Moreover, there is no showing that any of the complainants had ill-motives to testify
falsely against accused-appellants and to impute such serious charges. Accusedappellants have not disputed the fact that they have had no previous quarrel with any of
the complainants. The rule is established that it is against human nature and experience
for strangers to conspire and accuse another stranger of a most serious crime just to
mollify their hurt feelings.xlvii[47]
Aside from exacting hard-earned money from the complainants, the accused-appellants
even permitted the complainants to go to another country without a place to stay or any
means of subsistence. No explanation was given to the complainants as to why the
alleged employer failed to appear at the airport. In fact, instead of sympathizing with the
complainants because of their misfortune, the accused-appellants even challenged
complainants to file a case in court.
The accused-appellants have conspired to recruit complainants without the necessary
permit or license and victimized more than three persons in the case at bar. Thus, they
are guilty of illegal recruitment by a syndicate in large scale and must suffer the
consequences thereof.
IN VIEW WHEREOF, the Court hereby AFFIRMS the appealed decision in toto. With
costs.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., C.J., Melo, and Kapunan, JJ., concur.
Ynares-Santiago, J., no part.
i[1] Penned by Judge Vladimir B. Brusola.
ii[2] Arnel Basaysay in the information is written as Arnel Bagaysay, although in the rest
of the records, including his own affidavit, the name is spelled as Arnel Basaysay.
iii[3] Records, p. 105.
iv[4] Records, p. 110.
v[5] Rollo, p. 37.
vi[6] tsn, February 28, 1994, pp. 23-24.