Young teenage couples who have entered into a sexual relationship but have secured their parents' consent may be exempted from any criminal charges under the proposed law increasing the age for statutory rape, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said Sunday.

Likewise, Zubiri said senators are taking into consideration the cultural tradition of Muslims where it is acceptable for them to enter into an arranged marriage as they craft the proposed amendments to the law.

“For same age teenagers, we have included a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ provision in the proposed law. As long as they are of same age, or near the same age, we have no problem with that,” Zubiri said in an interview over GMANews TV.

“But when a 21-year old has sexual relations with a 16-year old, then that would be a problem,” he added.

Zubiri defended the necessity of passing into law the bill increasing the age of sexual consent from 12-years-old to 16-years-old to protect young Filipinos, especially girls, from sexual predators and prevent teenage pregnancy.

He lamented that the current age of consent in the Philippines is at 12-years-old -- considered among the lowest worldwide.

Zubiri said he is amenable to the proposal to exempt Muslims and other groups that are part of the Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) communities in recognition of their “cultural sensitivities.”

“I am open to amendments and proposals raising the age of consent to 18. There are cultures in the country, like with our Muslims, where it is acceptable to get married early at a young age, as long as the parents consent to it,” he said.