Case Digest (G.R. No. 195419)
Facts:
- The case involves the People of the Philippines as the plaintiff-appellee against accused-appellants Hadja Jarma Lalli y Purih and Ronnie Aringoy y Masion, with Nestor Relampagos at large.
- On June 3, 2005, 23-year-old Lolita Sagadsad Plando was approached by Ronnie and Rachel Aringoy in Tumaga, Zamboanga City, regarding work in Malaysia.
- Lolita expressed interest and was invited to Ronnie's house the next day, where he promised her a job as a restaurant entertainer in Malaysia for a salary of 500 Malaysian ringgits.
- Lacking a passport, Lolita borrowed her sister Marife's passport, which was presented to Hadja Jarma Lalli, who would facilitate her travel.
- On June 6, 2005, Lolita and other women boarded the M/V Mary Joy to Sandakan, Malaysia, where they were introduced to an employer intending to exploit them as prostitutes.
- Lolita was forced into prostitution, suffering daily sexual assaults until she escaped and reported her situation to authorities on August 2, 2005.
- The Regional Trial Court (RTC) found the accused guilty of Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons, sentencing them to life imprisonment and imposing fines and damages.
- The Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed this decision on February 26, 2010, leading to an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal for lack of merit and affirmed the Court of Appeals' decision.
- The damages awarded to the victim were modified.
- Each accused was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined P2,000,000 for Trafficking in Persons and P500,000 for Illegal Recru...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court upheld the lower courts' findings, noting the credibility and consistency of Lolita's testimonies despite minor inconsistencies.
- The accused's denials and claims of Lolita's prior knowledge did not absolve them of liability.
- The elements of syndicated illegal recruitment were present, as the accused conspired to recruit and transport Lolita without the necessary authority from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administra...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 195419)
Facts:
The case involves the People of the Philippines as the plaintiff-appellee against Hadja Jarma Lalli y Purih and Ronnie Aringoy y Masion, who are the accused-appellants, with Nestor Relampagos being at large. The events leading to the case began on June 3, 2005, when 23-year-old Lolita Sagadsad Plando was approached by Ronnie Aringoy and Rachel Aringoy CaAete in Tumaga, Zamboanga City. They inquired if she was interested in working in Malaysia, to which Lolita expressed interest. The following day, Ronnie invited her to his house, where he informed her that she could work as a restaurant entertainer in Malaysia for a salary of 500 Malaysian ringgits.
Lolita did not possess a passport, but Ronnie assured her they would find one. After some arrangements, she borrowed her sister Marife's passport, which was presented to Hadja Jarma Lalli, who was introduced as the person who would facilitate her travel to Malaysia. On June 6, 2005, Lolita, along with other women, boarded the M/V Mary Joy bound for Sandakan, Malaysia. Upon arrival, they were introduced to a Chinese Malay employer who intended to exploit them as prostitutes, contrary to the initial promise of legitimate employment. Lolita was forced into prostitution, enduring multiple sexual assaults daily until she managed to escape and report her ordeal to the authorities on August 2, 2005.
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Zamboanga City found the accused guilty of I...