MANILA, Philippines — A court in Cebu City has sentenced a 21-year-old woman to 15 years in prison for offering children to online sex predators.
The woman, who was charged with qualified trafficking in persons, pleaded guilty to attempted trafficking under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
The victims, one of them a niece of the woman, are aged six to 11.
The woman was ordered to pay a fine of P500,000 and P100,000 in exemplary damages.
She was arrested at her house in Cordova town on April 23 last year.
John Tanagho, IJM-Cebu director, said the plea bargaining agreement is a ”win-win” decision.
“This conviction through plea-bargaining 11 months after the rescue operation... gives justice and closure to three young victims, none of whom needed to testify in court to the abuse and trauma they suffered,” Tanagho said.
The IJM said 56 persons have so far been convicted for online trafficking in the country. At least 194 suspects were arrested and 454 victims were rescued. – Mylen Manto/The Freeman