The life imprisonment of Joemarie Ubanon for trafficking of three minors who were made to work as domestic helpers in distant towns without pay was affirmed by the Supreme Court (SC).

In a decision written by Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez dated 30 October and uploaded on 10 April, the SC’s Second Division affirmed his conviction for qualified human trafficking under Republic Act (RA) 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Record showed on 14 April 2014, Ubanon approached two 14-year-olds and one 15-year-old in Bukidnon, offering them work as onion peelers with a promised monthly wage of P2,500.

The minors said they needed to ask their parents first, but Ubanon insisted that the employer was already waiting and told them to board a bus.

When the minors tried to get off the bus, they were stopped by the daughter of Amirah Macadatar, who was the employer of Ubanon’s wife.