Mother gets 16-year prison term for child trafficking

CEBU CITY — A 56-year-old mother is facing 16 years in prison for trying to expose her daughter to cyberpornography.

Nena (not her real name) pleaded guilty to charges of attempted trafficking in persons, attempt to commit child trafficking, and possession of child pornography during the court proceedings on Monday, Jan. 28.

Judge Ramon Daomilas of the Regional Trial Court Branch 11 in Cebu City sentenced the accused to at least 16 years in prison.

She was also ordered to pay damages amounting to P1.1 million.

Nena was originally charged with qualified trafficking in persons, which carries the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of not less than P2 million and not more than P5 million.

She was arrested in an operation conducted last May 27, 2017 in Barangay Opao, Mandaue City.

In a statement, lawyer John Tanagho, field office director of the International Justice Mission in Cebu, expressed elation over the conviction of the suspect.

“Justice is served with today’s conviction through plea bargaining and 16-year prison sentence of the accused. And because of plea bargaining, the child victim no longer needs to testify against the accused trafficker,” he said. “This result is possible because of close coordination between prosecutors, social workers supporting the survivor, and the other parties in the justice system.” /atm