FIRST DIVISION [G.R. No. 122508. June 26, 1998] PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. Elvis Sanchez, accusedappellant. DECISION VITUG, J.: This appeal assails the 24th July 1995 decisioni[1] of the Regional Trial Court of Baguio City, Branch 6, finding appellant Elvis Sanchez guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes of illegal recruitment in large scale (Criminal Case No. 12357-R) and three (3) counts of estafa (Criminal Cases No. 12359-R, No. 12360-R and No. 12362-R) and sentencing him accordingly. Appellant was charged, on 25 November 1993, with violation of Article 38(b) of Presidential Decree No. 442 (Labor Code), as amended, for illegal recruitment in large scale. The information averred That during the period from the month of November, 1992, to March 8, 1993, in the City of Baguio, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the abovenamed accused, representing himself to have the capacity to contract, enlist and hire and transport Filipino workers for employment abroad, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously for a fee, recruit and promise employment/job placement to the following persons: "1. Alice G. Kimay "2. Veronica Filog "3. Aaron John Acena "4. Nancy Fesset "5. Jerry Akia "without first securing or obtaining license or authority from the proper government agency.ii[2] Likewise filed against appellant on the same day (25 November 1993) were the corresponding five cases of estafa. Except for the names of the complainants and the amounts involved, the informations substantially contained like allegations to the effect That on or about the 8th day of March, 1993, in the City of Baguio, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously defraud one JERRY AKIA by way of false pretenses, which are executed prior to or simultaneously with the commission of the fraud, as follows, to wit: the accused knowing fully well that he/she/they is/are not