Baby Tan for which he was given a receipt indicating his payment in two installments. The first payment was for $1,000.00 which, at the prevailing rate of exchange at the time, was equivalent to P26,320.00. Then, on February 25, 1992, he again paid P18,680.00 to Baby Tan. Present on both days were accused-appellant and Toto Bellosillo. On March 3, 1992, Tamares and seven other persons left for Hong Kong. Although he wanted to work in Korea, he was told by accused-appellant that Korea had become strict in enforcing immigration laws. Tamares and his group were met in Hong Kong by Baby Tan. The following day, accused-appellant arrived and took them to Macao where they were made to wait for two weeks. However, after two weeks, there was still no work for them. Tamares, therefore, returned to the Philippines. Upon inquiry at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), Tamares learned that accused-appellant, Baby Tan, and Toto Bellosillo had no license to recruit. Tamares and his companions filed a complaint at Police Station No. 5 and gave their statements. Tamares said that a lawyer of accused-appellant offered to pay him P20,000.00.vii[7] On cross-examination, he said that accused-appellants friend, Aling Amor, made him sign a waiver just as he was about to depart from the airport.viii[8] Domingo Baetiong likewise testified. He was also accompanied by Ricky de los Santos to accused-appellants house, where he accomplished an application form given to him by accusedappellant. Baetiong was told that he could have a job as factory worker in Macao for which the monthly salary was $500.00. Initially, he paid to accused-appellant and his wife P40,000.00, for which he was given a receipt. Later on, at the airport, Baetiong paid P10,000.00 to accusedappellant. No receipt was issued for this amount. On March 5, 1992, Baetiong and his companions were taken to Hong Kong and from there to Macao. After eleven (11) days he became impatient and returned to the Philippines as there was no job available. Baetiong proceeded to the Police Precinct and filed a complaint against accused-appellant. He said on cross-examination that he too was made to sign a waiver, which he was not able to read because he was hurried to do so at the airport.ix[9] Ignacio Rivera, Baetiongs brother-in-law, was likewise presented by the prosecution. He testified that he met accused-appellant Vicente Mercado at the latters house in February 1992. He was assured of a job as a factory worker in Macao at a monthly salary of $500.00. Ignacio later went back to the office and paid P40,000.00 to Quinses Bellosillo. No receipt was issued as according to Quinses Bellosillo, only Baby Tan was authorized to issue receipts and she was in Hong Kong. Ignacio testified that he was present when accused-appellant was arrested by policemen in April 1992 and that he also executed a sworn statement against accused-appellant Vicente Mercado.x[10] Jocelyn Turla, Senior Labor Employment Officer of the POEA, was presented in court. Her testimony was dispensed with as the parties stipulated that accused-appellant Vicente Mercado did not have a license to recruit workers for jobs abroad.xi[11] Accused-appellant testified in his defense. He denied that he was engaged in the recruitment business. He said his business was buying and selling Ready-To-Wear clothes (RTW). On crossexamination, he explained that, as manager of the business, he went to Macao three times a year to import RTWs because it was cheaper to buy them there. He claimed that he had a residence in Macao. He admitted he saw all the complainants in Macao on different dates.xii[12] He further