Criminal Law Case Digests

Assigned Cases: #254 Bonifacio vs People - #264 People vs. Reyes CRISANA B. B!NI"ACI! petitioner, B!NI"ACI! petitioner, vs. P$!P%$ !" &$ P&I%IPPIN$S P&I%IPPIN$S respondent.  respondent. [G.R. No. 153198, July 11, 2006] "ACS: On !r"# !r"# 21, 1996, O$eli! %!ntos, %!ntos, ! &usines &usiness'o(! s'o(!n n !nd ! &uy)!nd &uy)!nd)sel )selll !*ent !*ent o$   +e'elry,  +e'elry, *!ve petitioner, petitioner, ris!nt! -oni$!"io, -oni$!"io, sever!l +e'elry pie"es !nd si*ned ! do"u(ent do"u(ent !"no'led*in* re"eipt o$ t#e +e'elry !nd !*reed to sell t#e ite(s on "o((ission &!sis. %#e !lso pro(ised to re(it t#e pro"eeds o$ t#e s!le or return t#e unsold ite(s to %!ntos 'it#in 15 d!ys. /etitioner $!iled to turn over t#e pro"eeds o$ t#e s!le 'it#in t#e *iven period. %#e !""u(ul!ted !""u(ul!ted unp!id !nd unreturned unreturned ite(s on t'o ot#er inst!n"es tot!lin* /2,500. %!ntos t#en de(!nded t#e petitioner $or t#e p!y(ent o$ t#e !(ount t#ru ! letter d!ted July 25, 1996. /etitioner t#en *!ve %!ntos t'o "#e"s !(ountin* to /30,000 !s p!rti!l p!y(ent, '#i"# '!s l!ter l!ter on &oun"e &oun"ed d $or &ein* &ein* dr!'n dr!'n !*!inst !*!inst insu$$i"ie insu$$i"ient nt $unds $unds !nd !*!inst !*!inst ! "losed "losed !""ount. !""ount. /etitioner '!s t#ere!$ter "#!r*ed 'it# t#e "ri(e o$ est!$! under rti"le 315 1& o$ t#e Revised /en!l ode R/ in !n 4n$or(!tion $iled &e$ore t#e Re*ion!l ri!l ourt.

#e Re*ion!l ri!l ourt R $ound t#e petitioner *uilty $or t#e "ri(e o$ est!$! under   rti"le 315 1& o$ t#e Revised Revised /en!l ode. pon pon !ppe!l, t#e "ourt "ourt !$$ir(ed t#e R R de"ision 'it# 'it# (odi (odi$i $i"! "!ti tion on !s to t#e t#e pen! pen!lt lty y. #e #e peti petiti tion oner er $ile $iled d ! (oti (otion on $or $or re"o re"ons nsid ider er!t !tio ion n (!int!inin* (!int!inin* t#!t t#e ele(ent o$ (is!ppropri!tion (is!ppropri!tion or "onversion '!s not proved, t#us #er li!&ility s#ould only &e "ivil in n!ture. #e (otion $or re"onsider!tion '!s denied. 7en"e, t#e petition $or  "ertior!ri. ISS'$: #et#er t#e $!ilure to return t#e pie"es o$ +e'elry !lre!dy "onstitutes (is!ppropri!tion or  "onversion in t#e "ri(e o$ est!$! &$%(: #e %upre(e ourt $ound no (erit in t#e petition. #e essen"e o$ est!$! under rt. rt. 315 1& o$ t#e R/ is t#e !ppropri!tion or "onversion o$ (oney or property re"eived, to t#e pre+udi"e o$ t#e o'ner. #e 'ords :"onvert; !nd :(is!ppropri!te; "onnote !n !"t o$ usin* or  disposin* o$ !not#ere"e(&er 1993, Joy ?ee Re"uerdo, petitioner, pur"#!sed 2.19 "!r!t di!(ond round stone in '#ite *old settin* !(ountin* to /220,000 !nd one pie"e o$ loose 1.55 "!r!t (!r@ueA di!(ond 'it# ! v!lue o$ /130,000 $ro( Bol!nd! Cloro, en*!*ed in t#e &uyin* !nd sellin* o$ +e'elry. #e petitioner t#en !nd t#ere issued ten post)d!ted "#e"s e!"# in t#e !(ount o$ /22,000 !*!inst nitrust >evelop(ent -!n !nd ten post)d!ted "#e"s in t#e !(ount o$ /13,000 dr!'n !*!inst /4 -!n. On"e !*!in, Re"uerdo pur"#!sed !not#er set o$   +e'elries 'ort# /=68,000 &y issuin* !not#er seven postd!ted "#e"s !s do'n p!y(ent !nd siD post d!ted "#e"s dr!'n !*!inst /rudenti!l -!n representin* t#e &!l!n"e. pon present(ent $or en"!s#(ent, t#e siD /rudenti!l -!n "#e"s 'ere !ll dis#onored $or #!vin* dr!'n !*!inst "losed !""ounts. Cloro t#en (!de $or(!l de(!nds re@uirin* petitioner  to p!y t#e !(ounts represented &y t#e dis#onored "#e"s, to '#i"# Re"uerdo "ontinuously re$used to p!y t#e v!lue o$ t#e pur"#!sed +e'elries. o(pl!in!nt t#en $iled ! "!se !*!inst petitioner. #e tri!l "ourt "onvi"ted t#e petitioner o$ t'o "ounts o$ est!$! under rt. 315 2d o$ t#e Revised /en!l ode R/. pon !ppe!l, t#e "ourt !$$ir(ed 'it# (odi$i"!tion t#e de"ision o$  t#e tri!l "ourt. #e petitioner $iled ! (otion $or re"onsider!tion "ontendin* t#!t s#e !"ted in *ood $!it# "ontr!ry to t#e $indin* o$ t#e tri!l "ourt !nd t#e !ppell!te "ourts t#!t s#e !"ted 'it# de"eit '#en s#e dre' !nd delivered t#e "#e"s in p!y(ent o$ t#e +e'elries. #e ourt o$ ppe!ls  denied t#e (otion. #e petitioner $iled !n inst!nt petition 'it# t#e %upre(e ourt "ontendin* t#!t s#e !"ted in *ood $!it# !nd eDerted #er ut(ost e$$orts to "on$er 'it# t#e priv!te "o(pl!in!nt to settle #er  o&li*!tions. %#e points out t#!t s#e (!de (ont#ly "!s# p!y(ents to lessen #er "ivil li!&ility !nd "ontinued to (!e p!y(ents even durin* t#e penden"y o$ t#e "!se in t#e . ISS'$: #et#er *ood $!it# "ould &e r!ised !s ! de$ense in t#e "ri(e o$ est!$! &$%(: #e "ri(e o$ est!$! under rt. 315 2d o$ t#e R/ #!s t#e $ollo'in* essenti!l ele(entsE 1 ! "#e" is postd!ted or issued in p!y(ent o$ !n o&li*!tion "ontr!"ted !t t#e ti(e it is issuedF 2 l!" o$ insu$$i"ien"y o$ $unds to "over t#e "#e"F !nd 3 d!(!*e to t#e p!yee t#ereo$. 4t is "ri(in!l $r!ud or de"eit in t#e issu!n"e o$ ! "#e" '#i"# is (!de punis#!&le !nd not t#e non)p!y(ent o$ ! de&t. st!$! is ! $elony "o((itted 'it# dolo 'it# (!li"e. nder rt 315 2d o$ t#e R/, (!li"e !nd spe"i$i" intent to de$r!ud !re re@uired. #ere "!n &e no est!$! i$ t#e !""used !"ted in *ood $!it# &e"!use *ood $!it# ne*!tes (!li"e !nd de"eit. Good $!it# is ! de$ense to ! "#!r*e o$ est!$! &y postd!tin* ! "#e". 4n t#e present "!se, t#e petitionereed o$ &solute %!le !nd %inu(p!!n* %!l!ys!y o$ petitioner. 7o'ever, '#en in**oy sou*#t to o""upy t#e property, petitioner re$used to le!ve t#e #ouse. $ter $!iled e$$orts, in**oy $iled ! "!se !*!inst petitioner !nd #is 'i$e. #e tri!l "ourt "onvi"ted t#e !""used o$ est!$! under rti"le 315, /!r!*r!p# 2! o$ t#e Revised /en!l ode. On !ppe!l, t#e ourt o$ ppe!ls  !$$ir(ed t#e tri!l "ourteed o$  ondition!l %!le 'it# t#e G%4%. Relyin* on petitionerel! ruA, petitioner is ! se"ret!ry !nd p!yroll "ler !t !nd!rin %e!$ood Iill!*e, 4n". sin"e 1989. 7er duty '!s to "o(pute t#e p!yroll &!sed on t#e ti(e "!rd, re@uest t#e tre!surer $or t#e issu!n"e !nd en#!n"e(ent o$ t#e "orrespondin* "#e"s, pl!"e t#e (oney on t#e p!y slip to*et#er 'it# t'o ot#er persons, !nd !$ter'!rds distri&ute t#e s!(e to t#e e(ployees. #e president t#en ordered !n !udit due to t#e re"eipt to in$or(!tion !&out t#e li$estyle o$ t#e petitioner, s#e '!s !&le to &uy ! "!r !nd &uild #er o'n #ouse. #e personnel (!n!*er, !nuel !t!((u, t#en "o(puted t#e tot!l !"no'led*ed p!y slips !nd "o(p!red it 'it# t#e tot!l !(ount o$ t#e "#e"s 'it#dr!'n, #e $ound out t#!t t#ere '!s !n overdr!'n !(ount o$  /352,2=.31. $ter dis"overin* t#e dis"rep!n"y #e i((edi!tely reported t#e s!(e to t#e  d(inistr!tion !nd su&(itted t#e report t#erein instru"ted. /etitioner '!s not !&le to eDpl!in t#e (ist!e in t#e p!yroll "o(put!tion to r !t!((u &e"!use t#e &rot#er o$ #er #us&!nd died !nd s#e '!s not !&le to return $or 'or !$ter'!rds &e"!use s#e &e"!(e ill. r. !t!((u t#en re"o((ended t#!t t#e proper "o(pl!int &e $iled in "ourt !nd in turn #e '!s instru"ted to (!e $urt#er !udit. #e tri!l "ourt relied on "ir"u(st!nti!l eviden"e !s proved &y prose"ution !nd $ound t#e petitioner *uilty &eyond re!son!&le dou&t o$ t#e "ri(e o$ est!$! in t#e !(ount o$ /352,2=.31. pon !ppe!l, t#e ourt o$ ppe!ls  !$$ir(ed t#e de"ision in toto. /etitioner "l!i(s t#e  erred '#en i$ !$$ir(ed in toto t#e de"ision no'in* t#e s!id de"ision is "ontr!ry to l!' !nd  +urispruden"e, !nd t#!t t#e eviden"e presented is not su$$i"ient to "onvi"t #er &eyond re!son!&le dou&t. 7en"e, t#is petition to t#e %upre(e ourt. ISS'$: #et#er over)"o(put!tion o$ t#e p!yroll '!s "o((itted 'it# ! vie' to (is!ppropri!te to #old t#e petitioner *uilty o$ t#e "ri(e o$ est!$! &$%(: #e "ri(e o$ est!$! t#rou*# (is!ppropri!tion or "onversion !s de$ined in !nd pen!liAed under rti"le 315, p!r!*r!p# 1&, o$ t#e Revised /en!l ode. #e ele(ents o$ t#e s!id "ri(e !reE 1 t#!t (oney, *oods or ot#er person!l property is re"eived &y t#e o$$ender in trust, or on

"o((ission or $or !d(inistr!tion, or under !ny ot#er o&li*!tion involvin* t#e duty to (!e delivery o$, or to return, t#e s!(eF 2 t#!t t#ere &e (is!ppropri!tion or "onversion o$ su"# (oney or property &y t#e o$$ender or deni!l on #is p!rt o$ su"# re"eiptF 3 t#!t su"# (is!ppropri!tion or "onversion or deni!l is to t#e pre+udi"e o$ !not#erF !nd  t#!t t#ere is ! de(!nd (!de &y t#e o$$ended p!rty on t#e o$$ender. #e ourt $ound t#!t t#e "ir"u(st!nti!l eviden"e present in t#e "!se !t &!r !re *rossly insu$$i"ient to sust!in ! "onvi"tion. -!sed on t#e testi(onies, it is note'ort#y t#!t t#e petitioner  #!d no #!nd in t#e !"tu!l issu!n"e o$ t#e "#e"s, !nd (ore i(port!ntly, 'it# t#e 'it#dr!'!l o$  t#e (oney $ro( t#e &!n. #ile it '!s t#e !""used '#o "o(puted t#e p!yroll o$ t#e e(ployees, nevert#eless, s#e '!s not t#e only person '#o #!d !""ess to t#e (oney. lso, t#ere #!s &een no "o(pl!int e(!n!tin* $ro( t#e e(ployees re*!rdin* t#e s!l!ries t#ey #!ve &een re"eivin*. #e %upre(e ourt reversed t#e de"ision o$ t#e ourt o$ ppe!ls !nd !"@uitted t#e petitioner on t#e *round o$ re!son!&le dou&t.

PAB%I! +'RA! and N$%I! &'$RA'$%A  petitioners,  vs. P$!P%$ !" &$ P&I%IPPIN$S respondent . [G.R. No. 1185, June 30, 2005] "ACS: /etitioner /!&lito (ur!o, sole o'ner o$ ?orn! ur!o 4ndustri!l o((er"i!l nterprises ?4, ! "o(p!ny en*!*ed in t#e &usiness o$ sellin* !nd re$illin* $ire eDtin*uis#ers. /etitioner  Nelio 7uert!Auel! is t#e &r!n"# (!n!*er o$ ?4 in /uerto /rin"es! ity, /!l!'!n. On %epte(&er 1, 199 entered into ! >e!lers#ip *ree(ent 'it# #ito Cederi"o $or t#e (!retin*, distri&ution !nd re$illin* $ire eDtin*uis#ers. C!ilin* to "o(ply 'it# t#e "onditions o$  s!id !*ree(ent, Cederi"o '!s still !llo'ed to !"t !s p!rt)ti(e s!les !*ent $or ?4 entitled to ! per"ent!*e "o((ission $ro( t#e s!le o$ $ire eDtin*uis#ers. Cederi"o "l!i(ed t#!t #e '!s entitled to ! "o((ission e@uiv!lent to 50 o$ t#e *ross s!les #e #!d (!de on &e#!l$ o$ ?4 '#ile petitioners (!int!ined t#!t #e s#ould re"eive only 30 o$ t#e net s!les. Cederi"o t#en $!"ilit!ted t#e tr!ns!"tion 'it# t#e ity Govern(ent o$ /uerto /rin"es! $or  t#e re$ill o$ 202 $ire eDtin*uis#ers, 99 o$ '#i"# '!s undert!en in t#e $irst pur"#!se order. pon re"eipt o$ "#e" !s p!y(ent $or t#e $irst pur"#!se !(ountin* to /300,5=2, 7uert!Auel! t#en deposited it to t#e "urrent !""ount o$ ?4 'it# /4-!n. Cederi"o t#en de(!nded t#e !(ount o$ /15,500 !s #is "o((ission $ro( t#e p!y(ent o$ t#e $irst pur"#!se order to '#i"# 7uert!Auel! re$used to p!y sin"e &ot# o$ t#e( "ould not !*ree on t#e proper !(ount t#ereo$. Cederi"o t#en $iled ! "!se !*!inst t#e petitioners $or t#e "ri(e o$ est!$! 'it# t#e Re*ion!l ri!l ourt. #e tri!l "ourt $ound t#e petitioners *uilty &eyond re!son!&le dou&t !s "o)prin"ip!ls o$  t#e "ri(e o$ est!$! de$ined in rti"le 3151& o$ t#e Revised /en!l ode. pon !ppe!l, t#e ourt o$ ppe!ls  !$$ir(ed 'it# t#e (odi$i"!tion !s to t#e pen!lty. #en t#e  denied t#e otion $or Re"onsider!tion, t#e petitioners $iled ! petition $or revie' 'it# t#e %upre(e ourt.

ISS'$: #et#er t#e $irst essenti!l ele(ent o$ "ri(e o$ est!$! in"ludes t#e rel!tion o$ !*ent !nd prin"ip!l &$%(: #e ourt #eld t#!t t'o essenti!l ele(ents o$ t#e "ri(e o$ est!$! &y (is!ppropri!tion or  "onversion under rti"le 3151& !re !&sent, n!(elyE 1 t#!t (oney, *oods or ot#er person!l property &e re"eived &y t#e o$$ender in trust, or on "o((ission, or $or !d(inistr!tion, or under  !ny ot#er o&li*!tion involvin* t#e duty to (!e delivery o$, or to return, t#e s!(eF !nd 2 t#!t t#ere &e ! (is!ppropri!tion or "onversion o$ su"# (oney or property &y t#e o$$ender. #e ri*#t to ! "o((ission does not (!e priv!te "o(pl!in!nt Cederi"o ! +oint o'ner o$  t#e (oney p!id to ?4 &ut est!&lis#es t#e rel!tion o$ !*ent !nd prin"ip!l. ll pro$its (!de !nd !ny !dv!nt!*e *!ined &y !n !*ent in t#e eDe"ution o$ #is !*en"y s#ould &elon* to t#e prin"ip!l. %in"e ?4 '!s t#e ri*#t$ul o'ner o$ t#e entire pro"eeds o$ t#e "#e" p!y(ent $ro( t#e ity Govern(ent o$ /uerto /rin"es!, t#en t#e petitioners '#o "olle"ted t#e p!y(ent on &e#!l$ o$ ?4 did not re"eive t#e s!(e or !ny p!rt t#ereo$ in trust, or on "o((ission, or $or  !d(inistr!tion, or under !ny ot#er o&li*!tion involvin* t#e duty to (!e delivery o$, or to return, t#e s!(e to Cederi"o, t#us t#ere is no $idu"i!ry rel!tions#ip eDisted &et'een t#e petitioners !nd Cederi"o.  $idu"i!ry rel!tions#ip is !n essenti!l ele(ent o$ est!$! &y (is!ppropri!tion or  "onversion, 'it#out '#i"# t#e !""used "ould not #!ve "o((itted est!$!. #e %upre(e ourt reversed !nd set !side t#e de"ision o$ t#e ourt o$ ppe!ls !nd t#ere&y !"@uitted t#e petitioners $or t#eir !"tions did not "onstitute t#e "ri(e o$ est!$! &y "onversion or (is!ppropri!tion under rti"le 3151& o$ t#e Revised /en!l ode.

R!B$R CRISAN! (. %$$ /etitioners, vs. P$!P%$ !" &$ P&I%IPPIN$S and A! RA(IN C!RP!RAI!N Respondents. [G.R. No. 15==81, pril 11, 2005] "ACS:  toA r!din* orpor!tion is ! sto" "orpor!tion en*!*ed in t#e tr!din* o$ !ni(!l $eeds, $eed supple(ents, r!' (!teri!ls !nd in*redients $or $eed (ills. /etitioner Ro&ert ?ee, "orpor!tion