier warnings and distance himself from the situation immediately to avoid potential legal catastrophe.
