Title
People vs. Villas y Nique
Case
G.R. No. 112180
Decision Date
Aug 15, 1997
Accused recruited four individuals for overseas jobs without DOLE license, collected fees, and was convicted of illegal recruitment in large scale; Supreme Court affirmed life imprisonment and fines.
Font Size:

Case Digest (G.R. No. 112180)

Facts:

Parties Involved:

  • Plaintiff-Appellee: People of the Philippines.
  • Accused-Appellant: Mildred Villas y Nique.

Charge:
Accused-appellant was charged with illegal recruitment in large scale under Articles 38(a) and 38(b) in relation to Article 39 of the Labor Code, as amended, for recruiting and promising employment abroad to four individuals without a license from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Prosecution’s Version:

  1. Recruitment Scheme: In November 1990, appellant falsely represented herself as authorized to recruit nurses and nanny-housekeepers for Canada.
  2. Complainants:
    • Alfonsa Acierda Mortos: Paid $200 initially and later P6,000 after receiving her case number. Total: P11,300.
    • Teresita Caballero Villegas: Paid $200 initially and later P5,800 after receiving her case number. Total: P11,800.
    • Nenita Balisalisa: Paid an initial P5,800 but failed to pay the balance. Total: P6,200.
    • Ligaya Rentura: Paid P2,000 as a down payment.
  3. Discovery: The scheme was uncovered when Teresita Quitoriano, a fellow nurse, applied directly to the Canadian Immigration Assistance Service (CIAS) without paying fees.
  4. Entrapment: With the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), appellant was entrapped after receiving marked money from complainants.

Defense’s Version:

  1. Appellant’s Denial: Mildred Villas denied recruiting anyone or accepting payments. She claimed she only provided information on how to apply for jobs in Canada.
  2. Corroboration: Vilma Luyahan, a defense witness, supported appellant’s claims.

Trial Court’s Decision:
The Regional Trial Court of Davao City found the accused guilty of illegal recruitment in large scale and sentenced her to life imprisonment, a fine of P100,000, and ordered her to indemnify the complainants.

Issue:

  1. Whether the trial court erred in convicting the accused on the ground of reasonable doubt.
  2. Whether the prosecution presented sufficient evidence to prove the elements of illegal recruitment in large scale.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)


Jur is an AI-powered legal research platform in the Philippines for case digests, summaries, and jurisprudence. AI-generated content may contain inaccuracies; please verify independently.