FIRST DIVISION [G.R. No. 148198 October 1, 2003] PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. ELIZABETH BETH CORPUZ, appellant. DECISION YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.: This is an appeal from the decision[1] of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 54, in Criminal Case No. 99-176637 finding appellant Elizabeth Corpuz guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Illegal Recruitment in Large Scale constituting economic sabotage under Sec. 6 (l) and (m) in relation to Sec. 7(b) of R.A. No. 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of l995, and sentencing her to life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P500,000.00. The Information against appellant reads as follows: That sometime in July 1998 in the City of Manila and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, representing herself to have the capacity to contract, enlist and transport workers abroad, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously recruit for a fee the following persons, namely: BELINDA CABANTOG, CONCEPCION SAN DIEGO, ERLINDA PASCUAL AND RESTIAN SURIO for employment abroad without first obtaining the required license and/or authority from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and said accused failed to actually deploy without valid reasons said complainants abroad and to reimburse the expenses incurred by them in connection with their documentation and processing for purposes of deployment abroad to their damage and prejudice. CONTRARY TO LAW. [2] When arraigned on March 21, 2000, appellant pleaded not guilty. Whereupon, trial on the merits ensued. The facts of the case are as follows: In June 1998, private complainants Belinda Cabantog, Concepcion San Diego, Erlinda Pascual and Restian Surio went to Alga-Moher International Placement Services Corporation at 1651 San Marcelino Street, Malate, Manila to apply for employment as factory workers in Taiwan. They were accompanied by a certain Aling Josie who introduced them to the agencys President and General Manager Mrs. Evelyn