IACAT wins 108th conviction vs human traffickers

MANILA, Philippines - The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) has scored anew in its campaign against human traffickers with the recent conviction of a club manager by a Mandaue City, Cebu regional trial court.

In an 11-page judgment, Mandaue RTC Branch 28 Judge Raphael Yrastorza found accused Nicole Cabilan guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Cabilan, manager of Club Harem, was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of P5 million.

Records show that Cabilan was arrested by IACAT agents from the National Bureau of Investigation and the International Justice Mission  during a raid in 2006 where four victims, including two minors, were rescued from what authorities described as an “untouchable strip club.”

Cabilan was charged with another suspect who died during the pendency of the case. This case is the 108th conviction won by IACAT since it was created in 2005.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who chairs IACAT, lauded the prosecutors who handled the case, as she expressed optimism that more arrested human traffickers would be convicted in court.

“Catching these human traffickers is one thing, punishing them is another. We will ensure that proper and prompt prosecution will be done so those who are guilty will be punished,” De Lima said in a statement.

Andrey Sawchenko, IJM national director for the Philippines, also welcomed the development, saying, “Every conviction of a trafficker demonstrates that these crimes are no longer tolerable in the Philippines. The days of impunity have ended. We are seeing a wave of momentum.” 

Last month, the Philippines maintained its Tier 2 status in the latest US State Department trafficking in persons report.

While the report said the overall number of prosecutions and convictions remained disproportionately low for the size of the problem, it also cited significant steps taken by the government, including identification, prosecution and dismissal from the service of officials complicit in human trafficking activities.

The report cited two recorded criminal cases filed against government officials for facilitating the illegal departure of overseas workers and the significant increase in the prosecution of suspected offenders and protection of witnesses in trafficking cases through IACAT.