Iligan court sentences trafficker to up to 23 years in prison

An Iligan court has sentenced a trafficker to up to 23 years in prison after she pled guilty to offenses related to the online sexual exploitation of children.

The International Justice Mission (IJM) said in a press statement on Wednesday, December 1, that  a Regional Trial Court branch in Iligan City handed down the decision on November 24, after the trafficker entered guilty pleas to offenses under Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, RA 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, and RA 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act.

IJM said that since the woman pled guilty to the offense of attempted trafficking, she was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay a P500,000-fine. 

For two offenses under the Anti-Child Abuse Law, she was sentenced to imprisonment of two years and two days to four years, eight months, and two days.

For her offense under the Anti-Child Pornography Act, she was sentenced to two years, four months, and one day to four years and two months in prison.

The court also ordered her to pay each complainant P50,000 in civil liabilities for each of the four cases.

The woman was arrested in June 2019. Four children were rescued, including her 8-year-old daughter and two girls aged 3 and 11 whom she all offered for online sexual exploitation.

Police also rescued the woman’s infant son who was considered as an at-risk child.

“All children have been reintegrated into the community but are continuing to undergo rehabilitative interventions,” IJM said.

Regional Prosecutor Merlynn Uy, head of the Department of Justice Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Force in Northern Mindanao, said, “This is another big step in our continuing fight against human trafficking, one that is being fought along with non-government organizations which share the same advocacy such as the International Justice Mission (IJM).”

On November 18, the same court sentenced a trafficker and his female accomplice for similar offenses. – Rappler.com