MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the conviction and life imprisonment sentence of a woman found guilty of qualified human trafficking and child abuse for exploiting a 16-year-old minor in prostitution in exchange for a ₱2,000 commission, after which the victim was found dead.

In a 15-page ruling penned by Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, the SC Second Division upheld the conviction of April Jane Banguis Albet for qualified trafficking in persons under Section 3(a) in relation to Sections 4(a) and 6(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as well as for violating Article III, Section 5(a) of Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

Records showed that in 2016, Albet facilitated the sexual exploitation of the minor by transporting her to a hotel to meet a male customer. In return for the referral, Albet received a commission of ₱2,000.

The customer later engaged in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with the victim, who was subsequently found lifeless inside the hotel room. Albet denied the allegations.

Both the Regional Trial Court (RTC) and the Court of Appeals (CA) found Albet guilty of qualified human trafficking and child abuse, ruling that her defense of denial could not prevail over the positive testimonies of witnesses who said she brought the victim to the hotel where the minor was later found dead. Albet elevated the case to the Supreme Court.

In affirming the conviction, the high court ruled that the prosecution sufficiently established all the elements of qualified human trafficking, giving weight to witness testimonies that shortly before the victim was found dead, she was seen entering the hotel with Albet.

“The prosecution has satisfactorily established Albet’s recruitment and transportation of [the victim] for purposes of prostitution and sexual exploitation, taking advantage of her minority and vulnerability,” the Supreme Court said.

The SC also sustained Albet’s conviction for child abuse under Section 5(a) of Republic Act No. 7610, noting that the law penalizes individuals who act as procurers of child prostitutes.

The court sentenced Albet to life imprisonment and ordered her to pay a fine of ₱2,000,000 for qualified human trafficking. She was also ordered to pay the victim’s heirs ₱500,000 in moral damages and ₱100,000 in exemplary damages.

For the child abuse conviction, the high court imposed a penalty of 14 to 20 years of imprisonment and ordered Albet to pay damages amounting to ₱150,000.