SC affirms conviction of 2 child traffickers

MANILA, Philippines — The use of threat, force or coercion is not required to convict a person who recruited children for sexual exploitation, the Supreme Court ruled as it affirmed the conviction of two child traffickers.

In a decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the high court upheld the conviction of Jhona Villaria and Lourdes Maghirang for eight counts of qualified human trafficking, sentencing each to life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P16 million.

Villaria and Maghirang were arrested during a sting operation in 2016, after they offered to provide girls, aged 14 to 18 years, for a birthday party.

The two asked for P1,000 for three hours and P3,000 for an overnight arrangement for each girl. They then brought several female minors to a hotel room where they were arrested after receiving marked money from police agents.

During trial, eight girls testified that the two lured them to attend a party and perform sexual acts in exchange for money.

The lower court convicted Villaria and Maghirang, dismissing their defense that they did not force, threat or coerce the minors into prostitution.

Both women appealed their case before the Supreme Court.

However, the high court rejected their appeal as it ruled that, under the law, recruiting a child for sexual exploitation is enough to establish trafficking.

“The absence of threat, force or coercion is immaterial and irrelevant… (The accused) evidently took advantage of the victims’ youth and need to earn money to obtain their consent,” the SC said.