RTC convicts three persons of human trafficking in mail-order bride scheme

RTC convicts three persons of human trafficking in mail-order bride scheme

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) of San Carlos City  has convicted and sentenced to 20 years of  imprisonment two individuals, including a Chinese national, after they were found guilty of engaging  in human trafficking through the so-called mail-order bride scheme.

Aside from the prison term, the San Carlos City RTC ordered the accused Li Chun Rong and Violeta Aquino to pay a fine of P1 million and P400,000 in damages to their victim.

The case was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Li and Aquino on behalf of the victim  based on the information provided by the  Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to the agency’s International Airport Investigation Division (IAID) with regard the repatriation of the victim who was rescued in China.

The DFA assisted victim in filing a  complaint before the NBI-IAID against the two and another Chinese national, Lai Wei Qi for human trafficking.

However, Lai  remains at large while the DFA said it is coordinating with its Chinese counterparts for his arrest.

Based on the investigation of the NBI, Li and Aquino recruited the victim in 2017 in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan  to work in China on the condition that she would marry Lai, who was introduced to her by the two.

After the victim agreed to the scheme, Lai and Aquino sent the victim to China, where instead of landing on a job, she was detained, and her passport and visa were seized.

The victim also said she was sexually abused by Lai and his brother-in-law before she was able to seek help from the authorities.

Following the victim’s execution of sworn affidavit, the NBI-IAID filed a complaint against the accused before the Office of the City Prosecutor in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.

The prosecutor found probable cause against the accused to warrant the filing of the case before the RTC for violation of Republic Act 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

The RTC in a decision issued on August 10 found Li and Aquino guilty for violation of said law.

The country remains in Tier 1 ranking since 2016 in the Trafficking in Persons Report being released by the US State Department.

The rank indicates significant efforts have been exerted  by the government to address the human trafficking problem in the country.