(Philippine legal context; informational overview, not legal advice.)

1) The starting point: age of sexual consent and who is a “child”

Age of sexual consent

In the Philippines, a child below the legal age of sexual consent is deemed incapable of giving valid consent to sexual intercourse (and related sexual acts). When the complainant is below that threshold, “consent” is legally irrelevant for the core offenses discussed below.

“Child” under child-protection laws

Separate from the age of sexual consent, many Philippine child-protection statutes treat a “child” as a person below 18 years old, so even when the victim is above the age of sexual consent, an adult can still face liability if the situation involves abuse, exploitation, coercion, authority, influence, or trafficking/online exploitation.

Practical takeaway:

Below the age of sexual consent: the adult is exposed to the most severe sexual-offense charges even if the minor “agreed.”
Below 18: the adult may still be criminally liable under child-abuse, exploitation, trafficking, or online sexual exploitation laws depending on circumstances.

2) Major criminal offenses that can apply

A. Rape (including statutory rape)

Philippine law treats rape as a grave felony. It generally covers:

Sexual intercourse committed through force, intimidation, deprivation of reason, abuse of authority, or when the victim is otherwise incapable of giving valid consent; and
Sexual intercourse with a child below the legal age of consent (commonly called statutory rape)—where proof of force is not required.

Common consequences

Very long imprisonment, often reaching reclusión perpetua (a severe penalty that can mean decades of imprisonment).
Aggravating/qualifying circumstances can increase severity (e.g., when the offender is a parent/guardian/relative by blood or affinity within certain degrees, a person in authority, a teacher, or when the victim is very young, among others). Certain qualifying circumstances can lead to reclusión perpetua without parole in practice under Philippine sentencing rules for formerly death-penalty-eligible crimes.

Key point: statutory rape is often treated as strict—an adult’s claim of “the minor looked older” is generally a dangerous and unreliable defense.

B. Rape by sexual assault / Sexual assault

Acts short of penile-vaginal intercourse can still constitute rape by sexual assault (for example, certain forms of penetration or compelled sexual acts), depending on the act committed and how the law classifies it.

Common consequences

Substantial imprisonment (typically lower than the highest rape penalty, but still severe), plus damages and collateral consequences.

C. Acts of lasciviousness / Lascivious conduct

If the conduct is sexual in nature but does not meet the legal definition of rape, prosecutors may pursue:

Acts of lasciviousness under the Revised Penal Code; and/or
Lascivious conduct / sexual abuse under child-protection statutes when the victim is a child (below 18) and circumstances show exploitation, coercion, or abuse of authority/influence.

Common consequences

Imprisonment that can still be serious, especially when prosecuted as child sexual abuse under special laws.
Protective orders, no-contact conditions, and other restrictions.

D. Child abuse and sexual abuse under special child-protection law

Even when a minor is not below the age of sexual consent, an adult can still be prosecuted where the relationship involves:

Abuse of authority, influence, moral ascendancy, grooming, manipulation, coercion, or exploitation; or
The child is subjected to sexual activity as “abuse” under child-protection frameworks.

These cases are often charged under special laws, which can be harsher and may reduce reliance on “consent” narratives when power imbalance is present.

E. Child prostitution, sexual exploitation, and trafficking

If the situation involves money, gifts, shelter, transportation, debts, favors, or a “transactional” setup, liability can escalate into:

Child prostitution / sexual exploitation offenses, and/or
Human trafficking offenses (including recruitment, transport, harboring, provision, or receipt of a child for exploitation).

Common consequences

Very severe imprisonment and significant fines.
Broader liability: people who facilitate (pimps, fixers, hotel operators, drivers, recruiters) can be charged.
Assets used or derived from trafficking-related conduct may be subject to forfeiture.

F. Child pornography and online sexual abuse/exploitation (OSAEC)

If any photos/videos/chats are involved, exposure expands dramatically:

Creating, possessing, distributing, streaming, or facilitating child sexual abuse material can result in separate, additional charges.
Online grooming, livestream exploitation, coercive sextortion, or trading images can trigger specialized anti-OSAEC/anti-CSAM enforcement.
Even “private” sharing between two people can still be criminal if it involves a child.

Common consequences

Multiple counts (each file, act of distribution, or transaction can be charged separately).
Cybercrime investigations often involve device seizure, forensic extraction, and cooperation with platforms/telecoms.

G. Other related offenses that may attach

Depending on facts, authorities may also consider:

Abduction/kidnapping-related charges if the minor was taken or detained.
Physical injuries / threats / coercion if violence, intimidation, or blackmail occurred.
Domestic/relationship violence frameworks in some contexts (especially if cohabitation and abuse are present), though child-specific statutes often remain primary.

3) “Consensual” relationships: when consent does not protect the adult

When the minor is below the age of consent

Consent is not a defense to statutory rape-type liability.

When the minor is below 18 but above the age of consent

Even if the minor is above the age of consent, an adult may still be exposed when there is:

Authority / influence (teacher, coach, religious leader, employer, guardian, step-parent, much older partner leveraging dependence);
Economic or emotional leverage (support, allowance, gifts, shelter, “utang,” threats of abandonment);
Coercion, intimidation, grooming, intoxication, or psychological control;
Any form of commercial/transactional component;
Any creation/possession/distribution of sexual images/videos.

In short: “We were in a relationship” is not a shield where law views the situation as child abuse or exploitation.

4) Investigation and prosecution: what typically happens

Reporting and initial response

Cases may begin through:

Police blotter/report,
Referral from schools, social workers, barangay authorities,
Family complaints, or
Cyber-tip reports (for online cases).

Case building and evidence

Common evidence sources include:

Victim statements (often with child-sensitive interviewing protocols),
Medical/forensic findings (where relevant),
Chat logs, call records, social media DMs,
Photos/videos, cloud backups, device forensics,
Witnesses to grooming/cohabitation/transactions.

Court handling involving minors

Philippine procedure provides child-sensitive mechanisms (e.g., protective measures for child witnesses, limits on harassment, possible in-camera testimony depending on context and court orders).

Who files the case

Rape and child-abuse prosecutions are typically pursued by the State through the prosecutor, not merely as a private dispute.

5) Penalties and sentencing: what an adult risks

Penalties vary by charge and facts, but the risk profile is often extreme:

Rape/statutory rape: among the harshest penalties in Philippine criminal law, commonly reclusión perpetua ranges; qualifiers can effectively mean no parole in practice for certain formerly capital-eligible forms.
Child sexual abuse under special laws: can carry very heavy prison terms, sometimes comparable to rape depending on statutory classification and circumstances.
Trafficking/child sexual exploitation: very severe imprisonment and fines, plus asset forfeiture possibilities.
Child pornography/OSAEC/CSAM: heavy prison terms that can stack across multiple counts; cybercrime angles can intensify enforcement.

Stacking exposure: A single course of conduct can produce multiple cases (e.g., rape/sexual abuse + trafficking + CSAM + cybercrime), multiplying penalties.

6) Civil liabilities (money damages) and protective orders

Criminal conviction often carries civil liability alongside imprisonment. Courts may award combinations of:

Civil indemnity (as a form of compensation recognized in criminal jurisprudence),
Moral damages,
Exemplary damages (especially with aggravating circumstances),
Restitution/other relief where applicable.

Courts may also impose protective/no-contact conditions, and in many scenarios the child may be placed under protective custody or supported through social welfare interventions.

7) Collateral consequences beyond prison

Even apart from incarceration and damages, a convicted adult can face:

No-contact orders and restrictions on proximity to the victim,
Employment consequences, especially in schools, childcare, healthcare, government, or roles involving minors,
Immigration/travel consequences for non-citizens (including deportation after sentence, visa issues, blacklisting),
Reputational harm and community restrictions,
Device seizure and long-term monitoring realities in online-exploitation cases.

8) Special scenarios that commonly increase legal risk

A. Adult is a teacher/coach/religious leader/guardian/employer

Power imbalance and “moral ascendancy” themes make child sexual abuse and qualified forms of offenses more likely.

B. Cohabitation (“live-in”) with a minor

Cohabitation does not legalize sex with a minor and can be treated as evidence of exploitation or abuse, especially if dependency is shown.

C. “Allowance,” gifts, rent, support, or favors

Even without overt “payment for sex,” benefits exchanged can be used to support exploitation/trafficking theories depending on facts.

D. Sexting or exchanging sexual images with a minor

This can rapidly become multiple separate felonies (possession, distribution, production, grooming/OSAEC-related offenses), even if the minor voluntarily sent images.

9) Common myths that do not reliably protect an adult

“The minor consented.” Not a defense when below the age of consent; often insufficient where abuse/exploitation exists under 18.
“We are boyfriend/girlfriend.” Relationship labels do not erase criminal elements.
“The minor lied about age.” Frequently not a dependable defense; adults are expected to exercise extreme caution.
“The family forgave/settled.” Many of these are offenses against the State; settlement does not necessarily stop prosecution.
“No penetration, so no crime.” Lascivious conduct, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and CSAM offenses can apply without intercourse.

10) If you need help: practical, lawful next steps

If you are a victim, parent/guardian, or mandated reporter: consider contacting law enforcement and child-protection offices, and preserve digital evidence (screenshots, URLs, devices) without altering files.
If you are accused or under investigation: consult a Philippine criminal defense lawyer immediately and avoid any contact with the minor or attempts to retrieve/delete messages or media (those actions can create additional liability).

Bottom line

In the Philippines, an adult who engages in sexual relations with a minor faces serious criminal exposure, often under rape/statutory rape, child sexual abuse, trafficking/exploitation, and online child sexual abuse material laws—plus civil damages and far-reaching collateral consequences. The younger the child, the stronger the power imbalance, and the more digital evidence involved, the higher the likelihood of multiple charges and extreme penalties.

If you tell me the minor’s age, the adult’s age, and the relationship context (teacher/guardian? online? exchanged money/images?), I can map the most likely charges and consequences in a clearer issue-spotting format.