SUBJECT:
TOPIC:
Date Made:
Digest Maker:
CRIM 2
ART. 171
19 February 2016
Mike Natividad
CASE NAME: Lastrilla vs. Grada
PONENTE: J. Puno
Case Date: 31 Jan !!"
Case Su##ar$:
Res!"det
Re
s!"det #$ar%ed !etiti"er &"r #"s!iri% i t$e &alsi'#ati" "& t$ree (eeds "&
Abs"lute )ale* +$ere !etiti"er si%ed as +tiess* "ver !ar#els "& lad "+ed by
res!"det,s de#eased %rad!arets.
%rad!arets. -e &"ud t$at t$e (eeds +ere atedated as t$e
sales t""k !la#e i 1999 "r 2000 but t$e (eed +as dated i 19/* ad t$at t$e
si%atures "& $is %rad!arets*
%rad!arets* +$" +ere alr
already
eady de#eased* +er
+ere
e &"r%ed. Alt$"u%$ t$e
#e "& t$e City r"se#ut"r ad t$e (3 )e#retary dis4issed t$e #"4!lait a%aist t$e
!etiti"er* t$e C"urt
C"urt "& A!!eals &"ud !r"bable #ause a%aist !etiti"
!etiti"er
er ad "rder
"rdered
ed t$e
#e "& t$e r"se#ut"r t" 'le i&"r4ati"s a%aist !etiti"er &"r vi"lati"s uder Art.
172 51 i relati" t" Art. 171 51* 52 ad 5/ "& t$e RC. Ar4i% t$e C"urt "& A!!eal,s
de#isi"* t$e )u!re4e C"urt ruled t$at i t$e &alsi'#ati" "& !ubli# "r "#ial d"#u4ets*
it is "t e#essary t$at t$ere be !reset t$e idea "& %ai "r t$e itet t" iure a t$ird
!ers" &"r t$e reas" t$at i t$e &alsi'#ati" "& a !ubli# d"#u4et* t$e !ri#i!al t$i%
!uis$ed is t$e vi"lati" "& t$e !ubli# &ait$ ad t$e destru#ti" "& t$e trut$ as t$erei
s"le4ly !r"#lai4ed.
%u&es o' (a):
Arti#les 172 51 ad 171 51* 52 ad 5/ "& t$e Revised eal C"de.
A 'di% "& !r"bable #ause eed "ly t" rest " evide#e t$at 4"re likely t$a "t a
#ri4e $as bee #"44itted ad +as #"44itted by t$e sus!e#ts8!r"b
sus!e#ts8!r"bable
able #ause eed
"t be based " #lear ad #"vi#i% evide#e "& %uilt* eit$er " evide#e establis$i%
%uilt bey"d reas"able d"ubt ad de'itely "t " evide#e establis$i% abs"lute
#ertaity "& %uilt.
T$e ee#t "& a !resu4!ti"
!resu4!ti" u!" t$e burde "& !r
!r""&
""& is t" #reate t$e eed
eed "& !reseti%
evide#e t" "ver#"4e t$e !ri4a &a#ie #ase #reated* t$ereby +$i#$* i& " #"trary !r""& is
"ered* +ill !revail.
T*e a+sen,e o' da#age does not ne,essari&$ i#-&$ t*at t*ere ,an +e no
'a&si,ation
'a&si,at
ion as it is #ere&$ an e&e#ent to +e ,onsidered to deter#ine )*et*er
or not t*ere is ,ri#ina& intent to ,o##it 'a&si,a
'a&si,ation/
tion/ It is a sett&ed ru&e t*at in
t*e 'a&si,ation o' -u+&i, or o0,ia& do,u#ents it is not ne,essar$ t*at t*ere
+e -resent t*e idea o' gain or intent to in2ure a t*ird -erson.
Detai&ed a,ts:
Res!"det
Re
s!"det is a %rads" ad le%al $eir "& t$e de#eased Grada s!"uses* Ra&ael ad
Aur"ra* +$" died i 3ue 199 ad )e!te4ber 16* 2000* res!e#tively. T$e s!"uses $ad
te #$ildre.
(uri% Aur"ra,s li&eti4e* s$e "+ed several !ar#els "& lad i Ta#l"ba re%istered i $er
a4e.
)aid !ar#els "& lad +ere alle%edly s"ld by t$e Grada s!"uses as evide#ed by t$e
deeds "& abs"lute sale* all
a ll dated (e#e4ber 7* 19/* +itessed by !etiti"er ad t$e t$e
de#eased s!"uses, y"u%est dau%$ter
da u%$ter )ilvia ad "tari:ed by Atty
Atty.. Ca4il" Ca4e&"rte.
B(OC4 D !15 1
T$e t$ree deeds
deeds iv"lved;
1. T+" !ar#els "& lad i &av"r "& !etiti"er,s sibli%s &"r <*00*000.00
2. T+" !ar#els "& lad i &av"r "& !etiti"er,s sibli%s &"r /*000*000.00
<. T$ree !ar#els "& lad i &av"r "& !etiti"er ad $is s!"use &"r 200*000.0
200*000.00
0
 February 21* 2001 "r 4"re t$a 've 4"t$s a&ter Aur"ra,s deat$* res!"det 'led
t$e istat #"4!lait &"r =i"lati" "& Arti#les 171 ad 172 "& t$e Revised 
eal
eal C"de
a%aist !etiti"er* )ilvia* Atty
Atty.. Ca4e&"rte* ad !etiti"er,s sibli%s* #lai4i% t$at all
t$e latter,s !r"!erties i Ta#l"ba +ere s"ld t" dieret !ers"s s"4eti4e i 1999>2000.
Res!"det +as able t" "btai #"!ies "& t$ree deeds "& abs"lute sale ad "ti#ed t$at
Res!"det
t$e si%atures "& $is de#eased %rad!aret +ere &alsi'ed. T$is +as #"'r4ed by t$e N
Cri4e Lab"rat"ry* +$i#$ als" &"ud t$at t$e si%atures "& $is de#eased %rad&at$er ad
t$e si%atures "& t$e de#eased s!"uses, y"u%est da
dau%$ter
u%$ter )ilvia ?re
?reveal
veal s"4e
si4ilarities i str"ke stru#ture* idi#ative "& "e +riter
+riter.@
.@ T$e si%atures "& res!"det,s
%rad4"t$er Aur"ra i t$e uesti"ed deeds ad $er s!e#i4e si%atures ?+ere
?+ere "t
+ritte by "e ad t$e sa4e !ers".@
Res!"det als" #lai4ed t$at t$e t$ree deeds "& abs"lute sale +ere atedated. B$ile
Res!"det
t$e sales t""k !la#e i 1999 "r 2000* it +as 4ade t" a!!ear t$at t$e trasa#ti"s t""k
!la#e " (e#e4ber 7* 19/* at a ti4e +$e b"t$ "& t$e Grada s!"uses +ere still alive.
Res!"det #lai4ed t$at !etiti"er #"s!ired +it$ )ilvia ad Atty. Ca4e&"rte i
&alsi&yi% t$e t$ree deeds by si%i% as a istru4etal +itess t$erei*
t$erei* ad t$at
!etiti"er ad t$e "t$er vedees #"s!ired by bee'ti% &r"4 t$e use "& said !ubli#
d"#u4ets i tras&erri% t$e titles "& t$e !r"!erties &r"4 t$e a4e "& Aur"ra t" t$eir
a4es.
etiti"er,s sibli% lsa Dy averr
etiti"er,s
averred
ed t$at s"4eti4e i 199* Aur"ra re!eatedly "er
"ered
ed t$e
sale "& t$e sube#t !r"!erties t" $er* ad t$at s$e a%reed t" buy Aur"ra,s !r"!erties &"r a
t"tal #"siderati" "& 1*000*0
1*000*000
00 sube#t t" #"diti"s. Aur"ra alle%edly a%reed t" t$e
said ter4s ad i#rease i t$e t"tal #"siderati" &r"4 1*000*000 t" 1*00*000.
etiti"er
eti
ti"er #lai4s t$at it +as "
"ly
ly "ly lsa ad Aur"ra +$" e%"tiated &"r t$e sale "& t$e
!r"!ertie
!r"!erties
s i
uesti". -is
sibli%s !arti#i!ated
res!e#t
t" t$eir
res!e#tive
res!e#ti
ve
#"tributi"s
t" "t$er
t$e !ur#$ase
!ri#e ad $e "ly
+as +it$
t$e one
tasked
to ensure
t*at t*e signatures on t*e su+2e,t deeds )ere a&& aut*enti, and genuine as t$ey
+ere !arti% +it$ 4illi"s "& $ard eared 4"ey. D!" Aur"ra,s reuest* $e readily
a%reed t" aE $is si%atures i t$e sube#t deeds as a +itess* t$iki% t$at
t$a t su#$ a#t
+"uld seal t$e validity "& t$e sale. -e #"teded t$at t$e &a#t t$at t$e sale +as "ly
re%istered " February 2* 2000 is "t evide#e "& &alsi'#ati".
T$e #e "& t$e City r"se#uti"
r"se#uti" "& Ta#l"ba dis4issed t$e #"4!lait a%ai
a%aist
st !etiti"er
ruli% t$at ?It is $i%$ly i4!r"bable &"r s"4e"e t" !art +it$ su#$ a a4"ut as a
#"siderati" &"r t$e !ur#$ase "& a !r"!erty
! r"!erty ad at t$e sa4e ti4e #"s!ire t" &"r%e t$e
very sa4e d"#u4ets t$at is t$e basis "& t$e sale. B$y !ay 1.M ad risk l"si% t$e
said a4"ut " a &"r%ed d"#u4et@
T$e t$e (3 )e#retary
)e#retary -erad" . 
ere:
ere: als" dis4
dis4issed
issed t$e #"4!lait u!" rrevie+
evie+
B(OC4 D !15 2
$"ldi% t$at ?" ev
evide#e
ide#e $as bee !r
!reseted
eseted t" substatiate t$e #$ar
#$ar%e
%e H"&
&alsi'#ati"*@ t$at it is ?u#lear $"+ H!etiti"er !arti#i!ated i t$e &alsi'#ati" "& t$e
sube#t d"#u4ets*@ ad t$at t$ere is "t #ri4ial itet " t$e !art "& t$e !etiti"er i
&alsi&yi% t$e sube#t d"#u4ets.
T$e CA* u!" revie+*
revie+* 4"di'ed t$e (3 rres"luti"
es"luti" 'di% !r"bable #ause a%aist
a%aist
!etiti"er* dire,ting t*e O0,e o' t*e Prose,utor to &e in'or#ations against *i#
&"r vi"lati"s uder Art. 172 51 i relati" t" Art. 171 51* 52 ad 5/ "& t$e Re
Revised
vised
eal C"de be#ause 51 $e ke+ t$at t$e t$ree deeds +ere &alsi'ed ad des!ite su#$
k"+led%e* still
si%edri%
t$e4
istru4etal
$e
+as
dire#tly
res!"sible
&"r re%isteri%
re%iste
t$eas&alsi'ed
deeds +itess*
+it$ t$e 52
Re%i
Re%ister
ster
"& !ers"ally
(eeds* 5< ad
$e #aused
t$e #a#ellati" "& t$e T
Tras&er
ras&er Certi'#ates "& Title i t$e a4e "& Aur"ra Grada ad
ee#ted t$e issua#e "& t$e e+ Tras&er Certi'#ates "& Title.
Issue:
Regarding falsication, the Court just summarily said all of the elements of falsication
in Articles 172 (1) and 171 (1), (2) and (5) of the Revised enal Code are !resent "ithout
e#!laining ho"$
T$e 4ai issue is " t$e !r"bable
!r"bable #ause t" e%eder t$e belie&
belie& t$at !etiti"er is "e "&
t$e aut$"rs "& t$e &alsi'#ati". > J)
6o&ding:
P%OBAB(E CAUSE IN P%E(IMINA%7 IN8ESTI9ATIONS
%U(EDOCT%INE
I a !reliminary investigation
investigation** -ro+a+&e ,ause &"r t$e 'li% "& a i&"r4ati" by
t$e !r"se#ut"r $as bee de'ed as ?t$e eEiste#e "& su#$ &a#ts ad #ir#u4sta#es
as +"uld eE#ite t$e belie&* i a reas"able 4id* a#ti% " t$e &a#ts +it$i t$e
k"+led%e "& t$e !r"se#ut"r* t$at t$e !ers" #$ar%ed +as %uilty "& t$e #ri4e &"r
+$i#$ $e +as !r"se#uted.@
It is +ell>settled t$at ?a 'di% "& !r"bable #ause eeds "ly t" rest " evide#e
s$"+i% t$at 4"re likely t$a "t a #ri4e $as bee #"44itted ad +as #"44itted
by t$e sus!e#ts. r"bable #ause eed "t be based " #lear ad #"vi#i%
evide#e "& %uilt* eit$er " evide#e establis$i% %uilt bey"d reas"able d"ubt*
ad de'itely "t " evide#e establis$i% abs"lute #ertaity "& %uilt.@
APP(ICATION TO T6E CASE
APP(ICATION
C ASE
Fr"4 t$e re#"rds* t$ere is " uesti" t$at !etiti"er si%ed as a
a  istru4etal
+itess t" t$e sube#t deeds "& abs"lute sale. As su#$* $e attested t$at t$e Grada
s!"uses* as ved"rs* si%ed t$e said deeds i $is !rese#e " (e#e4ber 7* 19/.
y !etiti"er,s "+ ad4issi"* $"+ever* t$e e%"tiati"s &"r t$e sales "ly started
i 199* t$us* t$e deeds +ere ad4ittedly atedated.
T$e ivesti%ati% !r"se#ut"r*
!r"se#ut"r* t$e (3 ad t$e CA als" unani#ous&$ 'ound
-ro+a+&e ,ause t" believe t$at t$e si%atures "& t$e Grada s!"uses +ere
&alsi'ed as evide#ed by; 5a t$e N Cri4e Lab"rat"ry re!"rt +$i#$ #"#luded
t$at t$e s!e#i4e si%atures "& t$e s!"uses did "t 4at#$ t$e si%atures aE
aEed
ed
i t$e sube#t deedsK ad 5b t$e udis!uted &a#t t$at ved"r
ved"r>s!"use
>s!"use Ra&ael died i
3ue 199.
B(OC4 D !15 <
E8IDENCE/ P%ESUMPTIONS
%U(EDOCT%INE
T$e dis-uta+&e -resu#-tion is t$at a !erson intends the ordinary conse%uences
of his voluntary act and ta&es ordinary care of his concerns.
concerns .
T$e ee#t "& a !resu4!ti"
!resu4!ti" u!" t$e burde "& !r""
!r""&& is t" #reate t$e ee
eed
d "&
!reseti% evide#e t" "ver#"4e t$e !ri4a &a#ie #ase #reated* t$ereby +$i#$* i&
" #"trary !r""& is "ered* +ill !revail.
APP(ICATION TO T6E CASE
APP(ICATION
C ASE
T$is !resu4!ti"
!resu4!ti" assu4es %reater si%i'
si%i'#a#e
#a#e t" t$e #ase "& !etiti"er +$"*
+$"* as
?the one tas&ed 'y his silings to ensure that the signatures on the suject
deeds "ere all authentic and genuine*@
genuine *@ is natura&&$ e;-e,ted to not *a<e
<o&untari&$ a0;ed *is signature i t$e sube#t deeds uless $e uderst""d t$e
#lear si%i'#a#e "& $is a#t.
A(SIICATION O PUB(IC DOCUMENTS/ C%IMINA( INTENT
%U(EDOCT%INE
Cri#ina& intent is a 4etal state* t$e eEiste#e "& +$i#$ is s$"+ by t$e "vert
a#ts "& a !ers".
T$e a+sen,e o' da#age does not necessarily im!ly that there can e no
falsication
as it is merely
element&alsi'#ati".
to e considered t" deter4i
deter4ie
e +$et$er "r
"t
t$ere is #ri4ial
itet an
t" #"44it
I t$e &alsi'#ati" "& !ubli# "r "#ial d"#u4ets* it is not ne,essar$ t*at t*ere
+e -resent t*e idea o' gain or t*e intent to in2ure a t*ird -erson &"r t$e
reas" t$at i t$e &alsi'#ati" "& a !ubli# d"#u4et* t$e !rinci!al thing !unished is
the violation of the !ulic faith and the destruction of the truth as t$erei s"le4ly
!r"#lai4ed.
APP(ICATION
TION TO T6E CASE
C ASE
APP(ICA
etiti"er,s v"lutary a#ts "&; 5a signing as )itness t" t$e t$ree
etiti"er,s
t$ ree atedated
"tari:ed deeds "& abs"lute sale* attesti% t$at t$e Grada s!"uses* as ved"rs*
si%ed t$e sa4e i $is !rese#e* +$e t$er
t$ere
e is !r"bable #ause t" believe t$at su#$
si%atures +ere &alsi'edK ad 5b kno)ing&$ ,ausing t*e registration "& t$e
t$ree &alsi'ed deeds +it$ t$e Re%ister "& (eeds t" ee#t t$e #a#ellati" "& t$e "ld
T
TCT
CTs
s ad t$e issua#e "& t$e e+ T
TCT
CTs
s i $is a4e ad t$e a4es "& $is sibli%s*
e<iden,e #a&i,e and )i&&'u& transgression o' t*e &a).
%u&ing:
etiti"
eti
ti" deied. CA (e#isi" ar4ed.
B(OC4 D !15 