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Legal Analysis: People v. Rodriguez

PO1 Escober testified that he witnessed Rodriguez flagging him down and offering three pickup girls for sexual services in exchange for money as part of an anti-prostitution operation. However, Rodriguez denied these allegations. The court found Rodriguez not guilty of qualified trafficking because the prosecution failed to present evidence that Rodriguez recruited or transported the alleged victims through force, threat, or coercion for sexual exploitation, as required by the elements of the crime. Specifically, the prosecution did not present testimony from the alleged victims.

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142 views1 page

Legal Analysis: People v. Rodriguez

PO1 Escober testified that he witnessed Rodriguez flagging him down and offering three pickup girls for sexual services in exchange for money as part of an anti-prostitution operation. However, Rodriguez denied these allegations. The court found Rodriguez not guilty of qualified trafficking because the prosecution failed to present evidence that Rodriguez recruited or transported the alleged victims through force, threat, or coercion for sexual exploitation, as required by the elements of the crime. Specifically, the prosecution did not present testimony from the alleged victims.

Uploaded by

MariaHannahKristenRamirez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PEOPLE v.

RODRIGUEZ
G.R. No. 211721, September 20, 2017

Facts: The evidence for the prosecution is anchored solely on the testimony of Police
Officer I Escober alleging that at around 11:00 P.M .PO1 Escober was at the police
station preparing for the police operation called Oplan Bugaw for the purpose of
eliminating prostitution on Quezon Avenue. PO1 Escober, designated to pose as
customer, was accompanied by P02 Bereber as his backup, and P/lnsp. Lopez. While
parking their vehicles at the target area, PO1 Escober was flagged down by Rodriguez
who allegedly offered the sexual services of three (3) pickup girls. PO1 Escober readily
gave Rodriguez the pre-marked ₱500.00 bill as payment. This signaled his backup to
enter the scene and aid in the arrest. PO1 Escober then retrieved the pre-marked bill.
Thereafter, the officers brought Rodriguez and the three (3) pickup girls to the police
station.

In his defense, Rodriguez denied that he had offered a girl for sexual purposes to PO1
Escober.

Issue: Whether or not appellant is guilty of qualified trafficking in persons.

Ruling: No. Section 3(a)29 provides the elements of trafficking in persons: (1) the
recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring, or receipts of persons with or without
the victim's consent or knowledge, within or across national borders; (2) 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 (3) 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.

In the instant case, only PO1 Escober testified as to the actual unfolding of
circumstances which led him to believe that Rodriguez was committing human
trafficking. The prosecution did not bother to present the testimonies of the alleged
victims. Their testimonies that they were sexually exploited against their will through
force, threat or other means of coercion are material to the cause of the prosecution.

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