A few days ago, I came across this Facebook page for sex workers targeting transgender women, and gay and bisexual men. And one post immediately popped for me – i.e. of a minor who, at 16, was looking for clients. At least 21 LGBTQIA people responded to his ad.
Yes: Facebook SHOULD NOT be allowing this to exist, in the first place. But Meta’s “community standards” as it operates Facebook is always questionable. So posts such as this is too frequently seen.
As FYI: the age of sexual consent in the Philippines is 16. Republic Act (RA) No. 11648, signed by Rodrigo Roa Duterte in 2022, amended RA 3815 (Revised Penal Code) and RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act) by raising the age for determining statutory rape from 12 to 16.
To wit:
Rape is committed by a person who shall have carnal knowledge of another person “when the offended party is under 16 years of age or is demented… provided, that there shall be no criminal liability on the part of a person having carnal knowledge of another person under 16 years of age when the age difference between the parties is not more than three years, and the sexual act in question is proven to be consensual, non-abusive, and non-exploitative: Provided, further, that if the victim is under 13 years of age, this exception shall not apply.”
So yeah, that person selling sex is already 16, and gay and bisexual men who like them young may say that the law is on their side (that is, the child is already “of age”).
But note that exceptions will only be made for teenage couples as long as their age difference does not exceed three years, and that the sexual activity is consensual.
Also, RA 11648 also amended Articles 337 or “qualified seduction” of the Revised Penal Code. And it now states:
“The seduction of a minor, 16 and over but under 18 years of age, committed by any person in public authority, priest, home-servant, domestic, guardian, teacher, or any person who, in any capacity, shall be entrusted with the education of custody of the minor seduced, shall be punished by prision correctional in its minimum and medium periods.”
Also, under the law, all children who, for money, profit, or any other consideration or due to coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group, indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, “are deemed to be children exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.”
So, yes bhe, illegal yang ginagawa nyo (what you’re doing is illegal).
Not to mention: It’s morally reprehensible.
Too many LGBTQIA people faced abuses – e.g. nilublob sa drum (drowned in a water-filled drum), pinasok sa sako (stuffed in a sack), and yes, ginahasa ng mas matanda (molested by someone older). And now that we’re the older people, why in hell are you choosing to do the abusing?
Kaya puwede ba (And so please): Help the minor by choosing not to abuse him, and call out those who – even if they know better – still choose to be abusive. Mga salot sa lipunan at mantsa sa LGBTQIA community (These are pests in society and stains in the LGBTQIA community).
