Title
People vs. Ramos y Garcia
Case
G.R. No. 257675
Decision Date
Feb 13, 2023
Two individuals convicted of large-scale illegal recruitment for promising overseas jobs without proper licenses, sentenced to life imprisonment and fined.

Case Digest (G.R. No. 257675)

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Facts:

The case involves Cherryline Ramos y Garcia (Ramos), also known as "Cherrylyn Chan Ramos" and "Cherryline Chan Ramos," and Susana Ojastro y Rabanal (Ojastro), also known as "Susan Rabanal," who were accused of large-scale illegal recruitment under Republic Act No. 8042, known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022. The case stemmed from an Information filed against Ramos and Ojastro, accusing them of engaging in large-scale recruitment and placement activities without the required license and/or authority from the Department of Labor and Employment or any other authorized government entity. During the arraignment, Ramos and Ojastro pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented witnesses, including private complainants and victims of the large-scale illegal recruitment, who testified that they were recruited for overseas employment but were not sent abroad. The National Bureau of Investigation conducted an entrapment operation against Ramos and Ojastro, which was videotaped and identified during trial. The Regional Trial Court found Ramos and Ojastro guilty beyond reasonable doubt of large-scale illegal recruitment and sentenced them to life imprisonment and ordered them to pay a fine of One Million Pesos each.

Issues:

The issues raised in the case center on the legality of the recruitment activities carried out by Ramos and Ojastro. The defense argued that the prosecution failed to prove the elements of the crime charged, specifically that it was not proven that they did not have the required license or authority to lawfully engage in the recruitment of workers. They also claimed that Rudilyn was not actually recruited for overseas work, and thus, the element of large-scale illegal recruitment against three or more persons was wanting.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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