4/30/2021 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly 39(a) of the Labor Code of the Philippines, reads: That in or about and during the period comprised from the year 1993 to August 1994, in Quezon City, Philippines, the above-named accused, without any authority of law, did then and there, wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously, for a fee, enlist, recruit and promise employment/job placement abroad to the following persons, to wit: NAME AMOUNT 1. Rodrigo Acorda ------ P65,000.00 2. Orlando Velasco ----- P145,000.00 -3. Florante Casia -------- P100,000.00 -Without first securing the required license or authority from the Department of Labor and Employment. That the crime described above is committed in large scale as the same was perpetrated against three (3) or more persons individually or as a group as penalized under Art(s). 38 and 39, as amended by P.D. 2018, of the Labor Code (P.D. 442). CONTRARY TO LAW. Upon being arraigned on October 1, 1996, the appellant, assisted by counsel of her choice, entered separate pleas of "Not guilty" to each of the Informations in the instant criminal cases. Thereafter, joint trial on the merits ensued. It appears from the evidence adduced by the prosecution that private respondent Rodrigo Acorda went to the office of the appellant, Mercy Logan, at 180-D Monterey Street, 15th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City sometime in January 1994. Rodrigo was informed by the appellant who purported to do business under the name and style Logan Promotion of Arts and Talents,[3] that she could recruit or secure for him employment in Japan. After having communicated his desire to apply for work in Japan, Rodrigo was required by the appellant to pay a placement fee in the amount of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P150,000.00). Rodrigo initially paid Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00)[4] to the appellant on January 31, 1994 and he was required to fill up an application form.[5] While his travel documents were allegedly being processed, Rodrigo was asked by the appellant to pay the additional amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) which https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/52399 2/12