SECOND DIVISION

D E C I S I O N

PEREZ, J.:

This is an appeal from the DecisioncЃa1cЃacЃaląw dated 31 January 2008 of the Court of Appeals, affirming, with modification, the JudgmentcЃa2cЃacЃaląw of conviction for the crimes of illegal recruitment and estafa rendered by the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 34.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

Appellant Rodolfo Gallo (Gallo), together with Pilar Manta (Manta) and Fides Pacardo (Pacardo), was originally charged with illegal recruitment in large scale and thirty four (34) counts of estafa in thirty five (35) separate informationscЃa3cЃacЃaląwfiled before the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 34.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

When arraigned, all three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.cЃa4cЃacЃaląw

In the course of the trial of the cases, some of the private complainants, one after another, moved for the withdrawal of their respective complaintscЃa5cЃacЃaląw while others failed to appear during the scheduled hearings despite due notice.cЃa6cЃacЃaląwHence, the public prosecutor moved for the provisional dismissalcЃa7cЃacЃaląw of their cases until only three private complainants remained.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

The remaining private complainants, Reynaldo Panlilio (Panlilio), Ian Fernandez (Fernandez) and Zenaida Filomeno (Filomeno), testified for the prosecution.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

Fernandez narrated that at around 9:00 a.m. on 5 June 2001, he was at the MPM International Recruitment Agency (MPM) with his friend Reynaldo Panlilio applying for a job overseas.cЃa8cЃacЃaląwHe recounted that he was able to talk first with accused Gallo, then with the owner of MPM, Mardeolyn Martir (Martir).cЃa9cЃacЃaląwGallo informed him that if he pays P45,000.00, he would be able to leave for Korea in two to three months’ time.cЃa10cЃacЃaląwThus, he returned the following day with P45,000.00 and gave the amount to Martir.cЃa11cЃacЃaląwGallo issued a receipt covering the amount but this was later on replaced with a promissory note.cЃa12cЃacЃaląw

Panlilio narrated that on 5 June 2001, he went to the offices of MPM in Ermita, Manila, to apply for a job as a factory worker in Korea.cЃa13cЃacЃaląwHe testified that he talked to Martir who told him to come back the next day with P45,000.00 for the processing of his application.cЃa14cЃacЃaląwUpon arriving the following day (6 June 2001), he was met by accused Gallo and upon the instruction of Martir, Panlilio gave the money to Gallo.cЃa15cЃacЃaląwUnable to leave for Korea despite the lapse of several months, Panlilio demanded the return of his money.cЃa16cЃacЃaląwThe agency, however, requested a month within which to refund the moneycЃa17cЃacЃaląw and the receipt issued for the P45,000.00 he paid was replaced with a promissory note.cЃa18cЃacЃaląw

While in the province, he learned that the agency had closed, so he went back to Manila to verify this information.cЃa19cЃacЃaląwHe found out that the agency had transferred its offices to the Prudential Bank Building in Sta. Cruz, Manila.cЃa20cЃacЃaląwThere, he and about 30 to 40 other victims of the agency arrested the three accused by virtue of a citizen’s arrest.cЃa21cЃacЃaląwThe accused were first brought to the Sta. Cruz Police Station, then to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), where a formal complaint was filed against them.cЃa22cЃacЃaląw

Private complainant Filomeno testified that she learned from a friend that MPM is accepting applicants for work in Korea.cЃa23cЃacЃaląwShe went to the agency sometime in May 2001 and was initially met by accused Manta who instructed her to talk to Martir.cЃa24cЃacЃaląwInside the latter’s office, she found Gallo and Martir accepting applicants for overseas employment.cЃa25cЃacЃaląwShe narrated that she initially paid P15,000.00 as processing fee to Gallo and Martir who both counted the money in front of her.cЃa26cЃacЃaląwShe later on paid another P5,000.00, both of which amounts were covered by a receipt.cЃa27cЃacЃaląwGallo and Martir told her that in September 2001, she would be able to leave for Korea where she would be working as a factory worker with a monthly salary of US$500.00 plus overtime pay.cЃa28cЃacЃaląwBecause she failed to leave as promised, she called the agency on at least four occasions to follow up her application, but she was unable to talk to either accused Gallo or Martir.cЃa29cЃacЃaląwWhen she went to the agency to personally inquire about the status of her application, she found out that the accused had been arrested so she proceeded to the NBI to file a complaint.cЃa30cЃacЃaląw

The prosecution likewise presented documentary evidence consisting of the promissory notes and official receipts issued by the agency to the private complainants.cЃa31cЃacЃaląwAlso presented was a certification dated 23 August 2002, issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, stating that according to its records, the New Filipino Manpower Development and Services, Inc. had an expired license and that its application for the re-issuance of a new license was denied.cЃa32cЃacЃaląwIt appears that MPM had earlier applied for a license but its application was not granted; hence, it changed its name to New Filipino Manpower Development and Services, Inc.cЃa33cЃacЃaląw

For his defense, appellant Gallo alleged that he was not an employee of MPM but was himself an applicant for overseas work.cЃa34cЃacЃaląwAccording to him, someone from their province informed him that MPM was recruiting applicants to be employed as factory workers in Korea, so he applied sometime in November 2000.cЃa35cЃacЃaląwHe further testified that he paid P20,000.00 for the processing of his visa but was not issued a receipt; his payment was merely recorded in the agency’s logbook.cЃa36cЃacЃaląwWhen his visa was issued, the agency asked for an additional payment of P40,000.00 for his plane fare, but he was unable to produce the amount, so another person was sent abroad in his stead.cЃa37cЃacЃaląwHe was advised by Martir to wait because the visa issued to him earlier will be replaced by a trainee visa.cЃa38cЃacЃaląwAs a result, he was often seen at the office of Martir because he would often go there to follow up his application.cЃa39cЃacЃaląwHe denied having received money from or having issued any receipt to private complainants.cЃa40cЃacЃaląw

Appellant, however, admitted having executed a Kontra Salaysay and a Rejoinder Affidavit wherein it was stated that he is merely a utility worker of New Filipino Manpower Development and Services, Inc., and, as such, his only duties therein consist of repair, janitorial and messengerial jobs.cЃa41cЃacЃaląwHe explained the conflict in his statements by claiming that the aforesaid documents were prepared by a lawyer from the NBI and he signed them without reading their contents.cЃa42cЃacЃaląwHe, nevertheless, disclosed during his testimony that the personal circumstances stated in the documents were gathered by the NBI from him.cЃa43cЃacЃaląw

Finding that the evidence for the prosecution sufficiently established the criminal liability of appellant, the trial court rendered a decision on 10 April 2003 convicting him of the crimes charged.Accused Manta andPacardo were acquitted for insufficiency of the evidence presented against them.cЃa44cЃacЃaląwThe dispositive portion of the decision, in part, reads:

In Criminal Case No. 02-200788:

Finding Rodolfo Gallo to have participated in illegally recruiting the three complainants, Ian Fernandez, Reynaldo Panlilio and Zenaida Filomeno, he is hereby found GUILTY of the crime of Illegal Recruitment without any mitigating nor aggravating circumstance attendant to its commission and is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P500,000.00.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

In Criminal Case No. 02-200803:

Finding Rodolfo Gallo having conspired and confederated with another person not charged in this Information in defrauding Ian Fernandez, he is hereby found Guilty of the crime of Estafa without any mitigating nor aggravating circumstance attendant to its commission, granting him the benefit of the Indeterminate Sentence Law he is hereby sentenced to suffer an indeterminate prison term ranging from four (4) years two (2) months of prision correccional to ten (10) years of prision mayor.He is hereby ordered to indemnify Ian Fernandez the sum of P45,000.00 representing the amount embezzled.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

In Criminal Case No. 02-200810:

Finding Rodolfo Gallo having conspired and confederated with another person not charged in this Information in defrauding Zenaida Filomeno, he is hereby found Guilty of the crime of Estafa without any mitigating nor aggravating circumstance attendant to its commission, granting the accused the benefit of the Indeterminate Sentence Law, he is hereby sentenced to suffer an indeterminate prison term of ranging from four (4) years two (2) months of prision correccional to eight (8) years of prision mayor.He is hereby ordered to indemnify the victim Zenaida Filomeno the sum of P20,000.00 representing the amount embezzled.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

In Criminal Case No. 02-200812:

Finding Rodolfo Gallo having conspired and confederated with another person not charged in this Information in defrauding Reynaldo Panlilio he is hereby found Guilty of the crime of Estafa without any mitigating nor aggravating circumstance attendant to its commission, granting him the benefit of the Indeterminate Sentence Law he is hereby sentenced to suffer an indeterminate prison term ranging from four (4) years two (2) months of prision correccional to ten (10) years of prision mayor.He is hereby ordered to indemnify Reynaldo Panlilio the sum of P45,000.00 representing the amount of money embezzled.cЃa45cЃacЃaląw

In view of the penalty imposed, the case was elevated to this Court on automatic review.In accordance with our ruling in People v. Mateo,cЃa46cЃacЃaląw the Court resolved to transfer the cases to the Court of Appeals for intermediate review.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

On 31 January 2008, the Court of Appeals rendered the Decision now subject of this review. The dispositive portion of which provides:

WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered as follows:

I.            cralawThe judgment of the trial court in Criminal Case No. 02-200788 finding the accused-appellant Rodolfo Gallo guilty of Illegal Recruitment in Large Scale and sentencing him to life imprisonment, as well as to pay a fine of Five Hundred Thousand Pesos is AFFIRMED.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

The judgments in Criminal Cases Nos. 02-200803 and 02-200812 sentencing the accused-appellant to suffer an indeterminate prison term of four (4) years, two (2) months of prision correccional to ten (10) years ofprision mayor is AFFIRMED with the following MODIFICATION:

In additional to the P45,000.00 each to be paid by the accused-appellant to Ian Fernandez and Reynaldo Panlilio as actual damages; the accussed-appellant is also ordered to pay legal interest on the said amount of P45,000.00 from the time of the filing of the Information until fully paid.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

II.          cralawThe judgment in Criminal Case No. 02-200810 finding the accused-appellant guilty of estafa is MODIFIED, and the accused-appellant is hereby sentenced to an indeterminate penalty ranging from one (1) year, eight (8) months and twenty-one (21) days of prision correccional minimum to five (5) years, five (5) months and [eleven] (11) days of prision correccional maximum.The accused-appellant shall pay Zenaida Filomeno P20,000.00 by way of actual damages.In addition, the accused-appellant shall also pay legal interest on the said amount of P20,000.00 from the time of filing of the Information until fully paid.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

In all four cases, the accused-appellant Rodolfo Gallo shall be credited with the full extent of his preventive imprisonment pursuant to Article 29 of the Revised Penal Code.Costs against accused-appellant.cЃa47cЃacЃaląw

Hence, the instant petition.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

On 21 January 2009, the Court resolved to require the parties to file their respective supplemental briefs, if they so desire, within thirty (30) days from notice.cЃa48cЃacЃaląwAppellant filed a Manifestation dated 18 March 2009 stating that he will no longer file a supplemental brief and is adopting his Appellant’s Brief as his Supplemental Brief.cЃa49cЃacЃaląwThe Office of the Solicitor General likewise manifested that it would no longer file a supplemental brief.cЃa50cЃacЃaląw

In his Brief, appellant assigns the following as errors committed by the trial court:

I

THE COURT A QUO ERRED IN GIVING MUCH WEIGHT AND CREDENCE TO THE TESTIMONIES OF THE PROSECUTION WITNESSES.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

II

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN CONVICTING THE ACCUSED-APPELLANT OF THREE COUNTS OF ESTAFA NOTWITHSTANDING THE PATENT ABSENCE OF CRIMINAL INTENT ON THE PART OF THE LATTER.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

III

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THE ACCUSED-APPELLANT GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF THE PROSECUTION TO PROVE ALL THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE CRIME CHARGED.cЃa51cЃacЃaląw

Appellant, in essence, claims that the prosecution failed to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

The appeal must fail.We find no valid grounds to reverse the decision of the Court of Appeals affirming the lower court’s judgment of conviction.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

Well-settled is the rule that the issue of credibility is the domain of the trial court which had the opportunity to observe the deportment and manner of the witnesses as they testified.cЃa52cЃacЃaląwThe findings of facts of a trial court, arrived at only after a hearing and evaluation of the testimonies of witnesses, certainly deserve respect by an appellate court.cЃa53cЃacЃaląwUnless it plainly overlooked certain facts of substance and value which, if considered, may affect the result of the case, appellate courts will not disturb the findings of the trial court on the issue of credibility of witnesses, it being in a better position to decide the question, having heard and observed the witnesses themselves.cЃa54cЃacЃaląw

We find no exceptional circumstances in this case that would justify a deviation from the general rule.The trial court’s findings and conclusions are duly supported by the evidence on record; thus, there is no reason to disturb them.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

Moreover, there is no showing that the private complainants were impelled by any ill motive that could have affected their credibility.Where there is nothing to show that the witnesses for the prosecution were actuated by improper motive, their positive and categorical declarations on the witness stand, under the solemnity of an oath, deserve full faith and credence.cЃa55cЃacЃaląw

Appellant professes lack of criminal intent to escape liability for estafa.He maintains that, like the private complainants, he is also an applicant trying his luck at finding work overseas; that he would usually help out in office work on occasions that he would visit the agency as an applicant which explains why complainants could have indeed seen and conversed with him about their applications.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

These implausible arguments fail to persuade us.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

As with the Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals, this Court is likewise convinced that the prosecution was able to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, appellant’s guilt for estafa under Article 315 (2)(a) of the Revised Penal Code, which provides:

Article 315. Swindling (estafa). x x x

x x x x

1.           cralawBy means of any of the following false pretenses or fraudulent acts executed prior to or simultaneously with the commission of the fraud:

(a)By using fictitious name, or falsely pretending to possess power, influence, qualifications, property, credit, agency, business or imaginary transactions, or by means of other similar deceits.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

Under the above-quoted provision, there are three (3) ways of committing estafa:(1) by using a fictitious name; (2) by falsely pretending to possess power, influence, qualifications, property, credit, agency, business or imaginary transactions; and (3) by means of other similar deceits.cЃa56cЃacЃaląwTo convict for this type of crime, it is essential that the false statement or fraudulent representation constitutes the very cause or the only motive which induces the complainant to part with the thing of value.cЃa57cЃacЃaląw

In the case before us, appellant and Martir led the private complainants to believe that they possessed the power, qualifications and means to provide work in Korea.During the trial of these cases, it was clearly shown that, together with Martir, appellant discussed with private complainants the fact of their being deployed abroad for a job if they pay the processing fee, and that he actually received payments from private complainants.Thus, it was proven beyond reasonable doubt that the three private complainants were deceived into believing that there were jobs waiting for them in a factory in Korea when in fact there were none.Because of the assurances of appellant, each of the private complainants parted with their money and suffered damages as a result of their being unable to leave for Korea.The elements of estafa ─ deceit and damage ─ are thus indisputably present, making the conviction for estafa appropriate.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

Appellant’s defense that he is also an applicant is unavailing given the complete absence of any attempt on his part to seek a refund of the money he allegedly paid to the agency when the job promised him failed to materialize.He did not complain at all, at the very least, but, instead, even “helped out” at the office whenever he went there to follow up his application.As aptly put by the Court of Appeals, “[s]uch a story is highly improbable, incompatible with human behavior and contrary to ordinary experience.”cЃa58cЃacЃaląw

Likewise, we find that the trial court and the Court of Appeals correctly found appellant guilty of the crime of illegal recruitment in large scale under Republic Act No. 8042,cЃa59cЃacЃaląw the pertinent provision of which provides:

Sec. 6. Definition. – For purposes of this Act, illegal recruitment shall mean any act of canvassing, enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring, or procuring workers and includes referring, contract services, promising or advertising for employment abroad, whether for profit or not, when undertaken by a non-licensee or non-holder of authority contemplated under Article 13(f) of Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines:Provided, That any such non-licensee or non-holder who, in any manner, offers or promises for a fee employment abroad to two or more persons shall be deemed so engaged. x x x.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

x x x x

Illegal recruitment is deemed committed by a syndicate if carried out by a group of three (3) or more persons conspiring or confederating with one another.It is deemed committed in large scale if committed against three (3) or more persons individually or as a group. x x x.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

To constitute illegal recruitment in large scale, three elements must concur:(a) the offender has no valid license or authority required by law to enable him to lawfully engage in recruitment and placement of workers; (b) the offender undertakes any of the activities within the meaning of “recruitment and placement” under Article 13(b) of the Labor Code, or any of the prohibited practices enumerated under Article 34 of the same Code (now Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8042); and, (c) the offender committed the same against three (3) or more persons, individually or as a group.cЃa60cЃacЃaląw

Article 13(b) of the Labor Code defines recruitment and placement as “any act of canvassing, enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring or procuring workers; and includes referrals, contract services, promising or advertising for employment, locally or abroad, whether for profit or not.”In the simplest terms, illegal recruitment is committed by persons who, without authority from the government, give the impression that they have the power to send workers abroad for employment purposes.cЃa61cЃacЃaląw

We are persuaded that all three elements of illegal recruitment in large scale were proven in this case.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

First, appellant had no valid license or authority to engage in the recruitment and placement of workers. This is established by the Karagdagang Salaysay executed by Pacardo on 8 March 2002, paragraph 6 of which states that while MPM applied for a license, it was never issued one, for which reason, it changed its name to New Filipino Manpower Development and Services, Inc.cЃa62cЃacЃaląw

Second, despite not having such authority, appellant nevertheless engaged in recruitment activities, offering and promising jobs to private complainants and collecting from them various amounts as placement fees.This is substantiated by the respective testimonies of the three private complainants.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

Fernandez narrated that it was appellant who assured him that if he pays P45,000.00, he would be able to leave for Korea within two to three months.Both Fernandez and Panlilio affirmed that they gave the money to appellant who issued a receipt therefore.Filomeno testified that when she went to the office of Martir, the latter and appellant were in the process of accepting applicants for work overseas.They told her that as a factory worker in Korea, she would have a monthly salary of US$500.00 with overtime pay.Relying on their misrepresentations, she paid the placement fee to appellant and Martir.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

Thus, the mere denials of appellant cannot stand against the clear, positive and straightforward testimonies of private complainants who positively identified appellant as one of two persons who undertook to recruit them for a supposed employment in Korea.As already previously mentioned, absent any evidence that the prosecution witnesses were motivated by improper motives, the trial court’s assessment of the credibility of the witnesses shall not be interfered with by this Court.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

WHEREFORE, the decision of the Court of Appeals dated 31 January 2008 in CA–G.R. CR H.C. No. 01663, affirming with modification the Judgment of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 34, finding appellant Rodolfo Gallo guilty of illegal recruitment in large scale and three (3) counts of estafa is AFFIRMED.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

SO ORDERED.

WE CONCUR:

CARPIO, J., Chairperson, BRION, DEL CASTILLO and ABAD, JJ.

ATTESTATION

I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision were reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

ANTONIO T. CARPIO

Associate Justice

Chairperson, Second Division

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, and the Division Chairperson’s Attestation, it is hereby certified that the conclusions in the above Decision were reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.chanroblesvirtua|awlibary

REYNATO S. PUNO

Chief Justice