Page 1 of 8 Falsification of Public Documents

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila FIRST DIVISION G.R. No. 139857 September 15, 2006

LEON L! "!TUL!NON, petitioner, vs PEOPLE O# T$E P$ L PP NES, respon!ent D"#ISION %N!RES&S!NT !GO, J.' This petition assails the October $%, &''( Decision& of the #ourt of )ppeals in #)*+ R #R No &,--&, affirming .ith mo!ification the )pril &,, &''$ Decision- of the Regional Trial #ourt of +eneral Santos #it/, 0ranch -- in #riminal #ase Nos $1,$, $2-,, $2-2 an! $2-3, convicting 4eonila 0atulanon of estafa through falsification of commercial !ocuments, an! the 5ul/ -', &''' Resolution$ !en/ing the motion for reconsi!eration #omplainant Polomolo6 #re!it #ooperative Incorporate! 7P##I8 emplo/e! 0atulanon as its #ashier9Manager from Ma/ &'(% up to December --, &'(- She .as in charge of receiving !eposits from an! releasing loans to the member of the cooperative During an au!it con!ucte! in December &'(-, certain irregularities concerning the release of loans .ere !iscovere!
1

Thereafter, four informations for estafa thru falsification of commercial !ocuments .ere file! against 0atulanon, to .it: Cr(m()*+ C*,e No. 3625 That on or about the -n! !a/ of 5une, &'(- at Poblacion Municipalit/ of Polomolo6, Province of South #otabato, Philippines, an! .ithin the ;uris!iction of the <onorable #ourt sai! accuse! being then the manager*cashier of Polomolo6 #re!it #ooperative, Inc , 7P##I8, entruste! .ith the !ut/ of managing the aff=a>irs of the cooperative, receiving pa/ments to, an! collections of, the same, an! pa/ing out loans to members, ta6ing a!vantage of her position an! .ith intent to pre;u!ice an! !efrau! the cooperative, !i! then an! there .illfull/, unla.full/ an! feloniousl/ falsif/ a commercial !ocument, namel/: #ash9#hec6 Voucher No $%*) of P##I in the name of "rlin!a Oma!lao b/ then an! there ma6ing an entr/ therein that the sai! "rlin!a Oma!lao .as grante! a loan of P1,&2%, Philippine #urrenc/, an! b/ signing on the appropriate line thereon the signature of "rlin!a Oma!lao sho.ing that she receive! the loan, thus ma6ing it appear that the sai! "rlin!a Oma!lao .as grante! a loan an! receive! the amount of P1,&2% .hen in truth an! in fact the sai! person .as never grante! a loan, never receive! the same, an! never signe! the cash9chec6 voucher issue! in her name, an! in furtherance of her criminal intent an! frau!ulent !esign to !efrau! P##I sai! accuse! !i! then an! there release to herself the same an! receive! the loan of P1,&2% an! thereafter misappropriate an! convert to her o.n use an! benefit the sai! amount, an! !espite !eman!s, refuse! an! still refuses to restitute the same, to the !amage an! pre;u!ice of P##I, in the aforementione! amount of P1,&2%, Philippine #urrenc/ , Cr(m()*+ C*,e No. 3626 That on or about the -1th !a/ of September, &'(- at Poblacion, Municipalit/ of Polomolo6, Province of South #otabato, Philippines, an! .ithin the ;uris!iction of the <onorable #ourt, sai! accuse! being then the manager*cashier of Polomolo6 #re!it #ooperative, Inc 7P##I8, entruste! .ith the !ut/ of managing the affairs of the cooperative, receiving pa/ments to, an! collections of, the same, an! pa/ing out loans to members ta6ing a!vantage of her position an! .ith intent to pre;u!ice an! !efrau! the cooperative, !i! then an! there .illfull/, unla.full/ an! feloniousl/ falsif/ a

Page 2 of 8 Falsification of Public Documents

commercial !ocument, namel/: #ash9#hec6 Voucher No -$3 ) of P##I in the name of +onafre!a Oracion b/ then an! there ma6ing an entr/ therein that the sai! +onafre!a Oracion .as grante! a loan of P1,%%% %% an! b/ signals on the appropriate line thereon the signature of +onafre!a Oracion sho.ing that she receive! the loan, thus ma6ing it appear that the sai! +onafre!a Oracion .as grante! a loan, receive! the loan of P1,%%% %% .hen in truth an! in fact sai! person .as never grante! a loan, never receive! the same, an! never signe! the #ash9#hec6 voucher issue! in her name, an! in furtherance of her criminal intent an! frau!ulent !esign to !efrau! P##I sai! accuse! !i! then an! there release to herself the same an! receive! the amount of P1,%%% %% an! thereafter misappropriate an! convert to her o.n use an! benefit the sai! amount, an! !espite !eman!s, refuse! an! still refuses to restitute the same, to the !amage an! pre;u!ice of P##I, in the aforementione! amount of P1,%%%, Philippine #urrenc/ #ONTR)R? TO 4)@ 2 Cr(m()*+ C*,e No. 3-53 That on or about the &%th !a/ of October &'(- at Poblacion, Municipalit/ of Polomolo6, Province of South #otabato, Philippines, an! .ithin the ;uris!iction of the <onorable #ourt, the sai! accuse! being then the manager*cashier of Polomolo6 #re!it #ooperative, Inc , 7P##I8, entruste! .ith the !ut/ of managing the affairs of the cooperative, receiving pa/ments to, an! collection of the same an! pa/ing out loans to members, ta6ing a!vantage of her position an! .ith intent to pre;u!ice an! !efrau! the cooperative, !i! then an! there .illfull/, unla.full/ an! feloniousl/ falsif/ a commercial !ocument, namel/: an In!ivi!ual Deposits an! 4oan 4e!ger of one Ferl/n )rro/o .ith the P##I b/ then an! there entering on the appropriate column of the le!ger the entr/ that the sai! Ferl/n )rro/o ha! a fiAe! !eposit of P&,%%% %% .ith the P##I an! .as grante! a loan in the amount of P$,,%% %%, thus ma6ing it appear that the sai! person ma!e a fiAe! !eposit on the aforesai! !ate .ith, an! .as grante! a loan b/ the P##I .hen in truth an! in fact Ferl/n )rro/o never ma!e such a !eposit an! .as never grante! loan an! after the !ocument .as so falsifie! in the manner set forth, sai! accuse! !i! then an! there again falsif/ the #ash9#hec6 Voucher of the P##I in the name of Ferl/n )rro/o b/ signing therein the signature of Ferl/n )rro/o, thus ma6ing it appear that the sai! Ferl/n )rro/o receive! the loan of P$,,%%, Philippine #urrenc/, .hen in truth an! in fact sai! Ferl/n )rro/o never receive! the loan, an! in furtherance of her criminal intent an! frau!ulent !esign to !efrau! P##I sai! accuse! !i! then an! there release to herself the same, an! receive! the amount of P$,,%%, an! thereafter, !i! then an! there, .ilfull/, unla.full/ an! feloniousl/ misappropriate an! convert to her o.n personal use an! benefit the sai! amount, an! !espite !eman!s, refuse! an! still refuses to restitute the same, to the !amage an! pre;u!ice of the P##I in the aforementione! amount of P$,,%%, Philippine #urrenc/ #ONTR)R? TO 4)@ 3 Cr(m()*+ C*,e No. 3627 That on or about the 3th !a/ of December, &'(- at Poblacion, Municipalit/ of Polomolo6, Province of South #otabato, Philippines, an! .ithin the ;uris!iction of the <onorable #ourt, the sai! accuse! being then the manager*cashier of Polomolo6 #re!it #ooperative, Inc , 7P##I8 entruste! .ith the !ut/ of managing the affairs of the cooperative, receiving pa/ments to, an! collection of, the same an! pa/ing out loans to members, ta6ing a!vantage of her position an! .ith intent to pre;u!ice an! !efrau! the cooperative, !i! then an! there .illfull/, unla.full/ an! feloniousl/ falsif/ a commercial !ocument, namel/: an In!ivi!ual Deposits an! 4oan 4e!ger of one Dennis 0atulanon .ith the P##I b/ then an! there entering on the appropriate column of the le!ger the entr/ that the sai! Dennis 0atulanon ha! a fiAe! !eposit of P-,%%% %% .ith the P##I an! .as grante! a loan in the amount of P,,%%% %% thus ma6ing it appear that the sai! person ma!e fiAe! !eposit on the aforesai! !ate .ith, an! .as grante! a loan b/ the P##I .hen in truth an! in fact Dennis 0atulanon never ma!e such a !eposit an! .as never grante! loan an! offer the !ocument .as so falsifie! in the manner set forth, sai! accuse! !i! then an! there again falsif/ the #ash9#hec6 Voucher No $31 ) of P##I in the name of Dennis 0atulanon b/ signing therein the signature of Dennis 0atulanon, thus ma6ing it appear that the sai! Dennis 0atulanon receive! the loan of P,,%%% %% .hen in truth an! in fact sai! Dennis 0atulanon never receive! the loan an! in furtherance of her criminal intent an! frau!ulent !esign to !efrau! P##I sai! accuse! !i! then an! there release to herself the same an! receive the loan of P,,%%%, an! thereafter, !i! then an! there .illfull/, unla.full/ an! feloniousl/ misappropriate an! convert to her o.n personal use an! benefit the sai! amount, an! =!espite> !eman!s, refuse! an! still

Page 3 of 8 Falsification of Public Documents

refuses to restitute the same to the !amage an! pre;u!ice of the P##I in the aforementione! amount of P,,%%%, Philippine #urrenc/ #ONTR)R? TO 4)@ ( The cases .ere raffle! to 0ranch -- of the Regional Trial #ourt of +eneral Santos #it/ an! !oc6ete! as #riminal #ase Nos $1,$, $2-,, $2-2 an! $2-3 0atulanon plea!e! not guilt/ to the charges, after.hich a ;oint trial on the merits ensue! The prosecution presente! Maria Theresa Me!allo, 0ene!icto +opio, 5r , an! 0onifacio 5a/oma as .itnesses Me!allo, the posting cler6 .hose ;ob .as to assist 0atulanon in the preparation of cash vouchers ' testifie! that on certain !ates in &'(-, 0atulanon release! four #ash Vouchers representing var/ing amounts to four !ifferent in!ivi!uals as follo.s: On 5une -, &'(-, #ash Voucher No $%)&% for P1,&2% %% .as release! to "rlin!a Oma!laoB on September -1, &'(-, #ash Voucher No -$3)&& for P1,%%% %% .as release! to +onafre!a&- OracionB P$, ,%% %% thru #ash Voucher No -32)&$ .as release! to Ferl/n )rro/o on October &2, &'(- an! on December 3, &'(-, P,,%%% %% .as release! to Dennis 0atulanon thru #ash Voucher No $31) &1 Me!allo testifie! that Oma!lao, Oracion, an! Dennis 0atulanon .ere not eligible to appl/ for loan because the/ .ere not bona fi!e members of the cooperative &, Ferl/n )rro/o on the other han!, .as a member of the cooperative but there .as no proof that she applie! for a loan .ith P##I in &'(- She subseCuentl/ .ith!re. her membership in &'($ &2 Me!allo state! that pursuant to the cooperativeDs b/*la.s, onl/ bona fi!e members .ho must have a fiAe! !eposit are eligible for loans &3 Me!allo categoricall/ state! that she sa. 0atulanon sign the names of Oracion an! )rro/o in their respective cash vouchers an! ma!e it appear in the recor!s that the/ .ere pa/ees an! recipients of the amount state! therein &()s to the signature of Oma!lao in #ash Voucher No $%), she !eclare! that the same .as actuall/ the han!.riting of appellant &' +opio, 5r .as a member of P##I since &'3, an! a member of its boar! of !irectors since &'3' <e corroborate! Me!alloDs testimon/ that Oma!lao, )rro/o, Oracion an! Dennis 0atulanon are not members of P##I <e state! that Oracion is 0atulanonDs sister*in*la. .hile Dennis 0atulanon is her son .ho .as onl/ $ /ears ol! in &'(- <e averre! that membership in the cooperative is not open to minors -% 5a/oma .as the Vice*#hairman of the P##I 0oar! of Directors in &'(% before becoming its #hairman in &'(- until &'($ <e testifie! that the loans ma!e to Oracion, Oma!lao, )rro/o an! Dennis 0atulanon !i! not pass through the cooperativeDs #re!it #ommittee an! P##IDs 0oar! of Directors for screening purposes <e claime! that OracionDs signature on #ash Voucher No -$3) is 0atulanonDs han!.riting -& 5a/oma also testifie! that among the four loans ta6en, onl/ that in )rro/oDs name .as settle! -The !efense presente! t.o .itnesses, namel/, Maria Theresa Me!allo .ho .as presente! as a hostile .itness an! 0atulanon Me!allo .as subpoenae! b/ the trial court on behalf of the !efense an! .as as6e! to bring .ith her the P##I +eneral 5ournal for the /ear &'(- )fter certif/ing that the sai! !ocument reflecte! all the financial transactions of the cooperative for that /ear, she .as as6e! to i!entif/ the entries in the 5ournal .ith respect to the vouchers in Cuestion Me!allo .as able to i!entif/ onl/ #ash Voucher No -$3) in the name of +onafre!a Oracion She faile! to i!entif/ the other vouchers because the 5ournal ha! missing pages an! she .as not the one .ho prepare! the entries -$ 0atulanon !enie! all the charges against her She claime! that she !i! not sign the vouchers in the names of Oma!lao, Oracion an! )rro/oB that the same .ere signe! b/ the loan applicants in her presence at the P##I office after she personall/ release! the mone/ to themB-1 that the three .ere members of the cooperative as sho.n b/ their in!ivi!ual !eposits an! the le!gerB that the boar! of !irectors passe! a resolution in )ugust &'(- authoriEing her to certif/ to the correctness of the entries in the vouchersB that it has become an accepte! practice in the cooperative for her to release loans an! !ispense .ith the approval of +opio 5r , in

Page - of 8 Falsification of Public Documents

case of his absenceB-,that she signe! the loan application an! voucher of her son Dennis 0atulanon because he .as a minor but she clarifie! that she as6e! +opio, 5r , to a!! his signature on the !ocuments to avoi! suspicion of irregularit/B -2 that contrar/ to the testimon/ of +opio, 5r , minors are eligible for membership in the cooperative provi!e! the/ are chil!ren of regular members 0atulanon a!mitte! that she too6 out a loan in her sonDs name because she is no longer Cualifie! for another loan as she still has to pa/ off an eAisting loanB that she ha! starte! pa/ing off her sonDs loan but the cooperative refuse! to accept her pa/ments after the cases .ere file! in court -3 She also !eclare! that one automaticall/ becomes a member .hen he !eposits mone/ .ith the cooperative -( @hen she .as #ashier9Manager of P##I from &'(% to &'(-, the cooperative !i! not have b/*la.s /et -' On rebuttal, 5a/oma belie! that P##I ha! no b/*la.s from &'(%*&'(-, because the cooperative ha! been registere! since &'23 On )pril &,, &''$, the trial court ren!ere! a Decision convicting 0atulanon as follo.s: @<"R"FOR", premises consi!ere!, fin!ing the accuse! 4eonila 0atulanon guilt/ be/on! reasonable !oubt in all the above*entitle! case, she is sentence! in each of the four cases to 1 months of )RR"STO M)?OR to & /ear an! months of PRISION #ORR"#TION)4, to in!emnif/ the P##I in the total sum of P&2,22% %% .ith legal interest from the institution of the complaints until full/ pai!, plus costs SO ORD"R"D $& The #ourt of )ppeals affirme! .ith mo!ification the !ecision of the trial court, thus: @<"R"FOR", the !ecision appeale! from is MODIFI"D )ppellant 4"ONI4) 0)TF4)NON is foun! guilt/ be/on! reasonable !oubt of Falsification of Private Documents un!er Par -, )rticle &3- of the Revise! Penal #o!eB an! is hereb/ sentence! to suffer the in!eterminate penalt/ of siA 728 months of arresto mayormaAimum, )S MINIMFM, to four 718 /ears an! t.o 7-8 months of prision correccional me!ium, )S M)GIMFMB to pa/ a fine of five thousan! 7P,,%%% %%8 pesosB an! to in!emnif/ the Polomolo6 #ooperative #re!it , Inc the sum of thirteen thousan! one hun!re! siAt/ 7P&$,&2% %%8, plus legal interests from the filing of the complaints until full/ pai!, plus costs SO ORD"R"D $The motion for reconsi!eration .as !enie!, hence this petition 0atulanon argues that in an/ falsification case, the best .itness is the person .hose signature .as allege!l/ forge!, thus the prosecution shoul! have presente! "rlin!a Oma!lao, +onafre!a Oracion an! Ferl/n )rro/o instea! of rel/ing on the testimon/ of an unreliable an! biase! .itness such as Me!allo $$ She avers that the crime of falsification of private !ocument reCuires as an element pre;u!ice to a thir! person She insists that P##I has not been pre;u!ice! b/ these loan transactions because these loans are accounts receivable b/ the cooperative $1 The petition lac6s merit )lthough the offense charge! in the information is estafa through falsification of commercial !ocument, appellant coul! be convicte! of falsification of private !ocument un!er the .ell*settle! rule that it is the allegations in the information that !etermines the nature of the offense an! not the technical name given in the preamble of the information In Andaya v. People,$, .e hel!: From a legal point of vie., an! in a ver/ real sense, it is of no concern to the accuse! .hat is the technical name of the crime of .hich he stan!s charge! It in no .a/ ai!s him in a !efense on the merits A A A That to .hich his attention shoul! be !irecte!, an! in .hich he, above all things else, shoul! be most intereste!, are the facts allege! The real Cuestion is not !i! he commit a crime given in the la. some technical an! specific name, but !i! he perform the acts allege! in the bo!/ of the information in the manner therein set forth A A A The real an! important Cuestion to him is,
$%

Page 5 of 8 Falsification of Public Documents

HDi! /ou perform the acts allege! in the manner allege!IH not, HDi! /ou commit a crime name! mur!erIH If he performe! the acts allege!, in the manner state!, the la. !etermines .hat the name of the crime is an! fiAes the penalt/ therefor A A A If the accuse! performe! the acts allege! in the manner allege!, then he ought to be punishe! an! punishe! a!eCuatel/, .hatever ma/ be the name of the crime .hich those acts constitute The elements of falsification of private !ocument un!er )rticle &3-, paragraph - $2 of the Revise! Penal #o!e are: 7&8 that the offen!er committe! an/ of the acts of falsification, eAcept those in paragraph 3, )rticle &3&B 7-8 that the falsification .as committe! in an/ private documentB an! 7$8 that the falsification caused damage to a thir! part/ or at least the falsification .as committe! .ith intent to cause such damage $3 In #riminal #ase Nos $2-,, $2-2, an! $1,$, 0atulanonDs act $( of falsification falls un!er paragraph - of )rticle &3&, i.e., causing it to appear that persons have participate! in an/ act or procee!ing .hen the/ !i! not in fact so participate This is because b/ signing the name of Oma!lao, Oracion, an! )rro/o in #ash Voucher Nos $%), -$3), an! -23), respectivel/, as pa/ee of the amounts appearing in the correspon!ing cash vouchers, 0atulanon ma!e it appear that the/ obtaine! a loan an! receive! its procee!s .hen the/ !i! not in fact secure sai! loan nor receive the amounts reflecte! in the cash vouchers The prosecution establishe! that 0atulanon cause! the preparation of the #ash Vouchers in the name of Oma!lao an! Oracion 6no.ing that the/ are not P##I members an! not Cualifie! for a loan from the cooperative In the case of )rro/o, 0atulanon .as a.are that .hile the former is a member, she !i! not appl/ for a loan .ith the cooperative Me!allo categoricall/ !eclare! that she sa. 0atulanon forge the signatures of Oracion an! )rro/o in the vouchers an! ma!e it appear that the amounts state! therein .ere actuall/ receive! b/ these persons )s to the signature of )rro/o, Me!alloDs cre!ible testimon/ an! her familiarit/ .ith the han!.riting of 0atulanon prove! that it .as in!ee! the latter .ho signe! the name of )rro/o #ontrar/ to 0atulanonDs contention, the prosecution is not !ut/*boun! to present the persons .hose signatures .ere forge! as Me!alloDs e/e.itness account of the inci!ent .as sufficient Moreover, un!er Section --, Rule &$- of the Rules of #ourt, the han!.riting of a person ma/ be prove! b/ an/ .itness .ho believes it to be the han!.riting of such person because he has seen the person .rite, or has seen .riting purporting to be his upon .hich the .itness has acte! or been charge!, an! has thus acCuire! 6no.le!ge of the han!.riting of such person <er insistence that Me!allo is a biase! .itness is .ithout basis There is no evi!ence sho.ing that Me!allo .as prompte! b/ an/ ill motive The claim that 0atulanonDs letter to the cooperative as6ing for a compromise .as not an a!mission of guilt is untenable Section -3, Rule &$% of the Rules of #ourt provi!es that in criminal cases, eAcept those involving Cuasi*offenses or criminal negligence or those allo.e! b/ la. to be compromise!, an offer of compromise b/ the accuse! ma/ be receive! in evi!ence as an implie! a!mission of guilt There is no merit in 0atulanonDs assertion that P##I has not been pre;u!ice! because the loan transactions are reflecte! in its boo6s as accounts receivable It has been establishe! that P##I onl/ grants loans to its bona fi!e members .ith no subsisting loan These allege! borro.ers are not members of P##I an! neither are the/ eligible for a loan Of the four accounts, onl/ that in Ferl/n )rro/oDs name .as settle! because her mother, "rlin!a, agree! to settle the loan to avoi! legal prosecution .ith the un!erstan!ing ho.ever, that she .ill be reimburse! once the mone/ is collecte! from 0atulanon $' The #ourt of )ppeals1% correctl/ rule! that the sub;ect vouchers are private !ocuments an! not commercial !ocuments because the/ are not !ocuments use! b/ merchants or businessmen to promote or facilitate tra!e or cre!it transactions 1& nor are the/ !efine! an! regulate! b/ the #o!e of #ommerce or other commercial la. 1-Rather, the/ are private !ocuments, .hich have been !efine! as !ee!s or instruments eAecute! b/ a private person .ithout the intervention of a public notar/ or of other person legall/ authoriEe!, b/ .hich some !isposition or agreement is prove!, evi!ence! or set forth 1$ In all criminal prosecutions, the bur!en of proof is on the prosecution to establish the guilt of the accuse! be/on! reasonable !oubt It has the !ut/ to prove each an! ever/ element of the crime charge! in the information to .arrant a fin!ing of guilt for the sai! crime or for an/ other crime necessaril/ inclu!e! therein 11 The prosecution in this case .as able to !ischarge its bur!en completel/

Page 6 of 8 Falsification of Public Documents

)s there is no compleA crime of estafa through falsification of private !ocument, 1, it is important to ascertain .hether the offen!er is to be charge! .ith falsification of a private !ocument or .ith estafa If the falsification of a private !ocument is committe! as a means to commit estafa, the proper crime to be charge! is falsification If the estafa can be committe! .ithout the necessit/ of falsif/ing a !ocument, the proper crime to be charge! is estafa Thus, in People v. Reyes,12 the accuse! ma!e it appear in the time boo6 of the #alamba Sugar "state that a laborer, #iriaco Sario, .or6e! -& !a/s !uring the month of 5ul/, &'-', .hen in realit/ he ha! .or6e! onl/ && !a/s, an! then charge! the offen!e! part/, the #alamba Sugar "state, the .ages of the laborer for -& !a/s The accuse! misappropriate! the .ages !uring .hich the laborer !i! not .or6 for .hich he .as convicte! of falsification of private !ocument In U.S. v. Infante,13 the accuse! change! the !escription of the pa.ne! article on the face of the pa.n tic6et an! ma!e it appear that the article is of greatl/ superior value, an! thereafter pa.ne! the falsifie! tic6et in another pa.nshop for an amount largel/ in eAcess of the true value of the article pa.ne! <e .as foun! guilt/ of falsification of a private !ocument In U.S. v. Chan Tiao,1( the accuse! presente! a !ocument of guarant/ purporte!l/ signe! b/ Ortigas <ermanos for the pa/ment of P-,%,, %% as the value of &,% sac6s of sugar, an! b/ means of sai! falsifie! !ocuments, succee!e! in obtaining the sac6s of sugar, .as hel! guilt/ of falsification of a private !ocument In vie. of the foregoing, .e fin! that the #ourt of )ppeals correctl/ hel! 0atulanon guilt/ be/on! reasonable !oubt of Falsification of Private Documents in #riminal #ase Nos $2-,, $2-2 an! $1,$ )rticle &3- punishes the crime of Falsification of a Private Document .ith the penalt/ of prision correccional in its me!ium an! maAimum perio!s .ith a !uration of t.o 7-8 /ears, four 718 months an! one 7&8 !a/ to siA 728 /ears There being no aggravating or mitigating circumstances, the penalt/ shoul! be impose! in its me!ium perio!, .hich is three 7$8 /ears, siA 728 months an! t.ent/*one 7-&8 !a/s to four 718 /ears, nine 7'8 months an! ten 7&%8 !a/s Ta6ing into consi!eration the In!eterminate Sentence 4a., 0atulanon is entitle! to an in!eterminate penalt/ the minimum of .hich must be .ithin the range of arresto mayor in its maAimum perio! to prision correccional in its minimum perio!, or four 718 months an! one 7&8 !a/ to t.o 7-8 /ears an! four 718 months 1' Thus, in #riminal #ase Nos $2-,, $2-2 an! $1,$, the #ourt of )ppeals correctl/ impose! the penalt/ of siA 728 months of arresto mayor, as minimum, to four 718 /ears an! t.o 7-8 months of prision correccional, as maAimum, .hich is .ithin the range of the allo.e! imposable penalt/ Since 0atulanonDs conviction .as for $ counts of falsification of private !ocuments, she shall suffer the aforementione! penalties for each count of the offense charge! She is also or!ere! to in!emnif/ P##I the amount of P&&,22% %% representing the aggregate amount of the $ loans .ithout !e!ucting the amount of P$,,%% %% pai! b/ Ferl/n )rro/oDs mother as the same .as settle! .ith the un!erstan!ing that P##I .ill reimburse the former once the mone/ is recovere! The amount shall earn interest at the rate of 2J per annum from the filing of the complaints on November -(, &''1 until the finalit/ of this ;u!gment From the time the !ecision becomes final an! eAecutor/, the interest rate shall be &-J per annum until its satisfaction <o.ever, in #riminal #ase No $2-3, the crime committe! b/ 0atulanon is estafa an! not falsification Fn!er )rticle &3& of the Revise! Penal #o!e, the acts that ma/ constitute falsification are the follo.ing: & $ 1 , 2 3 #ounterfeiting or imitating an/ han!.riting, signature, or rubricB #ausing it to appear that persons have participate! in an/ act or procee!ing .hen the/ !i! not in fact so participateB )ttributing to persons .ho have participate! in an act or procee!ing statements other than those in fact ma!e b/ themB Ma6ing untruthful statements in a narration of factsB )ltering true !atesB Ma6ing an/ alteration or intercalation in a genuine !ocument .hich changes its meaningB Issuing in an authenticate! form a !ocument purporting to be a cop/ of an original !ocument .hen no such original eAists, or inclu!ing in such cop/ a statement contrar/ to, or !ifferent from, that of the genuine originalB orB ( Intercalating an/ instrument or note relative to the issuance thereof in a protocol, registr/, or official boo6 In #riminal #ase No $2-3, the trial court convicte! petitioner 0atulanon for falsif/ing Dennis 0atulanonDs signature in the cash voucher base! on the Information charging her of signing the name of her $ /ear ol! son, Dennis The recor!s, ho.ever, reveal that in #ash Voucher No $31), petitioner 0atulanon !i! not falsif/ the signature of Dennis @hat she !i! .as to sign: Hb/: lbatulanonH to in!icate that she receive! the procee!s of the loan in behalf of Dennis Sai! act !oes not fall un!er an/ of the

Page 7 of 8 Falsification of Public Documents

mo!es of falsification un!er )rticle &3& because there in nothing untruthful about the fact that she use! the name of Dennis an! that as representative of the latter, obtaine! the procee!s of the loan from P##I The essence of falsification is the act of ma6ing untruthful or false statements, .hich is not atten!ant in this case )s to .hether, such representation involves frau! .hich cause! !amage to P##I is a !ifferent matter .hich .ill ma6e her liable for estafa, but not for falsification <ence, it .as an error for the courts belo. to hol! that petitioner 0atulanon is also guilt/ of falsification of private !ocument .ith respect to #riminal #ase No $2-3 involving the cash voucher of Dennis ,% The elements of estafa through conversion or misappropriation un!er )rt $&, 7&8 7b8 of the Revise! Penal #o!e are: 7&8 that mone/, goo!s or other personal propert/ is receive! b/ the offen!er in trust, or on commission, or for a!ministration, or un!er an/ other obligation involving the !ut/ to ma6e !eliver/ of, or to return, the sameB 7-8 that there be misappropriation or conversion of such mone/ or propert/ b/ the offen!er or !enial on his part of such receiptB 7$8 that such misappropriation or conversion or !enial is to the pre;u!ice of anotherB 718 that there is a !eman! ma!e b/ the offen!e! part/ on the offen!er 7Note: The 1th element is not necessar/ .hen there is evi!ence of misappropriation of the goo!s b/ the !efen!ant8 ,& Thus in the case of U.S. v. Sevilla,,- the #ourt convicte! the appellant of estafa b/ misappropriation The latter, a treasurer of the Manila Rail Roa! #ompan/, too6 the sum of P(,$$% %% out of the fun!s of the compan/ an! use! it for personal purposes <e replace! sai! cash .ith his personal chec6 of the same amount !ra.n on the Philippine National 0an6 7PN08, .ith instruction to his cashier not to !eposit the same in the current account of the Manila Rail Roa! #ompan/ until the en! of the month @hen an au!it .as con!ucte!, the chec6 of appellant .as !iscovere! to have been carrie! in the accounts as part of the cash on han! )n inCuir/ .ith the PN0 !isclose! that he ha! onl/ P&-, 22 in his account, although in the afternoon of the same !a/, he !eposite! in his account .ith the PN0 sufficient sum to cover the chec6 In han!ing !o.n a ;u!gment of conviction, the #ourt eAplaine! that: Frau!ulent intent in committing the conversion or !iversion is ver/ evi!entl/ not a necessar/ element of the form of estafa here !iscusse!B the breach of confi!ence involve! in the conversion or !iversion of trust fun!s ta6es the place of frau!ulent intent an! is in itself sufficient The reason for this is obvious: +rave as the offense is, comparativel/ fe. men misappropriate trust fun!s .ith the intention of !efrau!ing the o.nerB in most cases the offen!er hopes to be able to restore the fun!s before the !efalcation is !iscovere! A A A )ppl/ing the legal principles here state! to the facts of the case, .e fin! all of the necessar/ elements of estafa A A A That the mone/ for .hich the appellantDs chec6s .ere substitute! .as receive! b/ him for safe*6eeping or a!ministration, or both, can har!l/ be !ispute! <e .as the responsible financial officer of the corporation an! as such ha! imme!iate control of the current fun!s for the purposes of safe*6eeping an! .as charge! .ith the custo!/ of the same That he, in the eAercise of such control an! custo!/, .as ai!e! b/ subor!inates cannot alter the case nor can the fact that one of the subor!inates, the cashier, .as a bon!e! emplo/ee .ho, if he ha! acte! on his o.n responsibilit/, might also have misappropriate! the same fun!s an! thus have become guilt/ of estafa Neither can there be an/ !oubt that, in ta6ing mone/ for his personal use, from the fun!s entruste! to him for safe6eeping an! substituting his personal chec6s therefor .ith instructions that the chec6s .ere to be retaine! b/ the cashier for a certain perio!, the appellant misappropriate! an! !iverte! the fun!s for that perio! The chec6s !i! not constitute cash an! as long as the/ .ere retaine! b/ the appellant or remaine! un!er his personal control the/ .ere of no value to the corporationB he might as .ell have 6ept them in his poc6et as to !eliver them to his subor!inate .ith instructions to retain them AAAA 0ut it is argue! in the present case that it .as not the intention of the accuse! to permanentl/ misappropriate the fun!s to himself )s .e have alrea!/ state!, such intention rarel/ eAists in cases of this nature an!, as .e have seen, it is not a necessar/ element of the crime Though authorities have been cite! .ho, at first sight, appear to hol! that misappropriation of trust fun!s for short perio!s !oes not al.a/s amount to estafa, .e are not !ispose! to eAten! this interpretation of the la. to cases .here officers of corporations convert corporate fun!s to their o.n use, especiall/

Page 8 of 8 Falsification of Public Documents

.here, as in this case, the corporation is of a Cuasi*public character The statute is clear an! ma6es no !istinction bet.een permanent misappropriations an! temporar/ ones @e can see no reason in the present case .h/ it shoul! not be applie! in its literal sense The thir! element of the crime .ith .hich the appellant is charge! is in;ur/ to another The appellantDs counsel argues that the onl/ in;ur/ in this case is the loss of interest suffere! b/ the Railroa! #ompan/ !uring the perio! the fun!s .ere .ithhel! b/ the appellant It is, ho.ever, .ell settle! b/ former a!;u!ications of this court that the !isturbance in propert/ rights cause! b/ the misappropriation, though onl/ temporar/, is in itself sufficient to constitute in;ur/ .ithin the meaning of paragraph ,, supra 7F S vs +o/enechea, ( Phil , &&3 F S vs Malong, $2 Phil , (-& 8 ,$ In the instant case, there is no !oubt that as #ashier9Manager, 0atulanon hol!s the mone/ for a!ministration an! in trust for P##I Kno.ing that she is no longer Cualifie! to obtain a loan, she frau!ulentl/ use! the name of her son .ho is li6e.ise !isCualifie! to secure a loan from P##I <er misappropriation of the amount she obtaine! from the loan is also not !ispute! as she even a!mitte! receiving the same for personal use )lthough the amount receive! b/ 0atulanon is reflecte! in the recor!s as part of the receivables of P##I, !amage .as still cause! to the latter because the sum misappropriate! b/ her coul! have been loane! b/ P##I to Cualifie! members, or use! in other pro!uctive un!erta6ings )t an/ rate, the !isturbance in propert/ rights cause! b/ 0atulaonoDs misappropriation is in itself sufficient to constitute in;ur/ .ithin the meaning of )rticle $&, #onsi!ering that the amount misappropriate! b/ 0atulanon .as P,,%%% %%, the applicable provision is paragraph 7$8 of )rticle $&, of the Revise! Penal #o!e, .hich imposes the penalt/ of arresto mayor in its maAimum perio! toprision correccional in its minimum perio!, .here the amount !efrau!e! is over P-%% %% but !oes not eAcee! P2,%%% %% There being no mo!if/ing circumstances, the penalt/ shall be impose! in its me!ium perio! @ith the application of the In!eterminate Sentence 4a., 0atulaon is entitle! to an in!eterminate penalt/ of three 7$8 months of arresto mayor, as minimum, to one 7&8 /ear an! eight 7(8 months of prision correccional, as maAimum .$ERE#ORE, the Decision appeale! from is !## RME/ .ith the follo.ing MO/ # C!T ONS: 7&8 In #riminal #ase Nos $2-,, $2-2 an! $1,$, 4eonila 0atulanon is foun! +FI4T? of three counts of falsification of private !ocuments an! is sentence! to suffer the penalt/ of siA 728 months of arresto mayor, as minimum, to four 718 /ears an! t.o 7-8 months of prision correccional, as maAimum, for each count, an! to in!emnif/ complainant Polomolo6 #re!it #ooperative Incorporate! the amount of P&&,22% %% .ith interest at the rate of 2J per annum from November -(, &''1 until finalit/ of this ;u!gment The interest rate of &-J per annum shall be impose! from finalit/ of this ;u!gment until its satisfactionB an! 7-8 In #riminal #ase No $2-3, 4eonila 0atulanon is foun! +FI4T? of estafa an! is sentence! to suffer the penalt/ of three 7$8 months of arresto mayor, as minimum, to one 7&8 /ear an! eight 7(8 months of prision correccional, as maAimum She is li6e.ise or!ere! to in!emnif/ Polomolo6 #re!it #ooperative Incorporate! the sum of P,,%%% %% .ith interest at the rate of 2J per annum from November -(, &''1 until finalit/ of this ;u!gment The interest rate of &-J per annum shall be impose! from finalit/ of this ;u!gment until its satisfaction SO OR/ERE/.