to accused-appellant through Alice Sabala on November 15, 1993, at the Laperal Building on Session Road, Baguio City where they made their first and second payments. Joaquins third payment was made at the Bombay Bazaar on Magsaysay Avenue and he, together with Esteban, was supposed to leave in March 1994. On the other hand, Gallao was a technician at the Gallaos Optical Clinic. He came to know accused-appellant through Bacasnot who is the husband of Gallaos cousin, Almi Gallao Bacasnot. Bagni, meanwhile, met accused-appellant through Bacasnot, Bagnis brother-in-law. Gallao and Bagni were scheduled to leave by June 15, 1994. As with Eliw, Kamura and Malinias, both Gallao and Bagni gave the downpayment of their fees to accused-appellant at Gallaos Optical Clinic. The balance of their fees was paid at the house of accused-appellant at 83 Happy Homes, Baguio City. Slxmis Accused-appellant failed to comply with his commitment to send complainants Bacasnot, Eliw, Kamura, Malinias, Bagni, Gallao, Esteban and Joaquin to Taiwan as he could no longer be located after collecting placement fees from them.22[22] Earlier, at the instance of complainant Bacasnot, Atty. Justinian O. Licnachan, POEA-REU Legal Officer of the Cordillera Autonomous Region, issued a certification dated June 24, 1994 (Exh. C)23[23] which read: This is to certify that BENZ ONG a.k.a. "BENZON ONG SATE & JOHNSON ONG SATE", per existing and available records from this office, is not licensed nor authorized to recruit workers for overseas employment in the City of Baguio or any part of the region. He is neither in possession of the required Provincial Recruitment Authority. Complainant Francisca Cayaya failed to testify despite due notice to her. Her complaint for estafa was, therefore, dismissed.24[24] On the other hand, the complaint for estafa of complainant Bacasnot, which should have been filed with the Municipal Trial Court in view of the amount (P10,000.00) involved, was nonetheless allowed because it arose out of the same facts as the case for illegal recruitment. Sdaadsc For his defense, accused-appellant Benzon Ong y Sate admitted having met complainant Bacasnot through Zaldy Galos. He got to know the other complainants through Bacasnot and one Patring Esteban (sister of complainant Paul Esteban), his partner in the video rental business. He introduced himself to Bacasnot as one from Taiwan and told Bacasnot that his mother and brother were based in Taiwan. Accused-appellant testified that when complainants sought his 22[22] TSN (Noel B. Bacasnot), p. 6, Sept. 28, 1994; TSN (David Joaquin), pp. 2-12, Oct. 3, 1994; TSN (Paul Esteban), pp. 12-17, Oct. 3, 1994; TSN (Teofilo Gallao, Jr.), pp. 9-24, Oct. 10, 1994; TSN (Samuel Bagni), pp. 33-42, Oct. 11, 1994; See Affidavits of Samuel Bagni, Teofilo Gallao, Jr., Paul Esteban and David Joaquin all dated June 27, 1994, RTC Records, pp. 8, 10, 12 and 13. 23[23] RTC Records, p. 73. 24[24] Crim. Case No. 13149-R.