G.R. No. 271526 -

Ruling

ACCORDINGLY , the appeal is DISMISSED . The Decision dated March 31, 2022 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR No. 44309 is AFFIRMED . Accused-appellant Martin Cook y Garth is found GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt cf qualified trafficking in persons as defined and penalized under Section 4, in relation to Section 6(a) and (c) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended: He is sentenced to suffer the penalties of life imprisonment and a PHP 2,000,000.00 fine. He is likewise ordered to PAY for each of the victims, namely AAA271526, BBB271526, CCC271526, and DDD271526, the amounts of PHP 500,000.00 as moral damages and PHP 100,000.00 as exemplary damages, all with legal interest at the rate of 6% per annum from finality of this ruling until full payment. SO ORDERED.