Illegal recruiter sentenced to 60 years in prison

An illegal recruiter, who defrauded four victims of a total amount of P140,000, was sentenced by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) yesterday to a maximum imprisonment of 60 years.

Judge Felixberto Olalia Jr., of the Manila RTC Branch 8, found Malou Empeno, also known as Marilou Empeno, guilty of one count of illegal recruitment and four counts of estafa.

Empeno was sentenced to six years and one day to maximum of 12 years in prison for the case of illegal recruitment.

She was also sentenced to four years and two months up to 12 years of imprisonment for each of the estafa cases, punishable under Article 315, par. 2 (a) of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

Empeno was ordered by the court to pay complainant Jose Melendres P30,000 as actual damages with legal interest from April 4, 2003, the date of filing of the case; complainant John Santos, P30,000;  complainant Fe Bermillo, P40,000; and Victoria Fandivilla, P40,000.

Court records showed that the accused promised employment to the victims without first having secured the required license from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as required by law.          – Sandy Araneta