G.R. No. 274959, April 23, 2025
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, vs. RYAN DE CASTRO Y SERRANO, ACCUSED-APPELLANT.

FACTS

Accused-appellant Ryan De Castro y Serrano, along with Renato Hernandez y Beltran, was charged with Qualified Trafficking in Persons under Section 4(e) in relation to Section 6(c) of Republic Act No. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003), as amended by Republic Act No. 10364. The Information alleged that on February 14, 2018, they conspired to pimp/offer AAA, BBB, and CCC to customers for sex in exchange for money, with the qualifying circumstance of being committed on a large scale due to three victims. Hernandez died during trial, leaving De Castro as the sole accused-appellant.
The prosecution’s version, based on the testimonies of law enforcement agents and victim BBB, established that an entrapment operation was conducted after a report of sexual exploitation. Posing as customers, NBI agents were approached by De Castro, who was later joined by Hernandez. They offered four girls, including AAA, BBB, and CCC, as “Valentine’s dates” for PHP 500.00 each for sexual intercourse at a nearby location. Agent Bati handed the entrapment money to De Castro, who, upon arrest, threw the money on the ground. BBB testified that De Castro (whom she knew as “Bakla”) first approached the agents, called Hernandez (“Tata Nato”), and then summoned the girls, indicating they were being offered for sexual activities.
De Castro’s defense was denial. He claimed he was merely waiting for a friend when inebriated men asked for girls. Hernandez, an acquaintance, intervened to make an offer and asked De Castro to call the girls nearby, which he did. He asserted he was forced to hold money and was arrested minutes later.
The Regional Trial Court convicted De Castro of Qualified Trafficking in Persons, sentencing him to life imprisonment, a PHP 2,000,000.00 fine, and ordering him to pay each victim PHP 500,000.00 as moral damages and PHP 100,000.00 as exemplary damages. The Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction in full.

ISSUE

Whether the Court of Appeals erred in affirming the conviction of accused-appellant Ryan De Castro y Serrano for Qualified Trafficking in Persons.

RULING

The Supreme Court DENIED the appeal and AFFIRMED the Decision of the Court of Appeals. The conviction of accused-appellant Ryan De Castro y Serrano for Qualified Trafficking in Persons under Section 4(e) in relation to Section 6(c) of R.A. No. 9208, as amended, is upheld.
The Court held that all elements of the crime were proven beyond reasonable doubt: (1) the act of “offering” for sexual exploitation was committed; (2) the act was done through “pimping”; (3) the offering/pimping was for money or profit; and (4) the persons offered were AAA, BBB, and CCC. The testimonies of the law enforcement agents and BBB were straightforward, credible, and consistent on material points, establishing that De Castro actively participated in offering the victims. His claim of being a mere errand boy was rejected, as his act of calling the girls upon Hernandez’s instruction was integral to the execution of the crime, demonstrating conspiracy. The alleged minor inconsistency between witnesses regarding who physically received the money (De Castro or Hernandez) did not undermine the core narrative of their joint criminal enterprise. The offense was qualified as committed on a large scale due to the three victims. The penalties and awards of damages imposed by the trial court were affirmed.