Philippines – Sexual Conduct Law
Criminal provisions, penalties, and historical context
⚠️ Legal Risk Notice
- Age of consent is 16; any sexual act with a person under 16 is statutory rape, except for narrow close‑in‑age cases where partners are within 3 years and over 13, provided the act is truly consensual and non‑exploitative.
[cnn](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/07/asia/philippines-age-of-sexual-consent-raised-intl-hnk)
- Sex work is illegal under Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code and covered by the Anti‑Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208, as amended by RA 10364); both sex workers and clients can face jail or fines, and trafficking‑related charges can reach life imprisonment.
[digest](https://www.digest.ph/laws/an-act-decriminalizing-vagrancy)
- “Acts of lasciviousness” and “grave scandal” (public indecency) are criminal offences, typically carrying several months’ jail or fines, and are used by police against couples in public spaces.
[legalresource](https://legalresource.ph/grave-scandal-a200-revised-penal-code/)
- Foreigners are prosecuted under the same laws; after serving a sentence, deportation is possible, especially for trafficking or child‑exploitation convictions.
[pcw.gov](https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-republic-act-9208/)
📊 Quick Reference – Philippines
| Offence | Penalty Range |
|---|
| Rape (RPC Art. 266‑A) | 20 years – Life imprisonment; up to death in aggravated cases |
[jur](https://jur.ph/law/summary/the-anti-rape-law-of-1997)
| Sex with Minor (under 16) | 20 years – Life (statutory‑rape treatment) |
[pna.gov](https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169147)
| Acts of Lasciviousness (RPC Art. 336‑type) | 6 months – 6 years |
[lawyer-philippines](https://www.lawyer-philippines.com/articles/act-of-lasciviousness-in-the-philippines)
| Child Pornography (RA 9775) | 12 years – Life imprisonment |
[elibrary.judiciary.gov](https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/16874)
| Prostitution (selling or buying; RPC Art. 202‑style) | Fine – Up to ~2 years for recidivist; overlapped by trafficking‑type‑upward‑penalties |
[digest](https://www.digest.ph/laws/an-act-decriminalizing-vagrancy)
| Human Trafficking (RA 9208 / RA 10364) | 15 years – Life imprisonment |
[pcw.gov](https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-republic-act-9208/)
| Public Indecency / Grave Scandal (RPC Art. 200) | Fine – 6 months imprisonment |
[legalresource](https://legalresource.ph/grave-scandal-a200-revised-penal-code/)
📜 Penalties at a Glance – Philippines
| Offence | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|
| Rape (RPC Art. 266‑A) | 20 years (prision mayor / 12+ years‑type floor) | Life imprisonment (often death in aggravated rape‑266‑B framework, on paper) |
[chanrobles](https://chanrobles.com/republicactno8353.html)
| Acts of Lasciviousness (RPC Art. 336‑derived‑rules) | 6 months | 6 years |
[lawyer-philippines](https://www.lawyer-philippines.com/articles/act-of-lasciviousness-in-the-philippines)
| Sex with Minor (under 16; statutory‑rape) | 20 years | Life imprisonment |
[cnn](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/07/asia/philippines-age-of-sexual-consent-raised-intl-hnk)
| Sex with Child under 13 | 20 years | Life (automatic rape‑qualifying‑circumstance treatment) |
[cnn](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/07/asia/philippines-age-of-sexual-consent-raised-intl-hnk)
| Child Pornography (RA 9775) | 12 years | Life imprisonment |
[elibrary.judiciary.gov](https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/16874)
| Prostitution (selling or buying, RPC Art. 202‑amended) | Fine / 1–30 days jail (first offence) | Up to ~2 years / higher fines, plus trafficking‑escalation |
[digest](https://www.digest.ph/laws/an-act-decriminalizing-vagrancy)
| Human Trafficking (RA 9208 / RA 10364) | 15 years | Life imprisonment |
[pcw.gov](https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-republic-act-9208/)
| Public Indecency / Grave Scandal (RPC Art. 200) | Fine / minor‑jail term | 6 months |
[legalresource](https://legalresource.ph/grave-scandal-a200-revised-penal-code/)
Overview
The Philippines’ sexual‑conduct framework is based on the Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815) and major special laws: Republic Act No. 8353 (Anti‑Rape Law of 1997 – Article 266‑A), RA 11648 (Raise the Age of Sexual Consent to 16, 2022), RA 9775 (Anti‑Child Pornography Act), and the Anti‑Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208, amended by RA 10364). These laws emphasise protection of minors, women, and victims of trafficking, and apply equally to Filipinos and foreigners.
[chanrobles](https://chanrobles.com/republicactno8353.html)
