Freddie faces seduction raps over 16-year-old girlfriend
MANILA, Philippines - A lawyer reportedly filed a qualified seduction complaint against famed folk singer Freddie Aguilar for having a 16-year-old girlfriend, a relationship that has courted controversy the past weeks.
The case was filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office on Thursday over Aguilar's purported violation of Article 337 of the Revised Penal Code. Aguilar is 60 years old.
According to the code, the elements of qualified seduction are the following:
1. The offended party is a virgin;
2. She must be over 12 and under 18 years of age;
3. The offender has sexual intercourse with her;
4. The offender is a person in public authority, priest, house servant, domestic, guardian, teacher, and one entrusted with the education or custody of the offended party, or a brother or ascendant of the latter.
Aguilar has drew criticisms after he recently admitted to cohabiting with the 16-year-old.
The singer, reacting to the complaint in an interview with DZMM on Thursday, said that he sees nothing wrong with the relationship, which he said has been granted permission by the girl's parents.
"Kapag nagmamahalan ang dalawang tao, may blessing ng kanya-kanyang pamilya nila, meron bang karapatan pa ang kahit sino? ... May problema po ang batas natin, daig pa ang Martial Law n'yan," he said.
Aguilar said he and his girlfriend have been planning to get married once she turns 18, the legal age of consent.
"Nagmamahalan po kami ni (girl's name) at alam ng mga magulang niya at nagpa-plano po kami ng edad ng 18. Seventeen na po si Jovy sa November 29," he said.
Department of Social Welfare and Development social workers recently visited the girl's mother residing in Mindoro.
“The girl is considered a minor under the law. That means she is vulnerable to abuse, and not yet capable to discern,†said Dulfie Shalim, Director IV of DSWD Protective Services Bureau, in a previous interview.
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