MINORS are now exploiting their fellow minors in Baguio City.

On November 10, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDG-CAR) rescued four minors from prostitution, through an entrapment operation.

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According to Chief Inspector Mely Davis of the women and children protection of the CIDG, the four girls were peddled for P1,500 per customer by a 17-year-old pimp.

Davis said P500 goes to the pimp and P1,000 to the girls.

The rescued minors were aged 13, 14, 16 and 17.

Unlike the traditional form of enticing customers, which is usually done in bars or other public places, Davis said Candice (not his real name), the gay pimp, works by keeping a directory of customers. Transactions are all done through text messages.

The girls are later brought to a place where they are fetched by a customer.

Davis said the operation could not be considered syndicated prostitution yet, albeit they are trying to verify if there is truth to Candice's claim that he started only last July.

Candice's apprehension and the rescue of the four minors stemmed from a complaint lodged by one of the girls’ parents.

The entrapment is a flagship project of CIDG's Oplan Magdalena and Sagip Anghel, an anti-prostitution and child abuse program.

Davis raised the alarm on the rising number of prostitution among minors. While this is the first operation done by the CIDG, she said police regularly receive reports about minors who also act as pimps for fellow minors.

Unlike in bars where authorities could inspect and operations could be regulated, transactions done through text messages are harder to monitor, Davis said.

She said this is why the CIDG intensified its monitoring of areas where transactions and prostitution are usually reported.

"Prostitution has grown at an alarming rate here in Baguio, especially with the economic crisis, which pushes more Filipino women, including children, into the flesh trade," a press release of the CIDG stated.

Davis said exposure to the sex trade also increases the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections.

While under CSWDO's custody, a complaint for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 was filed against Candice.

In Section 6 of the Juvenile Justice Act or Republic Act 9344, a child 15 years or under at the time of the commission of the offense will be exempt from criminal liability.

However, the child will be subjected to an intervention program.

A child above 15 years but below 18 years will likewise be exempted from criminal liability and be subjected to an intervention program, unless he/she has acted with discernment, in which case, such child will be subjected to the appropriate court proceedings.

The exemption from criminal liability, however, does not include exemption from civil liability.