They are now convicted human traffickers and child abusers, the two sisters, Gabriela Adilyn and Roxanne Martirez, from Subic, Zambales, the Philippines. They will serve three life sentences each in prison, deprived of family, home, children, comfort and a productive life.
They are intelligent people. They knew right from wrong but they chose to do evil, to seduce and groom and train five young teenage girls and 14 young girls over 18 to be sex workers. They made them believe that by selling themselves to sex tourists, they would have an exciting well-paid life.
In a 37-page decision, Judge Gemma Theresa B. Hilario-Logronio, of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court, found the two sisters guilty of the crime of qualified trafficking and child sexual abuse. The good judge said in her decision that the accused “maliciously took advantage of their minority, innocence and vulnerability by injecting into their young minds the desire for material luxurious things in exchange for their dignity, not only as a woman but as a human being.”
The minors must get due justice, she said, and they did. After being rescued by the National Bureau of Investigation [NBI] and recovering for several months in the Preda Foundation home for trafficked and abused children, they were empowered and realised they had been exploited and cheated. They decided to testify against the traffickers.
They explained what happened, clearly and truthfully, and convinced the judge. The minors are now reintegrated to their supportive families and studying with help of the aftercare programme of the Preda Foundation.
This is a nation with strict laws against child abuse and trafficking, but flexible interpretation by the populace, and weak or sometimes no implementation by the authorities
The Martirez sisters trafficked and abused the minors and others for the money, believing that selling young people for sex, as millions do, is okay because it is common practice in the Philippines and elsewhere, although illegal. Only child rights defenders and protectors protest and campaign against it.
This is a nation with strict laws against child abuse and trafficking, but flexible interpretation by the populace, and weak or sometimes no implementation by the authorities. Some local governments issue licenses and permits to operators of sex bars, resorts and hotels for lucrative private payments of fees and perhaps a share in the profits. Police and officials frequent these places and indulge in sexual activity. It is just business to them.
The trafficking victims were rescued by the Manila-based Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Division [AVAWCD] of the NBI and social workers in cooperation with the Preda Foundation Homes for trafficked and abused children. The Martirez sisters were arrested and jailed and now convicted. The young victims suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.
Much of the modern world has lost its respect for human rights and the rights of the child in recent years. One in every three or four children has experienced sexual abuse, many suffer trauma. These victims are the children of neglect, boys and girls as young as 12-years-old, the throwaway children of broken homes. Abused and raped at home, they run away to the streets. They have no trust in the government, no assistance other than being jailed in the Bahay Pag-asa [House of Hope. The human traffickers and pimps quickly recruit them. They are the abused, abandoned children of society.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
A research project by the Centre for Women’s Resources discovered that a woman or child is sexually abused every five minutes in the Philippines, as if this is a national pastime, and the abuse is seldom reported. When the crime is reported, it is not always noted in the police blotter or acted upon as the statistics are manipulated to show a low crime rate and success by doing nothing.
Much of the modern world has lost its respect for human rights and the rights of the child in recent years. One in every three or four children has experienced sexual abuse, many suffer trauma. These victims are the children of neglect, boys and girls as young as 12-years-old, the throwaway children of broken homes
Human trafficking, child sexual abuse and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children is spreading at an unprecedented rate across the Philippines. It is the hub of online child abuse as platforms such as Facebook, Tik-tok, Instagram and others, through Internet Service Providers [ISPs], sexualise social media and allow the promotion of child sexual abuse. The ISPs deny responsibility.
It is promoted and spread over the Internet by the ISPs backed by international finance. They are beyond government control and law enforcement can barely monitor the trafficking of child abuse material.
Images of child rape can show up on mobile phones and devices day and night. One example of many, is the case of three 10-year old boys seeing child abuse images on a phone then going to rape a six-year-old girl.
There ISPs deploy no blocking software. A new law, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Law [Anti-OSAEC Law] will help control their abusive activities.
Human trafficking and the online sexual abuse of even younger children is the worst evil in the Philippines and it is the shame and disgrace of the Filipino people who do too little to stop it.
We need a revival of Catholic social action groups in every parish, led by dedicated Internet savvy students and youth fighting every day for social justice
Christians leaders, bishops, priests and laypeople should be outraged at the extent of human trafficking and child abuse in families and online, and be motivated by faith to take every opportunity to help the victims by good deeds and action for justice and denounce the evil on the Internet that is pervading society.
The worthwhile prayer is that which motivates people to act for justice. Where are the organised, militant Catholic Internet “trolls” for human rights and child protection? None that I know of. We need a revival of Catholic social action groups in every parish, led by dedicated Internet savvy students and youth fighting every day for social justice.
On the streets outside, parishioners should have a weekly march for child rights, justice for the exploited and oppressed, before celebrating the Eucharist. Because, among other things, that is what the Mass is: a celebration of faith, that good will overcome evil.
It is a meal of solidarity and friendship with Jesus of Nazareth and for the community to be bound together in commitment to living out the gospel values of Jesus. They commit to fighting together, denouncing evil, and doing the good and the true.
That is our baptismal vow. Christian faith is acting on the belief that doing good and action for truth and justice will overcome evil in society. Without that action, faith is dead as St. James said. Without that commitment to act on our baptismal vows to reject evil and do good, there is little purpose to church-going besides attending rituals and rites. There is no magic in church.
The few brave Church leaders who speak out take risks for the gospel have true faith in protecting the rights of children and victims of human rights violations. They are true Christians of inspiration but we need many more of them.
Father Shay Cullen
www.preda.org
