Press Release
December 7, 2005
Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez commended today government authorities for the successful conviction of three(3) human traffickers and illegal recruiters who were meted by the Philippine court to suffer two(2) life imprisonment for violation of the Anti-Trafficking Law and illegal recruitment.
"I congratulate the prosecutors, the presiding judge, and police investigators for a speedy disposition of the case. We are beginning to gain from our crusade against trafficking in person, “ Gonzalez said.
The secretary, as Chairperson of Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, also commended the victim “ for coming forward and seek justice for the harm done to her. He urges other victims to come out and cooperate with government and trust the judicial system in prosecuting their perpetrators.
Sentenced by the Zamboanga City RTC to suffer two life imprisonment were Hadja Jarma Lalli y Purih, Ronnie Aringoy y Masion and Nestor Relampagos. They were also ordered to pay a total fine of Ph 2,500,000.oo in damages.
The case stemmed from the recruitment of a 23-year-old woman from Zamboanga City for a work in Sandakan, Malaysia as a restaurant entertainer but landed as prostitute in Malysia . The victim was forced or sold to customers for sex against her will without compensation.
In a related development, two(2) more traffickers in Batangas City pleaded guilty to a lesser offense under the Trafficking Law and were convicted to suffer lesser penalty. Another person was likewise sentenced in Butuan City for White Slave Traffic which is punishable under the Revised Penal Code.
The convictions come as a signal to traffickers that the government is more than serious in its efforts in combating trafficking in persons. Reports had it that more convictions are to come in connection with the 68 cases pending trial and more than 80 cases are pending investigations in prosecution offices and courts in the country.
The development come in time for the visit of US Ambassador at-large, John Miller, Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, US State Department. Miller made a courtesy call of the Department and DOJ officials.
The US government released its 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report placing the Philippines in Tier 2 Watchlist Category for its alleged failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to convict human traffickers.
In response, the President ordered the DOJ and all other concerned law enforcement agencies to “work hard and double efforts in addressing this scourge that continue to prey on our innocent countrymen especially our women and children”.
Two years ago, Republic Act No.9208 otherwise known as the “Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003” was enacted into law .
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