The Supreme Court has upheld the life imprisonment sentence of Joemarie Ubanon, convicted of trafficking three minors for unpaid domestic labor.
Ubanon was found guilty under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 for recruiting and transporting two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old from Bukidnon to work in exploitative conditions.
The minors were deceived with promises of work and a salary, only to be coerced into domestic labor in Lanao del Sur and Iligan City.
The Court dismissed Ubanon’s appeal, stating that all elements of qualified trafficking were met, as the victims were minors and subjected to forced labor under deception.
In addition to life imprisonment, Ubanon was fined P2 million and ordered to pay P600,000 in moral damages to each victim.
Source: PhilNews24 | April 13, 2025
