Two female high school students reportedly selling ‘seductive’ photos on social media were turned over to the Manila City Social Welfare Office, the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center (PNP WCPC) said.
Police visited both girls at their homes in Tondo and initially brought them to the WCPC office for assessment last Oct. 14 and 15, following a tip from a concerned citizen.
This report was given by WCPC spokesperson Maj. Shari Deseo said in an interview with reporters in Camp Crame on Tuesday.
‘They were already turned over to our social welfare [office] for psychosocial intervention,’ Deseo noted.
‘They were posting seductive pictures of themselves on their social accounts. If a client is enticed by them, they’ll talk and arrange to meet at a mall. If they come to an agreement, they’d go to a hotel. They’d be paid P5,000 every transaction,’ Deseo detailed.
The WCPC spokesperson did not identify the girls, only saying they were a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old from the same public high school in Manila.
‘For allowance for school’
Deseo added that the elder of the two girls began selling her photos and meeting up with clients in early 2024, while the younger of the two girls started later that year.
Why were the girls selling photos and meeting with clients? Deseo answered, ‘They say it was for their allowance in school.’
‘Another thing here is the 15-year-old victim came from a broken family or a dysfunctional family. That’s what became the trigger for her because her parents separated. So, she was just trying to make ends meet and earn money for her studies,’ she said.
Deseo further said the girls may not be criminally liable since they were minors, but their clients and the hotels that catered to them may be held liable for violation of Republic Act No. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Those found liable may face a penalty of up to P5 million in fines and life imprisonment, according to WCPC Director Brig. Gen. Maria Shiela Portento in the interview.
According to the WCPC’s data, at least 149 victims were rescued in 129 anti-online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC) and anti-child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM) operations from January to September 2025, arresting 57 suspects.
Meanwhile, during the whole year of 2024, police rescued 269 victims of OSAEC and CSAEM in 179 operations, apprehending 105 suspects. /apl