G.R. No. 175733 - Westmont Bank vs. Funai Philippines, Corporation

People of the Philippines filed criminal information against Jeffrey Hirang y Rodriguez for qualified trafficking in persons under R.A. No. 9208.
The case proceeded to trial in the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Pasig City, Branch 163, Taguig City Station; Hirang pleaded not guilty and was tried on the merits.
The RTC rendered judgment on June 25, 2011 finding Hirang guilty and sentencing him to life imprisonment and a fine of Two Million Pesos (Php2,000,000.00).
Hirang appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA), which affirmed in a Decision dated March 9, 2015; Hirang elevated the case to the Supreme Court.

Hirang was charged via an Amended Information alleging recruitment, transportation and provision in large scale of minors for prostitution, taking advantage of their vulnerability and promising P5,000.00–P10,000.00 each, but peddling them for P20,000.00 each, and receiving a P7,000.00 down payment.
The Amended Information charged violation of Section 4(a) in relation to Sections 6(a) and (c), and Section 3(a), (b) and (c) of R.A. No. 9208.

Victims were four minors identified by initials: AAA (born November 25, 1989; 16 when first recruited in August 2006), BBB (born March 28, 1990; 17 on June 27, 2007), CCC (born December 19, 1992; 14 when recruited), and DDD (born February 11, 1991; 16 when she ran away from home in 2007).
Testimony established that Hirang recruited, sourced, and procured prostitution work for the minors at nightclubs, bars, a cybersex den, and for meetings with foreign customers, charging commissions and giving victims reduced shares of payments.
On June 27, 2007, Hirang summoned the four minors to meet purported Korean customers at Chowking, C-5, Taguig City, promising P5,000.00 each after a "gimik"; victims were instructed to represent themselves as sixteen years old.
At the Chowking meeting a Korean handed money to Hirang; while Hirang counted cash, NBI agents executed a coordinated entrapment operation and arrested him.

Investigation originated with International Justice Mission (IJM) investigators Alvin Sarmiento and Jeffrey Villagracia after information that Hirang trafficked minors for prostitution.
Villagracia acted as a poseur and introduced Hirang to Sarmiento, who posed as a Korean customer; meetings were arranged June 20 and rescheduled for June 26 and June 27, 2007.
IJM reported findings to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); IJM and NBI coordinated an entrapment operation on June 27, 2007 with marked money and a fictitious check prepared by SI Menandro Cariaga.
The operation included social workers and media; Villagracia secretly recorded conversations; as Hirang counted funds, NBI signaled and arrested him; ultraviolet dust tested positive for fluorescent powder specks on Hirang.

Prosecution presented testimony from the four victims, IJM investigators Sarmiento and Villagracia, NBI Special Investigators Menandro Cariaga and Anson L. Chumacera, and forensic chemist Loren J. Briones.
Testimony recounted recruitment methods, promises of money and a "gimik," transfers to customers, and the June 27 transaction; marked money and ultraviolet dust evidence we...(Subscriber-Only)

Whether the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Hirang committed the crime charged—qualified trafficking under Section 4(a) in relation to Sections 6 and 3 of R.A. No. 9208.