6/9/2020 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly money they had paid to Ocden. Ocden was able to return only P50,000.00. Thus, out of the total amount of P140,000.00 Golidan and her sons paid to Ocden, they were only able to get back the sum of P60,000.00. After all that had happened, Golidan and her sons went to the Baguio office of the POEA, where they discovered that Ocden was not a licensed recruiter.[12] The defense presented the testimony of Ocden herself. Ocden denied recruiting private complainants and claimed that she was also an applicant for an overseas job in Italy, just like them. Ocden identified Ramos as the recruiter. Ocden recounted that she met Ramos at a seminar held in St. Theresa's Compound, Navy Base, Baguio City, sometime in June 1998. The seminar was arranged by Aida Comila (Comila), Ramos's sub-agent. The seminar was attended by about 60 applicants, including Golidan. Ramos explained how one could apply as worker in a stuff toys factory in Italy. After the seminar, Comila introduced Ocden to Ramos. Ocden decided to apply for the overseas job, so she gave her passport and pictures to Ramos. Ocden also underwent medical examination at Zamora Medical Clinic in Manila, and completely submitted the required documents to Ramos in September 1998. After the seminar, many people went to Ocden's house to inquire about the jobs available in Italy. Since most of these people did not attend the seminar, Ocden asked Ramos to conduct a seminar at Ocden's house. Two seminars were held at Ocden's house, one in September and another in December 1998. After said seminars, Ramos designated Ocden as leader of the applicants. As such, Ocden received her coapplicants' applications and documents; accompanied her co-applicants to Manila for medical examination because she knew the location of Zamora Medical Clinic; and accepted placement fees in the amount of P70,000.00 each from Mana-a and Ferrer and from Golidan, the amount of P140,000.00 (for Jeffries and Howard). Ramos instructed Ocden that the applicants should each pay P250,000.00 and if the applicants could not pay the full amount, they would have to pay the balance through salary deductions once they start working in Italy. Ocden herself paid Ramos P50,000.00 as placement fee and executed a promissory note in Ramos's favor for the balance, just like any other applicant who failed to pay the full amount. Ocden went to Malaysia with Ramos's male friend but she failed to get her visa for Italy. Ocden denied deceiving Mana-a and Ferrer. Ocden alleged that she turned over to Ramos the money Mana-a and Ferrer gave her, although she did not indicate in the receipts she issued that she received the money for and on behalf of Ramos. Ocden pointed out that she and some of her co-applicants already filed a complaint against Ramos before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) offices in Zamboanga City and Manila.[13] On July 2, 2001, the RTC rendered a Decision finding Ocden guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes of illegal recruitment in large scale (Criminal Case No. 16315-R) elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/37842 5/19