6/5/2020
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not have proof that she indeed turned over the money to Narcisa Santos.
On 9 June 2010, the trial court rendered a decision, the dispositive portion of which
reads:
WHEREFORE, the Court finds accused Alelie (also known as Alelie Tolentino)
guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the offense of large scale illegal
recruitment, which constitutes economic sabotage in Criminal Case Case No.
02-755 and sentences her to life imprisonment and to pay a fine of
P500,000.00; and five counts of estafa under Article 315 2(a) of the Revised
Penal Code, as amended, in the following criminal cases and sentences her,
as follows:
In Criminal Case No. 02-756, an indeterminate penalty of six months of
arresto mayor in its maximum to four years two months and one day of
prision correccional in its maximum as the maximum period, and to pay the
private complainant the amount of P5,000.00 as and for moral damages.
Accused is further ordered to return the amount of PI5,000.00 she illegally
collected from the private complainant.
In Criminal Case Nos. 02-757, 02-758 and 02-759, an indeterminate penalty
[of] six months of arresto mayor in its maximum to twelve years of prision
mayor in its maximum, and to pay the private complainants individually
each in the amount of P15,000.00 as and for moral damages. Accused is
further ordered to return the amount of P35,000.00 she illegally collected
each from the private complainants.
In Criminal Case No. 02-760, an indeterminate penalty of six months of
arresto mayor in its maximum as the minimum period to six years and one
day of prision mayor in its minimum as the maximum period, and to pay the
private complainant the amount of P8,000.00 as and for moral damages.
Accused is further ordered to return the amount of P20,000.00 she illegally
collected from the private complainant.
Her full period of preventive imprisonment shall be credited in her favor in
accordance with Article 29 of the Revised Penal Code.
SO ORDERED.[9]
The Ruling of the Court of Appeals
On appeal, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision. The Court of Appeals
held that the prosecution adequately proved that appellant engaged in illegal
recruitment in large scale. The Court of Appeals noted that appellant admitted that she
had no authority or valid license to engage in recruitment and placement of workers.
The testimonies and the documentary evidence submitted by the prosecution showed
that appellant led complainants to believe that she had the power or ability to send
private complainants to Korea to work as factory workers and that the latter were
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6/19