The Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 53 is set to arraign a businessman who earlier accused Rep. Paolo Duterte of physical assault and grave threat next month after formal charges of expanded anti-trafficking in persons were filed against him.

Based on the calendar of activities of the court, 37-year-old Kristone John P. Moreno, alias “Sion,” was scheduled for arraignment on July 7 where he will plead guilty or not guilty to charges filed against him at the prosecutor’s office in Manila.

A court staff who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly said that the accused should be transferred to the local government as the hearing for his case is scheduled to take place in Davao City.

In a six-page inquest resolution dated April 28, Moreno is facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2023, as amended by RA 10364, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, amended by RA 11862 of 2022.

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Regional Field Unit-National Capital Region brought Moreno before the prosecutor’s office in Davao City for inquest proceedings following the complaint filed by a certain Aaron Paul A. Syboco against him.

According to the records on April 22, the complainant reported the pimping activities of the accused. Syboco said that Moreno was acting as a pimp (bugaw) by offering to him “Class A Women” for sexual services for a certain amount.

Based on the evidence presented, Assistant State Prosecutor Borgy Calugay said the CIDG has established all the elements of the crime of “qualified trafficking in persons” as can be gleaned from the stated provisions.

Moreno was identified by the victims as their recruiter who brought them to a Davao City hotel on April 25 to provide sexual services. He allegedly also exploited the victims’ vulnerability by paying them for these services and offering them to male clients for a fee.

Calugay said that Moreno’s actions constitute prostitution and sexual exploitation, which fall within Section 4(a) of RA 9208, as amended. He added that the accused was caught in flagrante delicto on the day of the entrapment operation.

The resolution said the accused approached the undercover agents and delivered three women to their agreed meeting place. The evidence submitted showed that he received the money used during the entrapment operation as payment to the accused.

Results from an initial laboratory report confirmed the presence of ultraviolet fluorescent powder on the palmar and dorsal portions of the hands of the accused, as well as in the money bills, the resolution said.

Considering that the crime was committed on a large scale against three women and the offer of these women was made through and with the use of a cellular phone, Calugay said the accused committed qualified trafficking in persons under section 6(c) and (o) of RA 9208, as amended.

Calugay, with Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia Laroza-Torrevillas, chairwoman of the Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking, and Prosecutor General, Richard Anthony Fadullon, recommended that charges be filed in court.