Recruiter, brothel owner convicted for trafficking

CEBU, Philippines - A former recruiter and a brothel owner who were arrested and charged for trafficking three women and two minors in 2010 were convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment last Wednesday.

The Regional Trial Court 55 in Mandaue City also slapped Emily Fernandez and Theresa Grecia with a fine of P500,000 each and ordered them to pay P500,000 each to the victims as indemnity.

Both plead guilty to two charges of violation of Republic Act 9208 or Qualified Trafficking in Persons Act.

Last October 2010, one of the mothers of the victims sought assistance from the Mandaue City Police Office – Investigative and Detective Management Bureau to help her search and retrieve her daughter, who was reportedly then bound for Iloilo.

That month, one of the parents of the girls reportedly told Police Inspector Mae Ann Florenosos of IDMB that her daughter was last seen with the alleged recruiter Fernandez, a resident of Sitio Santa Cruz, Barangay Guizo.

The city’s IDMB then coordinated with the Philippine National Police - Maritime Unit in Iloilo and sent a photo of the victim, who was a minor.

The Coast Guard and Iloilo maritime police immediately rescued the two minors while the third victim was rescued separately.

In a press statement, the International Justice Mission commended the maritime police in Iloilo, Florenosos, Police Inspector Ma. Lucille Arca, and Senior Police Officer 3 Marissa Basiga of MCPO-IDMB for looking into the case, as well as rescuing the trafficked victims.

“Significantly, these convictions were achieved through a plea bargain, which is a legal strategy gaining more traction in Cebu,” said Lawyer John Tanagho, IJM deputy field office director.

Tanagho said plea bargains are “significant” because they strengthen the country’s justice system by increasing the speed of trafficking prosecutions. He added that this allows the system to seize more traffickers accountable for their crimes.

Tanagho also said it also provides victims with justice and closure quicker than a trial.

“Instead of waiting years with the uncertainty that the accused will be held accountable, victims move forward with their healing process and on with their lives. It also eliminates the potential for victims to fall prey to the illegal — but unfortunately common — defense tactic of witness tampering,” he concluded. (FREEMAN)