CA affirms conviction of child trafficker
The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the 2023 conviction for sexual exploitation of a woman who was found guilty of trafficking 13 young girls, 11 of them minors.
In a 25-page decision dated Nov. 12, the appellate court said it gave “great weight and credence” to the categorical and straightforward testimonies of the private complainants, who said the woman convinced them to engage in sexual acts in exchange for money.
The case stemmed from the criminal information filed against Honey Grace Rebusi, who was accused of pimping minors for commercial sex in Manila.
After receiving a tip about Rebusi’s activities, the National Bureau of Investigation conducted surveillance on her, followed by an entrapment.
Undercover NBI agents set up a meeting on Jan. 31, 2020 with the accused who offered a P3,000 “package” that included sex.
At a subsequent meeting on Feb. 4, Rebusi arrived at a restaurant with 13 young-looking girls.
The NBI agents picked two girls and Rebusi told them that the rate had increased to P4,000 per person, plus a P500 commission for her.
Accused’s alibi
One of the agents handed over to her P8,000 for the two “selections,” which included the marked money. They arrested Rebusi after she received the money.
Rebusi, however, denied the accusation against her, arguing that she was offered a job as a server for a catering event. Despite her denial, she was charged with qualified trafficking in persons.
In a decision dated Dec. 14, 2023, a Manila court found her guilty and sentenced her to lifetime imprisonment with a fine of P2 million.
She was also ordered to pay each of the private complainants P500,000 for moral damages and P100,000 for exemplary damages.
In appealing the decision, the accused argued that the prosecution failed to present credible evidence that she had a predisposition to commit human trafficking. She also said that her denial should have been given weight.
The CA, however, rejected her appeal, saying that she “recruited 13 young girls and pimped them for the purpose of sexual exploitation in exchange for money.”
It cited the positive and corroborating testimonies of the complainants, all of which pointed to her acts of convincing them to engage in sexual activities in exchange for money, “which is clearly a case involving trafficking in persons” under Section 4(a), of Republic Act No. 9208.”
The CA also upheld the penalties handed down by the lower court on the accused: life imprisonment sentence, P2 million fine and P600,000 in damages per complainant.
