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Woman testifies against recruiters in trafficking case after 11 years
A woman accused of drug smuggling in Indonesia testified in a Philippine court on Friday against two recruiters charged with human trafficking and illegal recruitment. The testimony came more than a decade after the case was filed and nearly two years after her return from Indonesia.
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A woman who was convicted of drug smuggling in Indonesia testified Friday against two recruiters facing human trafficking and illegal recruitment charges in the Philippines. The testimony marked the first time she appeared in person in the case, which was filed 11 years ago. Prosecutors completed direct, cross, and redirect examinations during the closed-door hearing.
Background of the case The woman was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 after authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin inside a suitcase she was carrying. She received a death sentence in 2015 that was later stayed, and she was returned to the Philippines in December 2024.
She is currently held at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City. The two recruiters were convicted of illegal recruitment in a separate case in 2020 and appeared in the hearing via video conference from separate detention facilities.
Support outside the facility A migrant advocacy group held a demonstration outside the facility on the same day. The woman's parents attended the protest and said they hoped the testimony would lead to her release. They also renewed calls for an absolute pardon from the president. A petition seeking her release on constitutional grounds remains pending before the Supreme Court.
