Gov't wins 1st conviction for attempted human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines - The Regional Trial Court in Davao City handed the first conviction under the Expanded Human Trafficking Act of 2013, widening the scope of possible prosecutions for what is considered modern-day slavery.

In December, Presiding Judge Salvador Ibarreta Jr. granted the plea of trafficking suspect Frederick Apique to diminish the case to an offense under the expanded law, which covers attempted qualified trafficking.

Read: Senate OKs harsher anti-trafficking bill

Apique was charged for making three minors believe he needs a hand in distributing flyers in the city. The victims, however, said Apique forced them to let him shave their private parts and take their photos while naked.

The court penalized Apique to 15 years of imprisonment and a fine of P500,000. Ibarreta also required him to pay civil liabilities worth P12,000.

Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima, Chairperson of Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), said that this conviction shows the extensiveness of the new anti-trafficking law with the inclusion of the attempted stage in connection with the offense.

"This conviction allows the State to hunt down human traffickers and get them off the streets, even by just proving the intention to commit a particular and specific felony just by their overt acts," she said.

The newly signed law extends the original anti-trafficking law or Republic Act 9208, imposes harsher penalties on attempted trafficking and encourages state officials, not-for-profit entities and the media to publicize the identities of accused traffickers.

The measure also covers all trafficking schemes from sex-related trade and transactions to the hiring of women for child-bearing.