By Jeffrey Damicog

Two persons have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for peddling teen-aged girls in an apparent sex trade.

NBI spokesman Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin identified one of the arrested suspects as Alvin Baldomar, 21. A cohort, who was also arrested, was reported to be only 17 years old.

Lavin said the suspects were arrested by the NBI’s Anti-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD) in an entrapment operation in Pasig City last Wednesday.

The suspects were caught in the act of receiving money from an NBI agent who posed as a customer.

During the operation, NBI agents also rescued five female victims, aged 14 to 17 years old, as well as a 19-year-old woman.

Lavin said the suspects were offering the girls to clients for sex for a fee ranging from P3,000 to P5,000.

Following their arrest, the two suspects were brought before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for inquest on charges of violating Republic Act 9208 (the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) as amended and RA 7610 (Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, Discrimination, and for Other Purposes.

While, the rescued five teen-aged girls have been taken into custody by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).