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Child Sex Traffickers Sentenced To 20 Years Imprisonment
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008

PARAÑAQUE CITY, THE PHILIPPINES – At the conclusion of a year-long trial, two perpetrators were pronounced guilty of trafficking minors for sexual exploitation. Both were sentenced to serve 20 years in prison, as well as pay a fine of P1 million (approximately $20,600 USD). The conviction is only the twelfth in the Philippines for this crime, and the second this year.

In this case, four female victims ranging from 14 to 16 years old, were trafficked hundreds of miles and made to work against their wills in a bar, where they were forced to provide sexual services to customers. At the trial's conclusion, two women were convicted of receiving and trafficking victims for sexual exploitation and prostitution in violation of the Philippines’ Anti-Trafficking in Persons Acts of 2003 (RA 9208).

This conviction is a clear statement that the trafficking of minors is simply unacceptable in the Philippines.
– Carmela Andal-Castro, Director, IJM Manila
“This conviction is a clear statement that the trafficking of minors is simply unacceptable in the Philippines,” said Carmela Andal-Castro, Director of International Justice Mission Manila. IJM has been on the forefront of combating the trafficking of women and children in the Philippines since 2001. Both trafficking convictions issued in the Philippines so far this year have been in IJM-involved cases.

“This is a great example of how collaboration among the Department of Justice, law enforcement and the non-government organization sector can bring great results in the fight against trafficking,” explained Andal-Castro.

In February 2007, operatives of the Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation-Anti Human Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD) conducted a rescue operation in Daraga, Albay, after one of the trafficked victims escaped and returned to Manila. The victim and her parents sought help from “Women’s Desk” a public affairs television program focused on women and children in need, which referred the matter to the NBI’s anti-trafficking force. NBI operatives, who posed as customers, arrested the bar's cashier and its owner, now the convicted.

Department of Justice Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy referred the case to International Justice Mission for legal intervention and for assuring that the aftercare needs of the victims were met. IJM Attorney Liwliwa Agbayani was the private prosecutor on the case under Parañaque Public Prosecutor Lamberto Fabros’ direct supervision. An IJM social worker provided constant assistance and support to the four girls.

The Philippines’ Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) acting chairman Ricardo R. Blancaflor thanked Department of Justice prosecutors, the National Bureau of Investigation and IJM for the diligence that resulted in this conviction.

“Let this be a warning also against human traffickers that their glory days are over, and that they must immediately stop. Whether here or abroad, the IACAT will not leave any stone unturned in its efforts to fight the crime of human trafficking,” Blancaflor said.
 
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