6/7/2020
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Roselle together with accused spouses and the latter asked her if she was
willing to work in Macau. She was asked about her educational background
and upon knowing that she is an AB Journalism graduate, and took up
computer informatics, Beatriz assured her that she could work in Macau.
She was offered as office secretary for a two (2) years contract with a salary
of P18,000.00 a month. She was then given a bio-data with Chinese
characters with a corresponding English translation to fill up and was
required to submit her transcript of records, diploma, certificate of
employment and a photocopy of her passport. She was also required to pay
P40,000.00 for the processing fee, plane ticket and documentation.
Thereafter, accused spouses made follow-ups at the office of her father at
Branch 1, MTCC-Cagayan de Oro City.
On November 20, 2002, she met accused spouses again at the office of her
father and she told accused spouses that she might not proceed with her
application as she was able to raise only P11,500.00 and the said amount
was even borrowed from a lending institution. Accused Spouses nonetheless
accepted the said amount and told her that the balance of the payment
would be deducted from her salary in Macau, China. Thereafter, Accused
Spouses issued a receipt and she was told that her departure for Manila
would be on November 29, 2002 and they would just meet at Cagayan de
Oro airport at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. However, on the said date, she did
not find accused spouses at the airport and upon inquiry from the airline
counter she was informed that their names were not on the plane manifest.
The testimony of Laarni as to the receipt of P11,500.00 was collaborated by
prosecution witness Marichu Damasing. She testified that the said amount
was received by Beatriz and the latter even counted the money at her table.
The receipt was prepared by Laarni's father and was signed by Beatriz and
witnessed by her. She further testified that upon receipt of the said amount,
accused spouses left the office.
Corollarily, private complainant Roselle narrated that she met accused
spouses on October 4, 2002 at the house of her mother-in-law. Accused
spouses told her that they would be hiring workers for Macau, China and
considering that at that time she was jobless, she told them of her interest
to apply for work. She was then offered the position of an office clerk for
two (2) years with a monthly salary of P22,000.00 and was asked to submit
the required documents and to pay P40,000.00 as placement fee. Albeit it
was the first time she met them, yet, she trusted them considering that
Owen was the first cousin of his husband and they were staying at the same
house. On November 20, 2002, she initially paid P20,000.00 and on
November 26, 2002, the balance of P20,000.00. A receipt was issued to her
and she was told that her departure to Manila would be on November 29,
2002. Upon the request of accused spouses, a "despidida" party was held on
November 28, 2002 at the house of private complainant Reynalyn located
just beside the house of her mother-in-law.
She further narrated that on November 29, 2002, accused spouses left the
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