SC affirms life terms on 2 women convicted of human trafficking

The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the maximum prison term plus P2 million fines for two women convicted to recruiting minors and peddling them for sex in 2014.

In a decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, the SC denied the petition filed by Rizalina Janario Gumba, alias “Mommy Riza,” and Gloria Bueno Rellama, alias “Mommy Glo” who assailed the 2021 decision of the Court of Appeals which sustained their conviction that was handed down in 2017 by a trial court.

They were convicted of qualified human trafficking under Section 4(a), in relation to Section 6(a), of Republic Act No. 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by RA 10364, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

“Accordingly, the appeal is denied. The June 28, 2021 decision of the Court of Appeals in CA GR CR HC No. 12675 is hereby affirmed. Accused-appellants Rizalina Janario Gumba a.k.a. ‘Mommy Riza’ and Gloria Bueno Rellama a.k.a. ‘Mommy Glo’ are found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of qualified human trafficking, under Section 4(a), in relation to Section 6(a), of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended by Republic Act No. 10364,” the SC ruled.

“Accused-appellants are thus sentenced to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment, and are ordered to pay the fine of P2,000,000 each,” the high court also held.

The SC also ordered the accused-appellants to pay their victims, who were then aged 15-year-old, P500,000 each in moral damages, and P100,000 each in exemplary damages, both sums with legal interest of six percent per annum from the finality of the decision until fully paid.

Case records showed that Gumba and Rellama worked as floor managers of a bar in Cavite.  They hired two girls, both 15 years old; two other girls who were 18 years old; and several others who were 20 years old and above.

Law enforcers, informed that sex trade or prostitution were taking place in the bar, conducted surveillance on Oct. 10, 2014.

Later, undercover agents went to bar and were told by Gumba and Rellama that they could have sexual intercourse with the girls for P1,500 per girl.  Those offered for prostitution were the two 15-year-old girls.

The police then conducted