..Republic of the Philippines National Capital Judicial Region METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT VALENZUELA CIT BRANCH 107
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,
!"e#sus!
Crim. Case Nos. $%%&&!$'()( For: Violation of *.P. ++
LEA SACLOLO MEDINA,
Accused . ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
DEMURRER TO E"IDENCE #$i%& Prior Lea'e o( Co)r%* COMES NO$, accused LEA SACLOLO MEDINA, #ep#esented bthe Public Public Atto#n Atto#ne- e-ss /ffice /ffice,, 0ith 0ith lea lea"e "e of cou#t cou#t p#e p#e"io "iousl usl- obtain obtained, ed, #espectfull- sub1its this 2e1u##e# to the P#osecutions E"idence to this 3ono#able Cou#t on the g#ound that the p#osecution has failed to adduce sufficient e"idence of his guilt to o"e#co1e the p#esu1ption of innocence and shift the bu#den of p#oof4
)5 2u#ing he# a##aign1ent befo#e the 6et#opolitan T#ial Cou#t of Valen7uela Cit-, *#anch $) on ) Ap#il +8)9 accused pleaded not guilt- to %$ counts of "iolation of *P ++. Acco#dingl-, the pa#ties 0e#e #efe##ed to the Philippine 6ediation Cente# fo# 1ediation p#oceedings. The 1ediation 0as unsuccessful, ho0e"e#. Conse:uentl-, J2R p#oceeding 0as held on ' /ctobe# +8)9 but 0as li;e0ise unsuccessful. +5 /n the basis of the
filed b- the p#i"ate co1plainant th#ough he# counsel the #eco#d of these cases 0as t#ans1itted to the /ffice of the Cle#; of Cou#t and 0as the#eafte# #affled to this 3ono#able Cou#t. P#eli1ina#P#eli1ina#- confe#ence 0as then conducted on ++ ?eb#ua#- +8)&. T#ial on the 1e#its the#eafte# ensued 0he#e the p#osecution p#esented as its 0itnesses Joseph C. *#illantes and Vicente P. de Juan, J#. on %) 6a- +8)& and and )$ /ctobe# +8)&, #especti"el-. #especti"el-. The p#osecution then filed its on on 8+ No"e1be# +8)&, 0hich 0as g#anted b- the 3ono#able Cou#t pu#suant to its /#de# dated )8 No"e1be# +8)& not0ithst not0ithstandin anding g the defenses defenses dated dated & No"e1be# +8)&. %5 Ada1ant that the p#osecution p#osecution failed to adduce sufficient e"idence to sho0 the guilt of the accused be-ond #easonable doubt, the defense filed a <6otion fo# Lea"e of Cou#t to ?ile a 2e1u##e# to E"idence> on +)
No"e1be# +8)&. This 0as g#anted b- the 3ono#able Cou#t pu#suant to its /#de# dated $ 2ece1be# +8)& o"e# the filed b- the p#osecution on ' 2ece1be# +8)&.
BRIEF STATEMENT OF FACTS
(5 /n "a#ious dates, the accused allegedl- issued thi#t-!eight %$5 postdated chec;s to p#i"ate co1plainant in pa-1ent of ha#d0a#e, pl-0ood and lu1be# 1ate#ials 0hich she allegedl- pu#chased f#o1 the latte#. The chec;s 0e#e dishono#ed upon p#esent1ent fo# the #eason . Bubse:uentl-, p#i"ate co1plainant sought the assistance of a p#i"ate counsel 0ho p#epa#ed and sent a de1and lette# to the accused th#ough #egiste#ed 1ail. The de1and lette# 0as allegedl- #ecei"ed b- the accused he#self but the #etu#n #eceipt "i"idl- sho0s it 0as #ecei"ed not bthe accused but b- a ce#tain Re- Baclolo. The#e 0as absolutel- no e"idence that Re- Baclolo is #elated to the accused and that he is autho#i7ed to #ecei"e an- co##espondence fo# and in he# behalf. ISSUE
'5 The pi"otal issue fo# #esolution in these cases is 0hethe# the p#osecution has p#o"en the guilt of the accused fo# "iolation of *P ++ be-ond #easonable doubt.
AR+UMENTS
95 To sustain con"iction fo# "iolation of *.P. ++, the p#osecution 1ust p#o"e the follo0ing essential ele1ents, na1el-4 )5
The 1a;ing, d#a0ing, and issuance of an- chec; to appl- fo# account o# fo# "alue
+5
The ;no0ledge of the 1a;e#, d#a0e#, o# issue# that at the ti1e of issue the#e 0e#e no sufficient funds in o# c#edit 0ith the d#a0ee ban; fo# the pa-1ent of such chec; in full upon its p#esent1ent and
%5
The dishono# of the chec; b- the d#a0ee ban; fo# insufficiencof funds o# c#edit o# the dishono# fo# the sa1e #eason had not the d#a0e#, 0ithout an- "alid cause, o#de#ed the d#a0ee ban; to stop pa-1ent.)
&5 The second ele1ent ad"e#ted to abo"e in"ol"es ;no0ledge on the pa#t of the issue# at the ti1e of the chec;s issuance that he did not 1
Ban 6ateo ". People , D.R. No. +8888, 6a#ch 9, +8)% Ting ". CA , D.R. No. )(899', No"e1be# )%, +888
ha"e enough funds o# c#edit in the ban; fo# the pa-1ent the#eof upon its p#esent1ent. Conside#ing that this in"ol"es a state of 1ind, 0hich is difficult to "e#if-, section + of the la0 c#eates a Fu#is tantu1 p#esu1ption of ;no0ledge of insufficient fund o# c#edit 0hen the fi#st and the thi#d ele1ents of the offense a#e p#esent. Ve#il-, the d#a0e#s ;no0ledge is p#esu1ed f#o1 the dishono# of the chec; fo# insufficienc- of funds. + If not #ebutted, it suffices to sustain a con"iction. % Bection + of *.P. ++ #eads thus4 Bection +. E"idence of ;no0ledge of insufficient funds . G The 1a;ing, d#a0ing and issuance of a chec; pa-1ent of 0hich is #efused b- the d#a0ee because of insufficient funds in o# c#edit 0ith such ban;, 0hen p#esented 0ithin ninet- 85 da-s f#o1 the date of the chec;, shall be p#i1a facie e"idence of ;no0ledge of such insufficienc- of funds o# c#edit unless such d#a0e# pa-s the holde# the#eof the a1ount due the#eon, o# 1a;es a##ange1ents fo# pa-1ent in full b- the d#a0ee of such chec; 0ithin '5 ban;ing da-s afte# #ecei"ing notice that such chec; has not been paid bthe d#a0ee. $5 In o#de# to gi"e #ise to the p#i1a facie p#esu1ption( of ;no0ledge of insufficient funds o# c#edit, it 1ust be sho0n that4 )5 the fi#st and thi#d ele1ents of the offense a#e p#esent +5 the chec; 0as p#esented 0ithin 8 da-s f#o1 the date of 1atu#it- ' %5 offende# #ecei"ed a notice of dishono# and (5 despite the lapse of ' ban;ing da-s afte# #ecei"ing the notice, the chec; has not been paid b- the d#a0ee. 9 In othe# 0o#ds, the p#esu1ption is b#ought into e=istence onl- afte# it is p#o"ed that the issue# had #ecei"ed a notice of dishono# and that 0ithin ' da-s f#o1 #eceipt the#eof, he failed to pa- the a1ount of the chec; o# to 1a;e a##ange1ents fo# its pa-1ent. The p#esu1ption o# p#i1a facie e"idence as p#o"ided in the afo#e:uoted section cannot a#ise, if such notice of 2
Hing ". People , D.R. No. )%)'(8, 2ece1be# +, ) Vaca ". CA , D.R. No. )%)&)(, No"e1be# )$. Hno0ledge as an ele1ent of "iolation of *.P. ++ is a continuing e"entualit-. Although the la0 1e#el- #e:ui#es that the offende# 1ust ha"e ;no0ledge of insufficienc- of funds at the ti1e of issuance, he 1ust continuousl- possess such ;no0ledge up to the ti1e the chec; 0as p#esented fo# pa-1ent. Thus, lac; of ;no0ledge of insufficienc- of funds to co"e# the chec; at the ti1e of its p#esent1ent fo# pa-1ent 0ith the d#a0ee ban; is a "alid defense Li1 ". CA , D.R. No. )8&$$, 2ece1be# ), )' Idos ". CA , D.R. No. ))8&$+, Bepte1be# +', )$ B-cip, J#. ". CA , D.R. No. )+'8', 6a#ch )&, +888 Li1 ". People , D.R. No. )%88%$, Bepte1be# )$, +888 The te#1 p#i1a facie e"idence denotes e"idence 0hich, if une=plained o# uncont#adicted, is sufficient to sustain the p#oposition it suppo#ts o# to establish the facts, o# to counte#balance the p#esu1ption of innocence to 0a##ant a con"iction *autista ". CA , D.R. No. )(%%&', Jul- 9, +88)5. The second #e:uisite of p#esu1ption of ;no0ledge is dispensable. If the co1plainant p#esented the chec; be-ond 8 da-s f#o1 date of 1atu#it-, p#esu1ption of ;no0ledge of insufficient funds o# c#edit 0ill not a#ise. 3o0e"e#, accused is not dep#i"ed of his #ight to a"e#t c#i1inal p#osecution since he could still pa- the chec; o# 1a;e a##ange1ent fo# its pa-1ent 0ithin ' da-s f#o1 #eceipt of 0#itten notice of dishono#. Thus, accused can still be con"icted of "iolation of *.P. ++ is the#e is e"idence that he ;ne0 of such insufficienc- 6a#igo1en ". People , D.R. No. )'%('), 6a+9, +88'5. 6agno ". People , D.R. No. 9)%+, June +9, )+ 3 4
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nonpa-1ent b- the d#a0ee ban; is not sent to the 1a;e# o# d#a0e#, o# if the#e is no p#oof as to 0hen such notice 0as #ecei"ed b- the d#a0e#, since the#e 0ould si1pl- be no 0a- of #ec;oning the c#ucial fi"e!da- pe#iod. & 5 The p#esu1ption shifts the bu#den to the d#a0e# to p#o"e that, 0hen he issued the subFect chec;, he had no ;no0ledge that he had insufficient funds in the d#a0ee ban; to ans0e# fo# the a1ount due. $ The p#esu1ption being disputable, it can be cont#o"e#ted, inte# alia , be"idence that the accused has no ;no0ledge of the insufficienc- of funds o# c#edit at the ti1e of the issuance of the chec;, o# at the ti1e of issuance, the offende#s funds a#e sufficient to co"e# the chec;, )8 o# be"idence of full pa-1ent at the ti1e of p#esent1ent o# 0ithin the fi"e!dape#iod f#o1 notice of the dishono#. )) The latte# is a co1plete defense that 0ould lie #ega#dless of the st#ength of the e"idence p#esented b- the p#osecution. )+ )85 Absent p#oof that the accused #ecei"ed 0#itten notice of dishono#, a p#osecution fo# "iolation of said la0 cannot p#ospe# as lac; of 0#itten notice of dishono# 0ill p#e"ent the application of p#esu1ption of ;no0ledge of insufficienc-, )% and 0ill dep#i"e the accused of his #ight to a"e#t c#i1inal p#osecution b- pe#fo#1ing so1e acts that 0ould ope#ate to p#ee1pt the c#i1inal action, 0hich is in effect a "iolation of his #ight to due p#ocess.)( The notice 1ust be 0#itten, although no pa#ticula# fo#1 is #e:ui#ed unde# *.P. *lg. ++ it is enough that notice of dishono# con"e-s the info#1ation that the chec; issued b- the accused 0as dishono#ed. )' hile section + of *.P. *lg. ++ does not state that notice of dishono# be in 0#iting, ta;en in conFunction, ho0e"e#, 0ith section % of the la0, i.e., a 1e#e o#al notice o# de1and to pa- 0ould be insufficient fo# con"iction unde# the la0. )9 The 0#itten notice of dishono# 1a- be sent to 7
/ngson ". People , D.R. No. )'9)9, August )+, +88' see also Ve#ga#a ". People , D.R. No. )98%+$, ?eb#ua#- (, +88' Bia ". People , D.R. No. )(9', Ap#il +$, +88( 2ingle ". IAC, D.R. No. L!&'+(% , 6a#ch 9, )$& 2- ". People , D.R. No. )'$%)+, No"e1be# )(, +88$ Idos ". CA , sup#a note +8 Lao ". CA , D.R. No. )))&$, June +8, )& Li1 ". People , D.R. No. )%88%$, Bepte1be# )$, +888 Nag#a1pa ". People , D.R. No. )(9+)), August 9, +88+ As a #ule, subse:uent pa-1ents can onl- affect the ci"il, but not the c#i1inal, liabilit- Tan ". PCI* , D.R. No. )'+999, Ap#il +%, +88$5. In 6acalalag ". People D.R. No. )9(%'$, 2ece1be# +8, +8895, ho0e"e#, the Bup#e1e Cou#t held that pa-1ent b- the accused of the a1ount of the chec; p#io# to its p#esent1ent se#"es the sa1e pu#pose. Bo, too, in D#iffith ". CA D.R. No. )+&9(, 6a#ch )+, +88+5, the Cou#t held that 0he#e the c#edito# had collected 1o#e than a sufficient a1ount to co"e# the "alue of the chec;s c#i1inal offense unde# *.P. ++ t0o -ea#s afte# the said collection is no longe# tenable no# Fustified b- la0 o# e:uitable conside#ations. Tan ". PCI* , D.R. No. )'+999, Ap#il +%, +88$ Ca#as ". CA , D.R. No. )+88, /ctobe# +, +88) 2anao ". CA , D.R. No. )++%'%, June 9, +88) A1bito ". People , D.R. No. )+&%+&, ?eb#ua#- )%, +88 Ca#as ". CA , .R. No. )+88, /ctobe# +, +88) Inte#national Co#po#ate *an; ". Dueco , D.R. No. )()9$, ?eb#ua#- )+, +88) Lao ". CA , D.R. No. )))&$ Bia ". People , D.R. No. )(9', Ap#il +$, +88( u /h ". CA , D.R. No. )+'+&, June 9, +88% 6e#i7 ". People , D.R. No. )%(($, No"e1be# )%, +88) 2o1agsang ". CA , D.R. No. )%++, 2ece1be# ', +888 Hing ". People , D.R. No. )%)'(8, 2ece1be# +, ) 8 9
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the d#a0e# b- the d#a0ee ban;, the holde# of the chec;, o# the offended pa#t-, eithe# b- pe#sonal deli"e#- o# b- #egiste#ed 1ail.)& ))5 In these consolidated cases, 0hile the de1and lette# )$ and the #egist#- #etu#n ca#d) 0e#e identified b- Ale= Joseph 2C *#illantes in his Fudicial affida"it, the#e is, ho0e"e#, absolutel- no p#oof that the de1and lette# itself 0as actuall- #ecei"ed b- the accused. hat is "e#- gla#ing is that it 0as #ecei"ed b- a ce#tain Re- Baclolo. The#e is no p#oof that the accused #esides in the house 0he#e the de1and lette# 0as deli"e#ed. Notabl-, the add#ess of the accused, 0hich 0as 0#itten in the de1and lette# i.e., *#g-. Valen7uela, Bta. Rosa, Nue"a EciFa5 is inco1plete in that the#e 0as no specification of the house, lot, bloc; o# phase nu1be# and@o# st#eet na1e. Thus, the de1and lette# could ha"e been deli"e#ed to anhouse 0ithin *#g-. Valen7uela, Bta. Rosa, Nue"a EciFa. 6o#eo"e#, the#e 0as no docu1enta#- p#oof that Re- Baclolo #esides in the sa1e house o# in the sa1e co1pound as that of accused. The#e is e"en no p#oof that the- a#e #elated b- consanguinit- o# affinit- 0ith each othe# o# that thea#e neighbo#s 0hose houses a#e "e#- p#o=i1ate 0ith each othe#. The p#osecution 0itnesses 1e#el- alleged that the accused and Re- Baclolo a#e #elati"es. )+5 *ut it is basic e"identia#- p#inciple that ba#e allegations, unsubstantiated b- e"idence, a#e not e:ui"alent to p#oof. +8 P#esu1ptions, conFectu#es, su#1ises o# possibilities cannot #eplace p#oof, ha"e no place in a Fudicial in:ui#-, and a#e speciall- anathe1a in a c#i1inal p#osecution. +) This is pa#ticula#l- significant in c#i1inal cases 0he#e the :uantu1 of p#oof #e:ui#ed is p#oof be-ond #easonable doubt. ++ The consistent #ule is that penal statutes ha"e to be const#ued st#ictl- against the Btate and libe#allin fa"o# of the accused. +% Li;e0ise, the#e 0as no p#oof that Re- Baclolo 0as e=p#essl- o# tacitl- autho#i7ed b- the accused to #ecei"e anco##espondence f#o1 an- pe#son fo# and he# behalf, and that Re- Baclolo o# an-one fo# hi1 actuall- tu#ned o"e# the de1and lette# to the accused. )%5 As the#e is insufficient p#oof that accused #ecei"ed notice of dishono#, the p#esu1ption that she had ;no0ledge of insufficienc- of funds cannot a#ise. +( *ecause of this, the accused should be ac:uitted in the instant cases. It is "e#- clea# that if an-thing liabilit- of the accused is onl- ci"il in natu#e, that is, the pa-1ent of the face "alue of the subFect 17
Bia ". People , D.R. No. )(9', Ap#il +$, +88( E=hibit E=hibits to Real ". *elo, D.R. No. )(9++(, +9 Janua#- +88& People ". Pu#ugganan , D.R. Nos. 8))!9, Janua#- +$, )) P#oof be-ond #easonable doubt does not 1ean such a deg#ee of p#oof as, e=cluding possibilitof e##o#, p#oduces absolute ce#taint-. 6o#al ce#taint- onl- is #e:ui#ed, o# that deg#ee of p#oof 0hich p#oduces con"iction in an unp#eFudiced 1ind *adiola ". CA , D.R. No. )&89), Ap#il +%, +88$ Pa#edes ". CA , D.R. )9'%(, Jul- %8, +88& People ". Castillo , D.R. No. )&+9', June +, +88& People ". Cli1aco , D.R. No. )(8%, June )%, +8)+ People ". 2elanta# , D.R. No. )9)(%, ?eb#ua#- +, +88& People ". Rebucan , D.R. No. )$+''), Jul- +&, +8)) TadeFa ". People , D.R. No. )('%%9, Jul- +), +8895. A1bito ". People , D.R. No. )+&%+&, ?eb#ua#- )%, +88, Alfe#e7 ". People , D.R. No. )$+%8), Janua#- %), +8)) 18 19 20 21 22
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chec;s 0ith inte#est the#eon at the legal #ate of inte#est +' co1puted f#o1 default, that is, f#o1 the date of Fudicial o# e=t#aFudicial de1and, until fullpaid.
PRAER $HEREFORE, p#e1ises conside#ed, it is #espectfull- p#a-ed unto this 3ono#able Cou#t to o#de# as follo0s4
). to di#ect the p#osecution to file a co11ent@opposition to the instant de1u##e# to e"idence 0ithin a non!e=tendible of ten )85 calenda# da-s f#o1 #eceipt he#eof and to sub1it this de1u##e# to e"idence 0ithin thi#t- %85 calenda# da-s f#o1 the date of filing of the said co11ent@opposition o# f#o1 the lapse of the ten!)85 da- pe#iod to file the sa1e +. hold in abe-ance the p#esentation of defense e"idence until the instant de1u##e# to e"idence is #esol"ed and %. g#ant this de1u##e# to e"idence and to DISMISS these consolidated cases fo# insufficienc- of e"idence. /the# #eliefs and #e1edies, Fust and e:uitable, a#e li;e0ise p#a-ed fo#. Valen7uela Cit-, 6et#o 6anila, )) 2ece1be# +8)&.
PUBLIC ATTORNE-S OFFICE "ALENUELA DISTRICT OFFICE %R2 ?loo#, Post /ffice *ldg. Justice 3all Co1pound, C.J. Bantos Bt., Poblacion II, 6alinta, Valen7uela Cit-
Th#ough4
ATT. RAFAEL D. PAN+ILINAN Public Atto#ne- II Roll No. 9(9$( I*P No. )8($9( dated )8 Janua#- +8)& @ CAL6ANA Ad1itted to the *a# on Ap#il +, +8)' 6CLE Co1pliance V 88))') dated No". )), +8)'
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The Bup#e1e Cou#t laid do0n guidelines on the i1position of legal inte#est in Naca# ". Dalle#- ?#a1es D.R. No. )$$&), August )%, +8)%5.
No%i/e: Mr. Arme B. Ta%o Cle#; of Cou#t III 6et#opolitan T#ial Cou#t of Valen7uela Cit- *#anch )8&
D#eetingsK Hindl- sub1it the fo#egoing de1u##e# to e"idence fo# the ;ind conside#ation and app#o"al of the 3ono#able Cou#t i11ediatel- upon #eceipt he#eof.
ATT. RAFAEL D. PAN+ILINAN Co2 ()r3is&e4: ACP Co3ie 5. L)/es /ffice of the Cit- P#osecuto# Valen7uela Cit-
A%%2. Mar/ Terr2 C. Pere6 P#i"ate P#osecuto# Unit A, +nd ?loo#, RD3 *uilding No. % Ti1og A"enue, Bouth T#iangle, ))8% ue7on CitPhilpost T#ac;ing No.4 R2 &$$ %9$ %99 ZZ dated )+@)+@)& Ea3a%io3: Cop- of the fo#egoing de1u##e# to e"idence 0as se#"ed to Att-. 6a#c Te##- C. Pe#e7 th#ough #egiste#ed 1ail fo# lac; of pe#sonnel to effect pe#sonal se#"ice.
ATT. RAFAEL D. PAN+ILINAN
