SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 248694, October 14, 2020
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, V. RANIE ESTONILO Y DE GUZMAN, ACCUSED-APPELLANT.
D E C I S I O N
PERLAS-BERNABE, J.:
Before the Court is an ordinary appeal1 filed by accused-appellant Ranie Estonilo y De Guzman (Estonilo) assailing the Decision2 dated November 23, 2017 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CR HC No. 08617, which affirmed with modification the Judgment3 dated, July 28, 2016 of the Regional Trial Court of xxxxxxxx , Pampanga, Branch 61 (RTC) in Criminal Case Nos. 10-5R94 and 10-5895, and accordingly, found Estonilo guilty beyond reasonable doubt of two (2) counts of violation of Section 5 (a) (5), Article III of Republic Act No. (RA) 7610,4 otherwise known as the "Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act."
The prosecution claimed that sometime in January 2010, Estonilo approached AAA,8 then 12 years old, in an effort to convince the latter to "mamakla" in exchange for money. For this purpose, Estonilo even introduced him to a "client" who offered P2,000.00 for AAA's sexual services, but AAA refused. However, Estoni1o was persistent with his recruiting efforts, and this culminated in the evening of March 6, 2010. On that night, AAA was on his way home with his friend, BBB, then 11 years old, when Estonilo called their attention. Estonilo persistently coerced AAA to have sex with BBB at a nearby vacant lot in exchange for P300.00 so that they will learn how to perform sexual acts. The children acceded and had sexual contact with each other with AAA inserting his penis into BBB's mouth and anus. About a week later, or on March 13, 2010, AAA, BBB, and their friends were frolicking at a swimming pool when Estonilo arrived with his bicycle. Estonilo called AAA and told him to have sexual contact with BBB at a nearby bathroom. Fearing that Estonilo might get mad, AAA and BBB again had sexual contact with each other. At that time, Estonilo even suggested that AAA have sex with BBB's 11-year old aunt who was with them, but AAA refused. The next day, AAA felt pain while urinating, prompting his mother to bring him to a doctor. After examination, the doctor revealed that AAA contracted an infection because of anal intercourse and the same might progress into a sexually transmitted disease if left untreated. This resulted in AAA divulging his ordeal to his mother.9Criminal Case No.10-5894
e period from March 6, 2010 to March 13, 2010, in the xxxxxxxx , Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, did then and there willfully, unlawfully, and harbor, maintain, hire, provide and/or receive xxxxxxxx , a minor 12 years old, by any means or under the pretext of domestic employment or sexual exploitation taking advantage of the vulnerability of the minor in violation of Section 4 in relation to Sec. 6 (a) Republic Act No. 9208.
CONTRARY TO LAW.6Criminal Case No.10-5895
The period from March 6, 2010 to March 13, 2010, in the xxxxxxxx , Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, did then and there willfully, unlawfully, and harbor, maintain, hire, provide and/or receive xxxxxxxx a minor 11 years old, by any means or under the pretext of domestic employment or sexual exploitation taking advantage of the vulnerability of the minor in violation of Section 4 in relation to Sec. 6 (a) Republic Act No. 9208.
CONTRARY TO LAW.7
SECTION 4. Acts of Trafficking in Persons. - It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, to commit any of the following acts:For a successful prosecution of Trafficking in Persons, the following elements must be shown: (a) the act of "recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring, or receipt of persons with or without the victim's consent or knowledge, within or across national borders"; (b) the means used which include "threat or use of force, or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of position, taking advantage of the vulnerability of the person, or, the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another;" and (c) the purpose of trafficking is exploitation which includes "exploitation or the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery, servitude or the removal or sale of organs."26 In addition, Section 6 of RA 9208 provides that the crime is qualified when, inter alia, the trafficked person is a child, to wit: ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
(a) To recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, provide, or receive a person by any means, including those done under the pretext of domestic or overseas employment or training or apprenticeship, for the purpose of prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or debt bondage; xxx
SECTION 6. Qualified Trafficking in Persons. - The following are considered as qualified trafficking:In this case, the courts a quo found that the prosecution, through the testimonies of both AAA and BBB, was able to establish that Estonilo had indeed befriended the two (2) minors in order to recruit them and thereafter, pimp them to his clients. For this purpose, he was able to take advantage of AAA and BBB's minority and coerce them into committing sexual acts with one another, under the pretext that they needed to learn how to perform such acts with fellow males so that they can earn monetary consideration for the same. Hence, the Court finds no reason to overturn the findings of the RTC, as affirmed by the CA, as there was no showing that they overlooked, misunderstood, or misapplied the surrounding facts and circumstances of the case. It bears pointing out that the RTC was in the best position to assess and determine the credibility of the witnesses presented by both parties.27 As such, Estonilo's criminal liability for the aforesaid acts must stand.
(a) When the trafficked person is a child; xxx
Furthermore, the presence of the trafficker's clients is not an element of the crime of recruitment or transportation of victims under Sections 3 (a) and 4 (a) of RA 9208. In the same vein, the law does not require that the victims be transported to or be found in a brothel or a prostitution den for such crime of recruitment or transportation to be committed. In fact, it has been held that the act of sexual intercourse need not have been consummated for recruitment to be said to have taken place. It is sufficient that the accused has lured, enticed[,] or engaged its victims or transported them for the established purpose of exploitation, which includes prostitution, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, and the removal or sale of organs. In this case, the prosecution has satisfactorily established accused-appellants' recruitment and transportation of private complainants for purposes of prostitution and sexual exploitation.31 (Emphases and underscoring supplied)Thus, the fact that neither AAA nor BBB had sexual contact with any of Estonilo's clients will not affect the latter's criminal liability for Qualified Trafficking in Persons. To be sure, the gravamen of the crime of trafficking is "the act of recruiting or using, with or without consent, a fellow human being for [inter alia,] sexual exploitation"32 - which, as already discussed, was established to have been committed by Estonilo.
(a) | In Criminal Case No. 10-5894, accused-appellant Ranie Estonilo y De Guzman is found GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of Qualified Trafficking in Persons, defined and penalized under Section 4 (a), in relation to Section 6 (a) of RA 9208. Accordingly, he is sentenced to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment and to pay a fine in the amount of P2,000,000.00. In addition, he is ordered to pay the victim, AAA, the amounts of P500,000.00 as moral damages and P100,000.00 as exemplary damages, both with legal interest of six percent (6%) per annum from the finality of this Decision until full payment; and |
(b) | In Criminal Case No. 10-5895, accused-appellant Ranie Estonilo y De Guzman is found GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of Qualified Trafficking in Persons, defined and penalized under Section 4 (a), in relation to Section 6 (a) of RA 9208. Accordingly, he is sentenced to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment and to pay a fine in the amount of P2,000,000.00. In addition, he is ordered to pay the victim, BBB, the amounts of P500,000.00 as moral damages and P100,000.00 as exemplary damages, both with legal interest of six percent (6%) per annum from the finality of this Decision until full payment. |
Endnotes:
1 See Notice of Appeal dated December 28, 2017; rollo, pp. 21-22.
2 Id. at 3-20. Penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez with Associate Justices Ramon M. Bato, Jr. and Samuel H. Gaerlan (now a member of this Court), concurring.
3 CA rollo at 59-74. Penned by Judge Bernardita Gabitan-Erum.
4 Entitled "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRONGER DETERRENCE AND SPECIAL PROTECTION AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," approved on June 17, 1992.
5 Entitled "AN ACT To INSTITUTE POLICIES TO ELIMINATE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ESTABLISHING THE NECESSARY INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR THE PROTECTION AND SUPPORT OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," approved on May 26, 2003.
6 CA rollo, p. 59.
7 Id. at 60.
8 The identity of the victim or any information which could establish or compromise his identity, as well as those of his immediate family or household members, shall be withheld pursuant to RA 7610, entitled "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRONGER DETERRENCE AND SPECIAL PROTECTION AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," approved on June 17, 1992; RA 9262, entitled "AN ACT DEFINING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN, PROVIDING FOR PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR VICTIMS, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFORE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," approved on March 8, 2004; and Section 40 of A.M. No. 04-10-11-SC, known as the RE: RULE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN," effective November 15, 2004. (See footnote 4 in People v. Cadano, Jr., 729 Phil. 576, 578 (2014), citing People v. Lomaque, 710 Phil. 338, 342 [2013]).
9Rollo, pp. 4-5. See also CA rollo, pp. 60-69.
10 Id. at 5-6. See also CA rollo, pp. 69-70.
11 CA rollo, pp. 59-74.
12 Id. at 74.
13 Id. at 70-74.
14 See Notice of Appeal dated September 7, 2016; id. at 17.
15Rollo, pp. 3-20.
16 Id. at 19.
17 Id. at 8-19.
18 See Notice of Appeal dated December 28, 2017; id. at 21-22.
19 Section 3 (e), Rule 122 of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure reads:
Section 3. How appeal taken. -
xxxx
(e) Except as provided in the last paragraph of Section 13, Rule 124, all other appeals to the Supreme Court shall be by petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45.
20 Section 13 (c), Rule 124 of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure reads:
Section 13. Certification or appeal of case to the Supreme Court. -
xxxx
(c) In cases where the Court of Appeals imposes reclusion perpetua, life imprisonment or a lesser penalty, it shall render and enter judgment imposing such penalty. The judgment may be appealed to the Supreme Court by notice of appeal filed with the Court of Appeals.
21 See Notice of Appeal dated December 28, 2017; rollo, pp. 21-22.
22 See Ramos v. People, 803 Phil. 775, 783 (2017).
23 Id., citing People v. Bagamano, 793 Phil. 602, 607 (2016).
24 While RA 9208 had already been amended by RA 10364 effective February 6, 2013, it must be noted that the acts complained of were committed during the period of March 6 to March 13, 2010, and hence, the former is controlling.
25People v. XXX and YYY, G.R. No. 235652, July 9, 2018, 871 SCRA 424, 435.
26People v. Hirang, 803 Phil. 277, 289 (2017), citing People v. Casio, 749 Phil. 458, 742-473 (2014).
27 See People v. Naciongayo, G.R. No. 243897, June 8, 2020, citing Cahulogan v. People, G.R. No. 225695, March 21, 2018.
28 See rollo, p. 15
29 Id.
30 820 Phil. 1085 (2017).
31 Id. at 1103.
32People v. Rodriguez, 818 Phil. 625, 640 (2017).
33 See People v. Maycabalong, G.R. No. 215324, December 5, 2019.chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary