FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. 218582, September 03, 2020
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, V. SAGISAG ATLAS "PAUL" BAUTISTA, ARLETH BUENCONSEJO' AND ROSAMEL CARA DE GUZMAN, ACCUSED, SAGISAG ATLAS "PAUL" BAUTISTA, ACCUSED-APPELLANT.
D E C I S I O N
CAGUIOA, J.:
For review in this ordinary appeal1 is the Decision2 dated June 27,2014 of the Court of Appeals, Tenth Division (CA), in CA-G.R. CRHC No. 05781, which affirmed the Joint Decision3 dated September 26, 2012 of the Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City, Branch 211 (RTC) in Criminal Case Nos. MC09-12510 to MC09-12516, MC09-12518 to 20, which found accused-appellant Sagisag Atlas "Paul" Bautista (accused-appellant Bautista) guilty beyond reasonable doubt of three counts of estafa under Article 315, paragraph 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), and in Criminal Case No. MC09-12517, for violation of Section 6 of Republic Act No. (R.A.) 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.
"That on or about the month of September 2008, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, a place within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping and aiding one another with intent to defraud RANDY PAJARILLO, by means of deceit and false pretenses executed prior to or simultaneous with the commission of fraud, did, then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously pretend and falsely represent themselves to have power, capacity and qualifications to deploy complainant for employment in Korea as factory worker for a fee, in the amount of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00), and by means of other similar deceits, which representation the accused well knew was false and fraudulent, and was only made by them to induce said complainant to give and deliver and i[n] fact, said complainant gave and delivered the total amount of P50,000.00, as payment for the alleged processing fee, but the accused, once in possession of the said amount, appropriated and converted the same to their own personal use and benefit without, however, deploying RANDY PAJARILLO for employment in Korea and despite repeated demands accused failed[,] refused and continue to fail and refuse to deploy him or return the above sum demanded and received, to the damage and prejudice of said RANDY PAJARILLO in the aforementioned amount.
CONTRARY TO LAW."CRIMINAL CASE NO. MC09-12511 (Estafa)
"That on or about the months from [July] 2008 up to September 2008, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, a place within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping and aiding one another with intent to defraud EFREN D. DINGLE, by means of deceit and false pretenses executed prior to or simultaneous with the commission of fraud, did, then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously pretend and falsely represent themselves to have the power, capacity, and qualifications to deploy complainant for employment in South Korea as factory worker for a fee, in the amount of one hundred fifty[-]nine thousand pesos (PI 59,000.00), and by means of other similar deceits, which representation the accused well knew was false and fraudulent, and was only made by them to induce said complainant to give and deliver and in fact, said complainant gave and delivered the total amount of PI59,000.00, as payment for the alleged processing fee, but the accused, once in possession of the said amount, appropriated and converted the same to their own personal use and benefit without, however, deploying EFREN D. DINGLE for employment in South Korea and despite repeated demands, accused failed[,] refuse[d] and continue to fail and refuse to so deploy him or return the above sum demanded and received, to the damage and prejudice of said EFREN D. DINGLE in the aforementioned amount.
CONTRARY TO LAW."CRIMINAL CASE NO. MC09-12512 (Estafa)
"That on or about the month of September 2008, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, a place within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping and aiding one another with intent to defraud MARY ANN C. MALLARI, by means of deceit and false pretenses executed prior to or simultaneous with the commission of fraud, did, then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously pretend and falsely represent themselves to have the power, capacity, and qualifications to deploy complainant for employment in Italy as factory worker for a fee, in the amount of thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00), and by means of other similar deceits, which representation the accused well knew was false and fraudulent, and was only made by them to induce said complainant to give and deliver and in fact, said complainant gave and delivered the total amount of P30,000.00, as payment for the alleged processing fee, but the accused, once in possession of the said amount, appropriated and converted the same to their own personal use and benefit without, however, deploying MARY ANN C. MALLARI for employment in Italy and despite repeated demands, accused failed[,] refused and continue to fail and refuse to deploy [her] or return the above sum demanded and received, to the damage and prejudice of said MARY ANN C. MALLARI in the aforementioned amount.
CONTRARY TO LAW."CRIMINAL CASE NO. MC09-12513 (Estafa)
"That on or about the months from [July] 2008 up to September 2008, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, a place within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping and aiding one another with intent to defraud SALVE D. VILLAFUERTE, by means of deceit and false pretenses executed prior to or simultaneous with the commission of fraud, did, then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously pretend and falsely represent themselves to have the power, capacity and qualifications to deploy complainant for employment i[n] Korea as factory worker for a fee, in the amount of one hundred twenty[-]three thousand pesos (P123,000.00), and by means of other similar deceits, which representation the accused well knew was false and fraudulent, and was only made by them to induce said complainant to give and deliver and in fact, said complainant gave and delivered the total amount of PI23,000.00, as payment for the alleged processing fee, but the accused, once in possession of the said amount, appropriated and converted the same to their own personal use and benefit without, however, deploying SALVE D. VILLAFUERTE for employment in Korea and despite repeated demands, accused failedf,] refused and continue to fail and refuse to so deploy [her] or return the above sum demanded and received, to the damage and prejudice of said SALVE D. VILLAFUERTE in the aforementioned amount.
CONTRARY TO LAW."CRIMINAL CASE NO. MC09-12514 (Estafa)
"That on or about the months from [July] 2008 up to September 2008, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, a place within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping and aiding one another with intent to defraud MARIBETH D. CABBAB, by means of deceit and false pretenses executed prior to or simultaneous with the commission of fraud, did, then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously pretend and falsely represent themselves to have the power, capacity and qualifications to deploy complainant for employment in Korea as factory worker for a fee, in the amount of one hundred forty[-]eight thousand pesos (PI48,000.00), and by means of other similar deceits, which representation the accused well knew was false and fraudulent, and was only made by them to induce said complainant to give and deliver [and] in fact, said complainant gave and delivered the total amount of P148,000.00, as payment [for] the alleged processing fee, but the accused, once in possession of the said amount, appropriated and converted the same to their own personal use and benefit without, however, deploying MARIBETH D. CABBAB for employment in [Korea] and despite repeated demand[s], accused failed[,] refused and continue to fail and refuse to so deploy [her] or return the above sum demanded and received, to the damage and prejudice of said MARIBETH D. CABBAB in the aforementioned amount.
CONTRARY TO LAW."CRIMINAL CASE NO. MC09-12515 (Estafa)
"That on or about the months from [July] 2008 up to September 2008, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, a place within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping and aiding one another with intent to defraud ROLANDO L. DE VERA, by means of deceit and false pretenses executed prior to or simultaneous with the commission of fraud, did, then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously pretend and falsely represent themselves to have the power, capacity, and qualifications to' deploy complainant for employment in South Korea as factory worker for a fee, in the amount of one hundred forty[-four] thousand pesos (PI44,000.00), and by means of other similar deceits, which representation the accused well knew was false and fraudulent, and was only made by them to induce said complainant to give and deliver and in fact, said complainant gave and delivered the total amount of PI44,000.00, as [payment for the alleged processing fee, but the accused, once in possession] of the said amount, appropriated and converted the same to their own personal use and benefit without, however, deploying ROLANDO L. DE VERA for employment in South Korea and despite repeated demands, accused failed[,] refused and continue to fail and refuse to so deploy him or return the above sum demanded and received, to the damage and prejudice of said ROLANDO L. DE VERA in the aforementioned amount.
CONTRARY TO LAW."CRIMINAL CASE NO. MC09-12516 (Estafa)
"That on or about the month of August 2008, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, a place within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping and aiding one another with intent to defraud FREDERICK BAUTISTA, by means of deceit and false pretenses executed prior to or simultaneous with the commission of fraud, did, then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously pretend and falsely represent themselves to have the power, capacity, and qualifications to deploy complainant for employment in Italy as factory worker for a fee, in the amount of forty [-]five thousand pesos (P45,000.00), and by means of other similar deceits, which representation the accused well lcnew was false and fraudulent, and was only made by them to induce said complainant to give and deliver and in fact, said complainant gave and delivered the total amount of P45,000.00, as payment for the alleged processing fee, but the accused, once in possession of the said amount, appropriated and converted the same to their own personal use and benefit without, however, deploying FREDERICK BAUTISTA for employment in Italy and despite repeated demands accused failed [,] refused and continue to fail and refuse to so deploy him or return the above sum demanded and received, to the damage and prejudice of said FREDERICK BAUTISTA in the aforementioned amount.
CONTRARY TO LAW."CRIMINAL CASE NO. MC09-12517 (Section 6 of R.A. No. 8042)
"That from the period covering [July] 2008 up to September 2008, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, a place within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above named accused, conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping and aiding one another representing themselves to have the capacity to contract, enlist and transport workers for employment abroad as factory workers, particularly in Korea and Italy, did, then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously, for a fee, recruit and promise employment/job placement abroad, to the following complainants and accordingly collected and received money from them, to wit:
The foregoing Informations were consolidated and during arraignment, accused-appellant Bautista pleaded not guilty.5
Complainant/s Amount Paid FREDERICK BAUTISTA P 45,000.00 MARIBETH D. CABBAB P148,000.00 ROLANDO L. DE VERA P144,000.00 MARY ANN C. MALLARI P 30,000.00 RANDY PAJARILLO P 50,000.00 ROWENA G. PANGANIBAN P 30,000.00 VICKY B. PANGANIBAN P 40,000.00 RANDY REDILLA P 35,000.00 SALVE D. VILLAFUERTE P123,000.00 EFREN B. DINGLE P159,000.00
without first securing the required license and authority from the Department of Labor and Employment and/or from the [Philippine] Overseas Employment Agency, in violation of the above-cited law making illegal recruitment in large scale, an offense involving economic sabotage.
CONTRARY TO LAW."CRIMINAL CASE NO. MC09-12518 (Estafa)
"That on or about the month of August 2008, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, a place within the jurisdiction of this Flonorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping and aiding one another with intent to defraud VICKY PANGANIBAN, by means of deceit and false pretenses executed prior to or simultaneous with the commission of fraud, did, then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously pretend and falsely represent themselves to have the power, capacity, and qualifications to deploy complainant for employment in Italy as factory worker for a fee, in the amount of forty thousand pesos (P40,000.00), and by means of other similar deceits, which representation the accused well knew was false and fraudulent, and was only made by them to induce said complainant to give and deliver and in fact, said complainant gave and delivered the total amount of P40,000.00, as payment for the alleged processing fee, but the accused, once in possession of the said amount, appropriated and converted the same to their own personal use and benefit without however, deploying VICKY PANGANIBAN for employment in Italy and despite repeated demands, accused failed[,] refused and continue to fail and refuse to so deploy [her] or return the above sum demanded and received, to the damage and prejudice of said VICKY PANGANIBAN in the aforementioned amount.
CONTRARY TO LAW."CRIMINAL CASE NO. MC09-12519 (Estafa)
"That on or about the month of September 2008, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, a place within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping and aiding one another with intent to defraud ROWENA PANGANIBAN, by means of deceit and false pretenses executed prior to or simultaneous with the commission of fraud, did, then and there willfully and feloniously pretend and falsely represent themselves to have the power, capacity, and qualifications to deploy complainant for employment in Italy as factory worker for a fee, in the amount of thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00), and by means of other similar deceits, which representation the accused well knew was false and fraudulent, and was only made by them to induce said complainant to give and deliver and in fact, said complainant gave and delivered the total amount of P30,000.00, as payment for the alleged processing fee, but the accused, once in possession of the said amount, appropriated and converted the same to their own personal use and benefit without, however, deploying ROWENA PANGANIBAN for employment in Italy and despite repeated demands, accused failedf,] refused and continue to fail and refuse to deploy [her] or return the above sum demanded and received, to the damage and prejudice of said ROWENA PANGANIBAN in the aforementioned amount.
CONTRARY TO LAW."CRIMINAL CASE NO. MC09-12520 (Estafa)
"That on or about the month of August 2008, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, a place within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping and aiding one another with intent to defraud RANDY REDILLA, by means of deceit and false pretenses executed prior to or simultaneous with the commission of fraud, did, then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously pretend and falsely represent themselves to have the power, capacity, and qualifications to deploy complainant for employment in Italy as factory worker for a fee, in the amount of thirty[-]five thousand pesos (P35,000.00), and by means of other similar deceits, which representation the accused well knew was false and fraudulent, and was only made by them to induce said complainant to give and deliver and in fact, said complainant gave and delivered the total amount of P35,000.00, as payment for the alleged processing fee, but the accused, once in possession of the said amount, appropriated and converted the same to their own personal use and benefit without, however, deploying RANDY REDILLA [for] employment in Italy and despite repeated .demands, accused failed[,] refused and continue to fail and refuse to deploy him or return the above sum demanded and received, to the damage and prejudice of said RANDY REDILLA in the aforementioned amount.
CONTRARY TO LAW."4
WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered as follows:
1. In Criminal Case No. MC09-12510, the Court finds accused Sagisag Atlas "Paul" Bautista GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Estafa as defined in Article 315 par. 2 (a) of the Revised Penal Code and is hereby sentenced to suffer an Indeterminate Penalty of Six (6) months and One (1) day of prision correctional as minimum to Seven (7) years, Two (2) months and One (1) day of prision mayor as maximum.
Furthermore, accused Sagisag Atlas "Paul" Bautista is order to indemnify private complainant Randy Pajarillo the amount of P50,000.00 with twelve percent (12%) interest per annum stalling from the filing of the Information until the finality of the judgment.
2. In Criminal Case No. MC09-12511, the Court finds accused Sagisag Atlas "Paul" Bautista GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Estafa as defined in Article 315 par. 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code and is hereby sentenced to suffer an Indeterminate Penalty of Six (6) months and One (1) day of prision correctional as minimum to Sixteen [(16)] years, Two (2) months and One (1) day of reclusion temporal as maximum.
Furthermore, accused Sagisag Atlas "Paul" Bautista is ordered to indemnify private complainant Efren D. Dingle the amount of PI51,000.00 with twelve percent (12%) interest per annum starting from the filing of the Information until the finality of the judgment.
3. In Criminal Case No. MC09-12515, the Court finds accused Sagisag Atlas "Paul" Bautista GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Estafa as defined in Article 315 par. 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code and is hereby sentenced to suffer an Indeterminate Penalty of Six (6) months and One (1) day of prision correctional as minimum to Fourteen (14) years, Two (2) months and One (1) day of frjeclnsion temporal as maximum.
Furthermore, accused Sagisag Atlas "Paul" Bautista is ordered to indemnify private complainant Rolando L. De Vera the amount of PI 15,000.00 with twelve percent (12%) interest per annum starting from the filing of the Information until the finality of the judgment.
4. In Criminal Case No. MC09-12517[,] the Court finds accused Sagisag Atlas "Paul" Bautista GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of illegal recruitment in large scale, as defined under Section 6 of R.A. 8042 and is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P500,000.00 pursuant to Section 7 of R.A. 8042.
5. Considering that the prosecution failed to adduce any evidence in Criminal Case Nos. MC09-12512, MC09-12513, MC09-12514, MC09-12516, MC09-12518, MC09-12519, and MC09-12520, the Court finds accused Sagisag Atlas "Paul" Bautista NOT GUILTY OF seven (7) counts of Estafa as defined in Article 315 par. 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code.
6. Considering that the other two (2) accused, Arleth Buenconsejo and Rosamel Cara De Guzman, are still at large and the court has not yet acquired jurisdiction over their person, let alias warrants of arrest be issued against them and let the records of the eleven (11) cases be ARCHIVED to be revived upon their apprehension.
SO ORDERED.15In finding accused-appellant Bautista guilty, the RTC found that the prosecution was able to establish the requisites for a finding of estafa as committed against Randy, Rolando, and Efren. It found that in Criminal Case No. MC09-12510, the prosecution was able to prove that Randy did give him the money on the false promise of a job in Korea, and that accused-appellant Bautista and the agency he represented failed to deploy Randy as assured.16
Art. 38. Illegal Recruitment. —To prove illegal recruitment, two elements must be shown, namely: (1) the person charged with the crime must have undertaken recruitment activities, or any of the activities enumerated in Article 34 of the Labor Code, as amended; and (2) said person does not have a license or authority to do so. Contrary to accused-appellant Bautista's mistaken notion, therefore, it is not the issuance or signing of receipts for the placement fees that makes a case for illegal recruitment, but rather the undertaking of recruitment activities without the necessary license or authority.42
(a) Any recruitment activities, including the prohibited practices enumerated under Article 34 of this Code, to be undertaken by non- licensees or non-holders of authority shall be deemed illegal and punishable under Article 39 of this Code, x x x
(b) Illegal recruitment when committed by a syndicate or in large scale shall be considered an offense involving economic sabotage and shall be penalized in accordance with Article 39 hereof.
xxx Illegal recruitment is deemed committed in large scale if committed against three (3) or more persons individually or as a group.
x x x x Art. 39. Penalties. —
(a) The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) shall be imposed if illegal recruitment constitutes economic sabotage as defined hereinf.]
xxxx
xxx The supposed testimony of Johnson Bolivar, the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) representative, was dispensed with after the prosecution and the defense agreed to stipulate on his supposed testimony, as follows: a) that he is a bonafide employee of the POEA; b) that he is presently assigned at the licensing branch of the POEA; c) that he was duly authorized to appear as representative of Miss Liberty Casco, officer-in-charge; d) that a certification was duly issued by the POEA regarding the non-issuance of authority to accused Arleth Buenconsejo, Rosamel Cara de Guzman and Sagisag Atlas Paul Bautista; and e) that the certification forms part of the official record of the POEA non-licensing branch.45cralawlawlibraryClearly, accused-appellant Bautista may not now turn back on their stipulations and question the admissibility of a crucial document, the due issuance of which he stipulated and agreed on.
"Art. 315. Swindling (estafa). - Any person who shall defraud another by any of the means mentioned herein below shall be punished by:Correspondingly, the penalties imposed on accused-appellant Bautista for the charges of estafa should be adjusted in consonance therewith, pursuant in particular to Section 100 of the same statute which provides its retroactive effect to the extent favorable to the accused.
x x x x
"3rd. The penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period, if such amount is over Forty thousand pesos (P40,000) but does not exceed One million two hundred thousand pesos (P1,200,000).
x x x x
Endnotes:
* Also appears as "Buencosejo" in some parts of the records.
1 See Notice of Appeal with Compliance dated July 14, 2014; rollo, pp. 16-19.
2 Id. at 2-15. Penned by Associate Justice Magdangal M. De Leon and concurred in by Associate Justices Stephen C. Cruz and Eduardo B. Peralta, Jr.
3 CA rollo, pp. 42-60. Penned by Presiding Judge Ofelia L. Calo.
4 Id. at 42-48.
5 Id. at 48-49.
6 Id. at 49.
7 Also appears as "Baler Aurora Travel and Tours"' in some parts of the records.
8 CA rollo, p. 49.
9 Id. at 50.
10 Id.
11 Id. at 50-51.
12 Id. at 51.
13 Id. at 53.
14 Id. at 54.
15 Id. at 58-60
16 Id at 55.
17 Id. at 55-56.
18 Id. at 56.
19 Id.; namely Criminal Case Nou. MC09 12512, MC09-I2513, MC09-12514, MC09-12516, MC09-12518. MC09-1251S and MC09-12520.
20 Id.
21 Id. at 57-58.
22 Id. at 58.
23 Id. at 34.
24 Id. at 35.
25 Id.
26 Id. at 36.
27 Id.
28 Id. at 38.
29 Id.
30 Id. at 39-40.
31 Supra note 2.
32 Id. at 14.
33 Id. at 12.
34 Id. at 13.
35 Id.
36 Id. at 13-14.
37People v. Bayker, G.R. No. 170192, February 10, 2016, 783 SCRA 346, 350.
38 CA rollo, n 3 5
39 Id.
40 See People v. Sagaydo, G.R. Nos. 12467! -75, September 29, 2000, 341 SCRA 346, 350.
41Nasi-Villar v. People, G.R. No. 176169, November 14, 2008, 571 SCRA 202, 208; People v. Ortiz- Miyake, G.R. Nos. 115338-39, September 16, 1997, 279 SCRA 180, 193; People v. Bayker supra note 37 at 359.
42People v. Senoron, G.R. No. 119160, January 30, 1997, 267 SCRA 278, 284.
43People v. Dujua, G.R. Nos. 149014-16, February 5, 2004, 422 SCRA 169, 177, citing People v. Sanchez,
G.R. No. 122508, June 26, 1998. 291 SCRA 333.
44 CA rollo, p. 37.
45 Id. at 49.
46 Section 44, Rules on Evidence provides:
Sec. 44. Entries in official records. — Entries in official records made in the performance of his duty by a public officer of the Philippines, or by a person in the performance of a duty specially enjoined by law are prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated. (38)
47 People v. Racho, G.R. No. 227505, October 2, 2017, 841 SCRA 449, 463, citing People v. Lalli, G.R. No. 195419, October 12, 2011,659 SCRA 105, 120.
48 CA rollo, p. 37.
49 An Act Adjusting the Amount or the Value oi- Property and Damage on which a penalty is Based and the Fines Imposed Under the Revised Penal Code, Amending for the Purpose Act No. 3815, Otherwise Known as "The Revised Penal Code", as Amended, August 29,2017.
50 716 Phil. 267,279(2013).
51People v. Aquino, G.R. No. 234818, November 5, 2018.
52 As provided under Articles 38 and 39 of the Labor Code.
53 See People v. Bacos, G.R. No. 178774, December 8, 2010, 637 SCRA 593, 598. chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary