Mandaue City Court Metes 2 Women 15 Years in Jail For Human Trafficking

A Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Mandaue City has found two women guilty of human trafficking and meted them the penalty of 15 years in jail.

Mandaue City RTC Branch 55 Presiding Judge Ferdinand Rafanan found Emily Fernandez and Theresa Grecia guilty of violating Republic Act (RA) 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, for trafficking three women, two of them minors, in Mandaue City five years ago.

RA 9208 was amended by RA 10364, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in 2012, which does not give offenders the confidentiality they enjoyed under RA 9208.

Rafanan also ordered them to pay PHP1 million in fines and damages to the victims.

The court convicted Fernandez, the recruiter, and Grecia, the brothel owner, of attempted trafficking as part of a plea-bargaining agreement.

In 2010, the International Justice Mission (IJM) said the mother of the private complainant sought assistance from the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) to find and rescue her daughter, after learning her daughter was bound for Iloilo.

The MCPO coordinated with the maritime police in Iloilo by sending a copy of the girl’s picture, which helped confirm that the victim was a minor and was among the passengers.

Authorities successfully rescued the three victims. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS