Two found guilty for exploiting women

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Trial Court in Cebu City convicted two persons for hiring and offering girls for sexual exploitation in 2013.

 Last Monday, Judge Ester Veloso sentenced Geraldine Barinque and Ryan Alfante to 15 years of imprisonment and a fine of P500, 000 each.

 The court also awarded moral damages to the private complainants with P100, 000 each.

 The two accused pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of attempted trafficking in persons.

 The case stemmed from an entrapment operation of the Philippine National Police Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, Regional Intelligence Division of the PRO-7, led by PSI Maria Theresa Macatangay, in a hotel in Mabolo, Cebu City on July 5, 2013.

 Barinque reportedly sent 10 ladies, two of whom were minors, to a foreigner and a police who acted as customer decoys. Alfante, on the other hand, transported the ladies from Toledo City to Cebu City using a rented van.

 Barinque received from the police decoy a total of P40,000 marked money as payment for the sexual services of the victims.

 After the transaction, the police then arrested Barinque and Alfante, and rescued the 10 victims.  The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 took the victims under their custody.

 The entrapment and rescue operation was conducted in coordination with DSWD-7 and the International Justice Mission (IJM).

 The Cebu City Prosecution Office charged Barinque and Alfante with Qualified Trafficking in Persons under Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) since two of the victims were minors and the act was committed in large-scale, or against three or more persons.

 Qualified trafficking is punishable by life imprisonment.

 During trial, the prosecution presented four witnesses- the three of the rescued victims and PO3 Lyman Norifel Arsua.

  Barinque, through her defense counsel, expressed her desire to enter into plea bargain for the lesser offense of attempted trafficking in persons only.

Alfante also communicated his willingness to enter into a plea bargain for attempted trafficking in persons. (FREEMAN)