surprise visit

[Gingert76]

I am planning on a trip in a few weeks to surprise my fiancee, the plan is to arrive and meet her sister (who is 16) in davao and then travel the next day to my fiancee, the thing is i need a hotel for me and her sister and her sister said that there are new rules (or similar) that in davao she cannot stay in a hotel as under 18? obviously i want a hotel with two rooms but i tried to book online and it came up with a error so is she right??? my fiancee hasnt seen me or her sister for 6 months hence why we want to surprise her.

Thanks

Tony

[Gingert76]

just been reading through the forum and there was a post that is locked now with some guy who was going to meet a 16yr old, this is completely different as she will be my sis in law and i have zero interest in her but if we are out having dinner (her sister will be working the first day and she works nights) will i be in trouble by having dinner with someone so young?

Last time i was there all three of us were out having dinner and things were fine but after reading the other thread i am now more than a little concerned as i do not want to be seen as doing anything wrong.

Any advice is more than welocome 

[jjcabgou]

ummmmmm book two separate hotel rooms.   Of course you should NOT book a hotel room with a 16 year old girl.  Are you really asking this?

[Art, just a re(tired) Fil-Am]

Tony,
Just a general overall comment. You're a foreigner in a foreign land. All eyes are upon you. To avoid any unfortunate incidents of any wrong doing in the eyes of the Filipino people and of the Philippine laws in this backward misguided country, elliminate any preceived perception in question and you will be fine in this foreign land.
Ignorance of the local laws in any country is no excuse.
I'm glad that you are asking all the right questions.
Good luck in your upcoming marriage.

[Gingert76]

JJCAB, i made it pretty clear i have zero interest in a 16yr old and im just trying to avoid any embarressment for both her and me as i need to book a hotel for two rooms but ive tried two hotels online and both error and she said about this new rule and from my reading i want to make sure i do not insult anyone or get arrested, im also marrying her older sister!!!

Thanks for the reply Art, that is exactly why i am asking to avoid issues for her, her family and me and i do not want everyone staring at me as i walk by with my sis in law.

[Steve & Myrlita]

Hi Tony, welcome.
I read your posts and have a suggestion if I may. Have your Fiancee book "Her Own Room" with her sister as "HER" guest. You book your own separate room not adjacent to hers. If asked, the 16 yr old is NOT in your company but your fiancee's. Also, never I repeat "Never" be alone with the 16 yr old even for 30 seconds for any reason. This should work just fine and remove any "perceived" appearance of impropriety. Good luck to you and your fiancee. God Bless....

[Gingert76]

thanks for the reply, my faincee wont be there as the flight i need to get will get there two days before she finishes work so plan was to arrive, meet sis in law (future lol) then stay for a day and travel and surprise my finacee at her work but think i will be telling sis to just meet me the next day to at the bus station to avoid any issues, we were just trying to be nice and surprise her as i love surprises but hey ho

[User444]

You are not married yet and so it is risky to be in the presence of the younger sister alone because you aren't related yet.

You may have innocent intentions, but what will the police think if they see you together? Or the restaurant/hotel manager who may talk to the police? This is talking about being in the same room, so being in public probably wouldn't be a big deal, but notice that it says "any person who, not being a relative of a child, is found alone".... Better to be safe than sorry.

Sec. 6. Attempt To Commit Child Prostitution. - There is an attempt to commit child prostitution under Section 5, paragraph (a) hereof when any person who, not being a relative of a child, is found alone with the said child inside the room or cubicle of a house, an inn, hotel, motel, pension house, apartelle or other similar establishments, vessel, vehicle or any other hidden or secluded area under circumstances which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the child is about to be exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.
https://pcw.gov.ph/law/republic-act-7610

Yes, just meet the younger sister later to avoid and problems.

[M.C.A.]

That surprise would be on you I'd ditch her sister and stop talking to her period and just meet your future wife you don't want to meet the sister ever not good no matter how you make it seem what a huge mistake would be my take.

[Tim_L]

You can go to jail for even being in her company without an adult relative of hers being present.
Don’t even go there, it’s not worth it.

[User444]

The previous post by the other member is here:
http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/forum/index.php?topic=52734.0

The response was:
Second and most important, it is illegal for you to be with someone under 18 in any public or private place and that likely includes her home, many westerners have been arrested just being with someone under 18 and the jails in the Philippines are nothing like back home and justice is very slow in the Philippines, it can take many years to be brought to trial, in the meantime westerners can rot in Philippine jails. 

Republic Act No. 7610
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1992/ra_7610_1992.html
ARTICLE VI
Section 3. Definition of Terms. –

(a)   "Children" refers to person below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition;
Other Acts of Abuse
(b)   Any person who shall keep or have in his company a minor, twelve (12) years or under or who in ten (10) years or more his junior in any public or private place, hotel, motel, beer joint, discotheque, cabaret, pension house, sauna or massage parlor, beach and/or other tourist resort or similar places shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000): Provided, That this provision shall not apply to any person who is related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity or any bond recognized by law, local custom and tradition or acts in the performance of a social, moral or legal duty.



This part sounds like a man who is 40 years old cannot be at a restaurant with a 29 year old because it's beyond the 10 year cutoff. "or who in ten (10) years or more his junior in any public or private place"

[Peter]

The previous post by the other member is here:
http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/forum/index.php?topic=52734.0

The response was:
Second and most important, it is illegal for you to be with someone under 18 in any public or private place and that likely includes her home, many westerners have been arrested just being with someone under 18 and the jails in the Philippines are nothing like back home and justice is very slow in the Philippines, it can take many years to be brought to trial, in the meantime westerners can rot in Philippine jails. 

Republic Act No. 7610
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1992/ra_7610_1992.html
ARTICLE VI
Section 3. Definition of Terms. –

(a)   "Children" refers to person below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition;
Other Acts of Abuse
(b)   Any person who shall keep or have in his company a minor, twelve (12) years or under or who in ten (10) years or more his junior in any public or private place, hotel, motel, beer joint, discotheque, cabaret, pension house, sauna or massage parlor, beach and/or other tourist resort or similar places shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000): Provided, That this provision shall not apply to any person who is related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity or any bond recognized by law, local custom and tradition or acts in the performance of a social, moral or legal duty.



This part sounds like a man who is 40 years old cannot be at a restaurant with a 29 year old because it's beyond the 10 year cutoff. "or who in ten (10) years or more his junior in any public or private place"

The RA  refers to a "minor", i.e. one who has not obtained the age of majority, or is a person who cannot take care of themselves (one who is special needs or suffering from Downs Syndrome maybe.) In the Philippines, 18 is the age of majority, where a child becomes an adult in the eyes of the Law.

e.g. A 29 year old man (you notice the RA states "... in his company a minor...."), cannot be out with a 17 years 11 month person, who is still legally classed as a child, if they aren't a relative.

Peter

[Gray Wolf]

My dalawa centavos worth: Meet the future sis-in-law just after she arrives to see her sister. I wouldn't even meet up with her at the bus stop. No contact at all until you've met your future wife. You could be walking into a hornet's nest like a honey coated possum and get stung, Big Time.

Good luck with your future wife. Concentrate on her first. Think of her honor first. Keep yourself out of trouble before the relationship even begins.

[User444]

How was the surprise?