THIRD DIVISION
[G.R. No. 107084. May 15, 1998]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. DELIA SADIOSA y CABENTA,
accused-appellant.
DECISION
ROMERO, J.:
Accused-appellant Delia Sadiosa was charged with illegal recruitment in an information that
reads:
That on or about and during the period comprise (sic) from January 1992 to March 1992, in
Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the
above named accused Delia Sadiosa y Cabenta, well knowing that she is not a duly licensed job
recruiter, by means of false representations and fraudulent allegations to the effect that she could
secure employment as domestic helpers abroad for Benilda Sabado y Domingo, Marcela
Tabernero y Manzano, Erly Tuliao y Sabado and Cely Navarro y Manzano, did then and there
wilfully (sic), unlawfully and feloniously recruit aforesaid persons and collected from them the
amount of P8,000.00 each, which amount were given to the accused by the aforesaid
complainants upon receipt of which, far from complying with her obligation aforestated, accused
appropriated for herself the said amount and failed to deploy complainants abroad.
Contrary to law.i[1]
Upon arraignment, accused-appellant pleaded not guilty.ii[2] At the trial that ensued, the
prosecution proved the following operative facts and circumstances surrounding the commission
of the crime:
Arsenia Conse went to Bayombong, Nueva Ecija in early 1992 where she met the four
complainants, Cely Navarro, Marcela Manzano, Erly Tuliao and Benilda Domingo. She enticed
the four to apply for overseas employment informing them that she had a cousin who could send
them to Kuwait as domestic helpers. Apparently convinced by Arsenia Conse, the four went with
her on February 5, 1992 to Manila. Upon arrival, they proceeded to Room 210, Diamond
Building, Libertad St., Pasay City where Arsenia Conse introduced the group to accusedappellant Delia Sadiosa. The four then applied for work as domestic helpers.iii[3]
On that occasion, accused-appellant assured the four that she could dispatch them to Kuwaitiv[4]
and forthwith demanded P8,000.00 from each of them for processing fee and P1,000.00 for
passport (P1,500.00 from complainant Cely Navarro).v[5] She assured the group that she would
facilitate the processing of all the necessary documents needed by them. She further promised
them that upon payment of the required fees, they would be able to leave for Kuwait
immediately.