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entered a plea of “not guilty” when arraigned.
Private complainants AAA and BBB, Police Chief Inspector Ronald Añonuevo, and police
officers Edmond Ranel Villareal and Renato Rabuya dela Peña were presented by the
prosecution to prove the following:
On 10 June 2003, accused-appellant approached AAA, who was then doing her job as a
waitress at a stall in Paseo de Zamboanga, Buenavista, Zamboanga City, to encourage
AAA to work in Malaysia, as accused-appellant knew certain persons who would soon
be leaving for that country.
On the next day, 11 June 2003, private complainant BBB was at her house in Talontalon Loop, Zamboanga City, when accused-appellant paid her a visit and invited her to
work as a saleslady in Brunei. After being assured that the prospective employment
was above board and that she would be well compensated, BBB accepted the invitation.
The day after, accused-appellant, together with co-accused Makdul Amad y Bukin a.k.a.
“Macky” (Macky) and a certain “Jun,” returned to the house of BBB. Accused-appellant
informed BBB that the latter would be escorted to Malaysia by the two men, and that
they would meet the next day at 1:00 p.m. at Plaza Pershing, Zamboanga City.
On 13 June 2003, BBB, Macky and Jun met as planned. They proceeded to Shop-ORama, where they met with co-accused Nurfrasir Hashim, a.k.a. “Franz” (Franz), who
assured BBB that she would be easily hired because of her beauty and height. They
then agreed to meet at 3:00 p.m. that same day at Paseo de Zamboanga.
At Paseo de Zamboanga, BBB, accused-appellant, Macky, and Jun met with AAA, a
certain CCC (allegedly another recruit) and Arlene (allegedly AAA’s employer). Then at
7:00 p.m. of that same day, they all proceeded to the wharf, where they met accused
Franz and a certain Cristy, who was also allegedly invited by accused-appellant to work
in Malaysia.
Thereafter, AAA, BBB, CCC, Cristy, Macky and Jun boarded the M/V Grand Flora and
were given pieces of paper containing a name. Franz, accused-appellant Bernadette
and a certain Titing did not board the boat. Accused-appellant informed private
complainants and their companions that she and Franz would follow and bring their
passports. We quote the Decision of the CA to describe the journey of the group after
boarding the M/V Flora bound for Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, at 10:00 p.m.: [4]
On June 14, 2003, they (BBB, AAA, CCC, Cristy, accused Macky) and Jun
disembarked at Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, and then they proceeded to Sitangkai,
Tawi-Tawi where they stayed for two days. On June 16, 2003, they went to
Pundohan, which is a terminal going to Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia.
On June 17, 2003, at 6:00 o’clock [sic] in the morning[,] they arrived at
Lahad Datu and soon thenafter [sic] they boarded a van going to Samporna,
Malaysia where they met accused Macky’s cousin named Pat. They waited at
Samporna until 5:00 o’clock [sic] in the afternoon when accused Franz and
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