00:00In exchange for a lower sentence, a fellow accused of sex and labor trafficking operation in America entered into a plea bargain agreement.
00:13He admitted to colluding for the petty marriages of members of KOJC that they bring there.
00:21Joseph Moro was found guilty.
00:24Marisa Duenas is one of the members of KOJC, Pastor Apollo Q. Buloy, in the case of sex and labor trafficking operation in America that was filed in 2021.
00:38She is the Executive Director of Operation and Human Resources Manager of KOJC in America.
00:44On October 7, Duenas filed a plea bargain agreement with the Attorney's Office of the Central District of California in America for a lower sentence.
00:53Based on the document obtained by GMA Integrated News from a reliable source,
00:58Duenas admitted that he was guilty of colluding or conspiring for the petty marriages of members of KOJC that they bring to America.
01:09Between 2015 and January 29, 2020, the accused and Q. Buloy allegedly conspired to commit marriage fraud that violates the law of America.
01:21They bring members of KOJC from the Philippines to get married, for example, to apply for permanent residence status and citizenship.
01:30Once they are married and resident, Duenas is forced to divorce them to remarry.
01:37In the indictment filed by Q. Buloy, Duenas and another accused are charged with 72 Philippine passports, 7 U.S. passports, 1 Ukrainian passport, 4 male passports, and 3 female wedding rings.
01:51In the system of justice in America, if the government's case is strong there, it can allocate a plea deal to the accused so that it will not be delayed and the delay can be avoided.
02:03If an accused pleads guilty, like what Duenas did, there will be no litigation and it will only be discussed when he will be sentenced.
02:11In Duenas' plea bargain agreement, the California Attorney's Office will recommend a two-level reduction in the prison sentence for Duenas.
02:19The case in America where Duenas admitted that he was guilty is the reason why Pastor Apollo Q. Buloy, his accomplice, was wanted in America.
02:29Here in the Philippines, there is also a case of qualified human trafficking and child sexual abuse of Q. Buloy.
02:36Duenas is not included among the accused of Q. Buloy's cases in Quezon City and Pasig City Regional Trial Court.
02:43Even so, the victim of Q. Buloy's case is in a rare field where there is evidence that Q. Buloy admitted in America.
02:49Although it is stated in the plea bargaining agreement that it is not binding, but just the same.
02:59We are happy because it has significance and relevance.
03:03The factual basis in the agreement will conform to our theory on qualified human trafficking. It's the same pattern.
03:13They are studying if they can use the plea bargain agreement of Duenas in their case here in the Philippines.
03:20There is no obligation for him to participate against Pastor Apollo Q. Buloy.
03:24But the implication is that if you confess on a factual basis, the main actor is the same.
03:32According to the Department of Justice, Duenas' confession reinforces the prosecution's case that there is corruption.
03:38This is a welcome development for the Philippine government.
03:42But there needs to be steps taken for us to introduce that evidence here in the Philippines as well.
03:51We are still asking for the KOJC's opinion.
03:54For GMA Integrated News, Joseph Morong.
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