6/5/2020
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Article 34[14] of the Labor Code under the heading "Prohibited practices." Thus, under
Article 34 of the Labor Code, it is unlawful for any individual, entity, licensee or holder
of authority to engage in any of the enumerated prohibited practices, but such acts or
practices do not constitute illegal recruitment when undertaken by a licensee or holder
of authority. However, under Article 38(A) of the Labor Code, when a non-licensee or
non-holder of authority undertakes such "prohibited practices," he or she is liable for
illegal recruitment. RA 8042 broadened the definition of illegal recruitment for overseas
employment by including thirteen acts or practices which now constitute as illegal
recruitment, whether committed by a non-licensee, non-holder, licensee or holder of
authority.
Under RA 8042, a non-licensee or non-holder of authority commits illegal recruitment
for overseas employment in two ways: (1) by any act of canvassing, enlisting,
contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring, or procuring workers, and includes referring,
contract services, promising or advertising for employment abroad, whether for profit
or not; and (2) by undertaking any of the acts enumerated under Section 6 of RA 8042.
On the other hand, a licensee or holder of authority is also liable for illegal recruitment
for overseas employment when he or she undertakes any of the thirteen acts or
practices [(a) to (m)] listed under Section 6 of RA 8042. To constitute illegal
recruitment in large scale, the offense of illegal recruitment must be committed against
three or more persons, individually or as a group.
In this case, the prosecution sufficiently proved that appellant engaged in large-scale
illegal recruitment.
First, appellant is a non-licensee or non-holder of authority. Part of the evidence
submitted by the prosecution is a POEA Certification[15] dated 10 March 2003, stating
that appellant is not licensed by the POEA to recruit workers for overseas employment.
Appellant admitted that she has no valid license or authority required by law to lawfully
engage in recruitment and placement of workers.
Second, despite the absence of a license or authority to undertake recruitment
activities, appellant gave the impression that she has the power or ability to secure
work for private complainants in Korea. Private complainants Orlando Layoso, Donna
Magboo, and Jimmy Lejos all testified that appellant promised them work as factory
workers in Korea and induced them to pay placement fees, which included the
expenses for medical examination and the processing of their documents for work in
Korea. Appellant even showed pictures of previous applicants, whom she allegedly
helped find work abroad. Appellant also explained to them the procedure for overseas
employment and promised them that she would secure their visas and employment
contracts within three months. The testimonies of Orlando Layoso, Donna Magboo, and
Jimmy Lejos were corroborated by private respondents Marcelino Lejos and Lederle
Panesa, whose Affidavits of Complaint were adopted as their direct testimonies.
This Court has held in several cases that an accused who represents to others that he
could send workers abroad for employment, even without the authority or license to do
so, commits illegal recruitment.[16]
elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/60550
11/19