Google map of Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.
BUTUAN CITY – The advocacy group International Justice Mission (IJM) has lauded the conviction of five human traffickers by a local court in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.
In a press statement on Friday, the IJM said five women who were accused of sexual abuse and exploitation of children to make money online were sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison by the Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Bislig City on Feb. 23.
“They pleaded guilty to attempted trafficking nearly three years after their arrest in local operations that stemmed from a referral by Australian authorities,” it said.
The IJM is a global organization whose advocacy is to protect people in poverty from violence, slavery, and violence against women and children through partnerships with local authorities in 29 program offices in 17 countries.
The group also works with local authorities and governments to rescue and restore survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and help strengthen public justice systems.
IJM Cebu Director Lucille Dejito commended the public prosecutors involved in the prosecution of the five accused.
All the accused were arrested in Bislig City on Aug. 20, 2020 after a referral by the Australian Federal Police to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center.
The IJM said the Australian national involved was also sentenced by an Australian court to more than 15 years in prison in August 2022 for paying Filipino traffickers to produce and transmit child sexual abuse materials.
“The operations in Bislig City also led to the rescue of 15 victims, 13 of whom were minors. Among them were children of some of the traffickers,” the IJM said.
It added that the operation was conducted by the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) - Anti Trafficking in Persons Division, and the WCPC Mindanao Field Unit with the support of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Units in Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Caraga Region, and the Bislig City Police Station.
In the same statement, Prosecutor Clementino Rabor, the head of the Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Force of the Department of Justice 13 (Caraga) said the recent convictions “are a powerful example of what international collaboration can achieve in holding perpetrators accountable for abusing and exploiting children.”
Rabor expressed hope that the convictions would deter criminals and prevent the abuse and exploitation of children.
“Prevention is vital in the fight against human trafficking,” he said. (PNA)
