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404 Phil. 693
FIRST DIVISION
[ G.R. No. 119361, February 19, 2001 ]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, VS. CORAZON
NAVARRA (AT LARGE) RODOLFO NAVARRA, SR. AND JOB
NAVARRA, ACCUSED.
RODOLFO NAVARRA, SR. AND JOB NAVARRA, ACCUSEDAPPELLANTS.
DECISION
PARDO, J.:
Deceptis non decipientibus, jura subveniunt.*
It is a sad commentary that many of our countrymen migrate to other countries for
work. They leave all that is familiar and endure loneliness and separation from their
families and friends for the coveted dollar hoping that such will better their lot and
ensure their families a modicum of economic stability.
What is more disheartening is that there are those who take advantage of the hopefuls.
These are the illegal recruiters. On them, we must let the full force of the law fall, and
fall heavily.
The Case
The case is an appeal from the decision of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 90, Quezon
City[1] finding accused Rodolfo Navarra, Sr. and Job Navarra (hereafter "Rodolfo" and
"Job", respectively) guilty beyond reasonable doubt of illegal recruitment committed in
a large scale resulting to economic sabotage and sentencing each of them to life
imprisonment, to pay a fine of one hundred thousand (P100,000.00) pesos, each,
without subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, and to return to complainants
the sums they received from them.
The Facts
Job and Rodolfo, along with Rodolfo's wife[2] Corazon, operated an agency which
purported to have the authority to recruit and place workers for employment in Taiwan.
The agency[3] was named Rodolfo Navarra's Travel Consultant and General Services
("RNTCGS"),[4] which in the course of its operation was able to victimize several
hapless victims who never left Philippine soil, and in due time, filed complaints with the
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