6/9/2020 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly 339 Phil. 80 FIRST DIVISION [ G.R. No. 121907, May 27, 1997 ] THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, VS. NORMA S. FERRER, ACCUSED-APPELLANT. DECISION VITUG, J.: An information for "Illegal Recruitment on a Large Scale," penalized under Presidential Decree ("P.D.") No. 442, as amended by P.D. No. 2018, was filed on 01 December 1993 against appellant Norma S. Ferrer. The information, filed before the Regional Trial Court of Dagupan City, Branch 41, and docketed Criminal Case No. D-12331, read: "That during the months of March, 1993 and May, 1993, in the City of Dagupan, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, NORMA S. FERRER, not being a licensee nor holder of authority, did then and there, wilfully, unlawfully and criminally, undertake and perform recruitment activities, in large scale, by recruiting CRISTINA T. SAPIGAO, ZENAIDA I. LUCAS and MAY LIZA C. CORPUZ, for supposed jobs abroad. "Contrary to PD 442, as amended by PD 2018."[1] Three (3) other informations were filed with the same court, docketed Criminal Case No. D-12349, Case No. D-12350 and Case No. 94-00155-D, charging the same appellant with the crime of Estafa under Article 315, subdivision 2(a), of the Revised Penal Code. Appellant, when arraigned, pleaded "not guilty" to the charges. The four cases were tried jointly. In a joint decision, dated 27 June 1995, the court a quo, upon the conclusion of trial, adjudged: "WHEREFORE, finding accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the offense charged in Criminal Case No. D-12331 (Violation of Article 38 of 2018 as amended), she is hereby sentenced to suffer a penalty of life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P100,000.00. "In Criminal Case Nos. D-12350, D-12349 and 94-00155-D, accused is hereby acquitted for failure of the prosecution to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/34818 1/6