4/4/2021 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly "CONTRARY TO LAW." On April 29, 1993, upon arraignment, Job pleaded "not guilty."[18] On July 14, 1993, upon arraignment, Rodolfo likewise pleaded "not guilty."[19] After due trial, on December 29, 1994, the trial court rendered a decision convicting Rodolfo and Job, thus: "ACCORDINGLY, the Court hereby finds both accused RODOLFO NAVARRA, SR. and JOB NAVARRA guilty of the crime of Illegal Recruitment Committed in a Large Scale Resulting to Economic Sabotage, as charged in the Information, and hereby sentences each of them to Life Imprisonment and also each of them to pay a fine of P100,000.00, without subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency pursuant to Art. 39 (a) of the Labor Code. "They are likewise ordered to return to complainants Florie Rose Ramos the sum of P25,000.00; to Ernesto Amutan, P15,000.00; to Bienvenida Amutan, P15,000.00; to Loida (Loyda) Macaso, P10,000.00; to Gliceria Marinas, P15,000.00; and to Merlie (Merly) Villesca, P30,000.00. "Let alias warrants of arrest be issued for accused Corazon Navarra, said warrants to be served by both the National Bureau of Investigation and the Eastern Police District Command. "SO ORDERED." [20] Hence, this appeal.[21] Rodolfo and Job submit that the trial court gravely erred in disregarding their defense of denial and in finding them guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the offense charged. [22] The Court's Ruling We find the appeal without merit. Bare denials, without clear and convincing evidence to support them,[23] can not sway judgment. They are self-serving statements,[24] that are inherently weak and can easily be put forward.[25] The rule is well-entrenched that as an appellate court, we will not disturb the findings of the trial court on credibility of witnesses as it was in a better position to appreciate the same. The rule is specially so given that there is no showing that the trial court plainly overlooked certain facts of substance or value, which, if considered, may affect https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/50233 4/8