Ostia was arrested by the Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force at a resto bar in Cebu City where he brought the victims.
THE Regional Trial Court in Cebu City convicted a male pimp for exposing three women to prostitution three years ago.
Ramil “Apay” Ostia was found guilty of violating Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay P1 million to the victims.
In his ruling, Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Soliver Peras gave credence to the testimonies of one of the victims and the police who arrested Ostia in an entrapment operation on August 26, 2011.
“There is no doubt that the accused offered to the police poseur-customer the sexual services of three women in exchange for money (at P3,000 each). The accused’s denial that he was just a friend of these women cannot be given consideration by this court,” Peras said.
Peras didn’t found sufficient basis to convict Ostia for qualified trafficking since the prosecution failed to present the birth certificates of the three victims.
Customer
An offense is considered qualified trafficking when the victim is a minor. Ostia was arrested by the Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force at a resto bar in Cebu City where he brought the victims.
PO3 Napoleon Talingting Jr., who posed as a customer, said the accused offered the three victims at P3,000 each.
When Ostia received the marked money, the police officers who were just at the vicinity of the resto bar immediately came and arrested the accused.
One of the victims, a 24-year-old woman, said Ostia usually contacted her to have sex with customers in exchange for a fee.
She said she’s been into prostitution because of poverty. Ostia, the victim said, would usually give her P1,000.
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