Facts:

• Joey Bodozo y Bula and Nimfa Bodozo y Neri, a married couple, were accused of illegal recruitment.
• The events occurred between October 3, 1988, and April 8, 1989, in Manila, Philippines.
• They were charged under Article 38 of the Labor Code and found guilty by the Regional Trial Court, National Capital Judicial Region, Branch XLIX, in Criminal Case Nos. 89-73608-SCC to 89-73613-SCC.
• The prosecution claimed the couple misrepresented their ability to recruit and transport Filipino workers for overseas employment without a license from the Department of Labor and Employment.
• They allegedly recruited five individuals, promising jobs in Saudi Arabia and Singapore for a fee.
• The accused demanded various amounts for processing fees, issued receipts for some payments, but not for others.
• The trial court acquitted them of five counts of estafa but convicted them of illegal recruitment, sentencing each to life imprisonment and a fine of P100,000.
• The accused appealed, arguing they only assisted the complainants in job applications and that the prosecution did not prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court affirmed the Regional Trial Court's decision, finding the accused guilty of illegal recruitment.
• The court upheld the life impris...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court stated that illegal recruitment, as defined under Article 38 of the Labor Code, requires the offender to be a non-licensee or non-holder of authority for recruitment activities.
• The court found that the accused were neither licensed nor authorized to recruit workers, supported by a certification from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
• The actions of the accused, such as collecting fees, requiring documents (NBI clearances, medical certificat...continue reading