WOMAN FACES JAIL TIME FOR CYBERPORN

Cordova mayor thanks court, authorities for exposing and punishing people who commit crimes that target children; she vows not to condone such wrongdoings.

A 38-year-old woman from Cordova, Cebu was sentenced to spend up to 20 years in jail for sexually exploiting her four children and four other minors through online pornography.

Judge Mory Nueva of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 13 handed down the verdict yesterday after the woman pleaded guilty to “simple trafficking in persons.”

The court also ordered the woman to pay a fine of P1 million, apart from serving time in jail.

She was orderd to pay P100,000 as moral damages to each victim and another P100,000 as exemplary damages.

(Sun.Star Cebu is withholding the convict’s name to protect her children’s identities).

Cordova Mayor Therese Sitoy-Cho commended authorities for the development.

“The Municipality of Cordova has always been grateful to and cooperative with institutions that help us in our fight against the exploitation of our women and children,” she said.

Despite the town’s vigilance against human traffickers, the mayor said it’s frustrating that crime that targets minors is still happening in the municipality.

“Thus, we are always grateful when these illegal activities get exposed and the people behind it are caught and punished by the law; and even if they are from Cordova, we will not condone their wrongdoing,” she added in a statement.

Last Sept. 8, 2016, authorities conducted an entrapment and rescue operation in the woman’s home in Barangay Ibabao, Cordova.

She is the third person to be convicted of human trafficking in Cebu this year.