Live-in partners get life imprisonment for trafficking a minor

Live-in partners in Bulacan were sentenced to life imprisonment after they were found guilty of qualified human trafficking, 

In a press release, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking said Malolos City Regional Trial Court Judge Francisco M. Beley also ordered the two to pay their minor victim P2 million each; 500,000 pesos for moral damages; and 100,000 pesos for exemplary damages.

In a 22-page decision, the court said the couple lured their victim and initially hired as a house helper. They forced her to do nude live shows in front of a camera for foreign clients.

The victim was eventually able to escape and seek assistance from barangay officials in Malolos, Bulacan.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Wendell Bendoval said the decision is a significant victory in the fight against human trafficking and the online sexual exploitation of children.

“This conviction stands as a resounding testament to the Philippine government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating human trafficking and protecting the most vulnerable members of society… The successful prosecution of this case reinforces the message that the country remains steadfast in its resolve to combat human trafficking and uphold the dignity and rights of all,” the IACAT statement read. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/AOL, GMA Integrated News