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Santiago vs. People

REYNALDO SANTIAGO, JR. Y SANTOS, PETITIONER, V. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, RESPONDENT.

G.R. No. 213760 | 2019-07-01

D E C I S I O N
 
LEONEN, J.:
 
Human beings are not chattels whose sexual favors are bought or sold by greedy pimps. Those who profit in this way by recruiting minors are rightfully, by law, labeled as criminals. They should be the subject of aggressive law enforcement, prosecuted, tried, and when proof beyond reasonable doubt exists, punished.
 
In the prosecution of the crime of trafficking in persons, the confidential asset or the informant's testimony is not indispensable. It is enough that there is proof that "the accused has lured, enticed[,] or engaged its victims or transported them for the established purpose of...