This case has been cited 1 times or more.
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2001-04-19 |
MENDOZA, J. |
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| More importantly, accused-appellant's defense is uncorroborated. Not one of the persons she included in her complaint to the NBI was ever presented in her defense in these cases. Nor did she present Domingo, Baloran, or Mendoza to corroborate her statements. It is probable that had she presented any of these persons, their testimonies would have been adverse to accused-appellant.[34] Direct proof of previous agreement to commit a crime is not necessary as it may be deduced from the mode in which the offense was perpetrated, or inferred from the acts of the accused which point to a joint purpose and design.[35] In these cases, the fact is that there was conspiracy among accused-appellant, Domingo, and Baloran in recruiting complainants for employment overseas. The evidence shows that each had a role in that conspiracy. Domingo posed as a representative of the luxury liner in recruiting crew for the vessel. Baloran represented himself as the person who would actually process complainants' travel documents, while accused-appellant acted as a scout for job applicants and a collector of their payments. It was only Mendoza who did not misrepresent himself as someone capable of helping complainants go abroad nor collect money from them.[36] In sum, we are of the opinion that the trial court correctly found accused-appellant guilty of illegal recruitment in large scale. The imposition on accused-appellant of the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P100,000.00 is thus justified. | |||||