Jaguar girls acquitted of trafficking

REASONABLE DOUBT. (Left to right) Jocelyn Hinayon, Judith Amancio and Mary Jane Seno, former employees of Jaguar KTV weep from joy after hearing their acquittal of human trafficking charges. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

HOLDING a miniature image of the St. Niño and a prayer booklet of the Our Lady of Manaoag, Mary Jane Seno, 38, prayed while the verdict of her human trafficking case was read in court.

Her prayers may have been answered.

Judge Bienvenido Saniel of the Regional Trial Court Branch 20 acquitted her, Judith Amancio and Jocelyn Hinayon because the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Seno and Amancio were ordered released from the Cebu City Jail where they were detained for over three years. Hinayon was able to make bail.

While saying that they are not convicted, Saniel told the accused before setting them free that, “This decision was simply based on the evidence presented by the parties. But I advise you to stay away from that kind of work. Look for a decent job instead. Let that be our agreement.”

“Nagpasalamat mi sa Ginoo nga gidungog ang among pag-ampo. Nakahibaw ang Ginoo nga wala mi sala. (I’m thankful that God heard our prayers. He knows that we did not commit the crime we’ve been accused of),” Seno told Cebu Daily News.

148 women and 33 minors were rescued by Cebu police from Jaguar KTV Bar in barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City on April 9, 2011.

The police arrested Seno, an entertainer, as well as Amancio and Hinayon who worked as cashiers.

The three were accused of pimping other girls by the authorities.

The three accused were represented by the late lawyer Noel Archival. Lawyer Wendell Quiban appeared in behalf of Archival in yesterday’s promulgation.

The International Justice Mission (IJM) expressed dismay over the acquittal.

“We’re confident that there was really human trafficking at Jaguar KTV Bar. We’ll have to review the full decision before making further statements,” IJM-Philippines Director Andrey Sawchenko said.

Judge Saniel said the six victims mentioned in the case filed by the police did not include the three women or girls who were “purchased” by the police officers who acted as poseur customers during the entrapment last April 9, 2011.

“In this case, the six victims listed in the Information were not the ones being provided or furnished by the accused during the entrapment operation. The six women and girls (mentioned in the case) were not the same women and girls sold by the accused. They were just probably part of the women and girls rescued during the operation,” the judge explained.

Even if the court considers the six victims mentioned in the case, Saniel said it would not help the prosecution’s cause since none of the victims testified against the accused.

“Without their (victims) very material and crucial testimonies, there is no proof of the existence of the first element of human trafficking (the act of recruiting or receiving a trafficked person/s). In other words, with the absence of proof of the means by which the trafficking was perpetrated, it cannot be reasonably said that the offense was committed,” Saniel said.

The bar owners were not found although qualified trafficking charges were filed against them.
Jaguar KTV Bar was closed by the Department of Labor and Employment after the raid. The labor department found the bar liable for violating Republic Act 9231 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

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