People vs. Mateo, et. al. (2017)

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES vs. ERVIN Y. MATEO, ET. AL

G.R. No. 210612, October 09, 2017

PERALTA, J.:

Facts: An Information was filed charging accused-appellant, together with Evelyn E. Mateo, Carmelita B. Galvez, Romeo L. Esteban, Galileo J. Saporsantos and Nenita S. Saporsantos with the crime of syndicated estafa which alleges that said accused, being officers and/or agents of Mateo Management Group Holding Company, a corporation operating on funds solicited from the public, conspiring and operating as a syndicate, feloniously defraud complainants by means of false pretenses to the effect that they have the business and power accept investments from the general public and the capacity to pay the complainants guaranteed lucrative commissions, and induced complainants to invest and deliver the total amount of P200,000.00 as investment or deposit and thereafter, having in their possession said amount, with intent to gain, misappropriated the same to their own personal use to the damage and prejudice of said complainants.

Appellant insists that no sufficient evidence was presented to prove that he actually performed any 'false pretenses' against the private complainants.

Issue: Whether or not appellant is guilty of syndicated estafa.

Ruling: Yes, the elements of syndicated estafa as defined under Section 1 of PD 1689 are: (a) estafa or other forms of swindling as defined in Articles 315 and 316 of the Revised Penal Code is committed; (b) the estafa or swindling is committed by a syndicate of five or more persons; and (c) defraudation results in the misappropriation of moneys contributed by stockholders, or members of rural banks, cooperatives, "samahang nayon(s)," or farmers' associations, or of funds solicited by corporations/associations from the general public.

In this case, all the elements are present. In any case, appellant's direct participation in the conspiracy are as follows: (1) the Articles of Partnership of MMG named appellant as the sole general partner with a capital contribution of P49,750,000.00; (2) his signatures appear in the MOA entered into by the complainants and facilitated by his co-accused Geraldine Alejandro; (3) his signatures also appear in the Secretary's Certificate and Signature Cards which were submitted to Allied Bank when the partnership opened an account; (4) the MOA are notarized and it was only on appeal that he denied his signatures appearing therein or questioned the authenticity and due execution of the said documents.

Ratio Decidendi: When there is conspiracy, the act of one is the act of all.

Gist: This is an appeal assailing the Decision of the CA affirming the Judgment of the RTC, finding appellant guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of syndicated estafa under Article 315 of the RPC in relation to Presidential Decree No. 1689.