Title
Andaya vs. People
Case
G.R. No. 168486
Decision Date
Jun 27, 2006
Noe S. Andaya, AFPSLAI president, was acquitted of falsification charges as the Supreme Court found insufficient proof of damage to AFPSLAI or intent to aid tax evasion, citing prosecutorial errors and constitutional violations.
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Case Digest (G.R. No. 168486)

Facts:

Background and Allegations:
Noe S. Andaya was the president and general manager of the Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association, Inc. (AFPSLAI) from 1986. Under his leadership, the Board of Trustees approved Resolution No. RS-88-006-048, establishing a Finders' Fee Program. This program entitled any officer, member, or employee (except investment counselors) who solicited an investment of at least P100,000.00 to a finder's fee of one percent of the amount solicited.

In 1991, the Central Bank raised concerns about AFPSLAI's financial stability, leading to an investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Andaya was subsequently charged with estafa through falsification of a commercial document. The information alleged that on April 8, 1991, Andaya caused the disbursement of P21,000.00 as a finder's fee to Diosdado J. Guilas, knowing that no such fee was due to Guilas. The amount was allegedly misappropriated by Andaya.

Trial and Evidence:
Diosdado Guilas, a general clerk of AFPSLAI, testified that he was informed of a P21,000.00 finder's fee in his name. He collected the amount and turned it over to Andaya. Judy Balangue, an investment clerk, testified that Andaya instructed him to prepare a Certificate of Capital Contribution in the name of Rosario Mercader for a P2,100,000.00 investment, with the finder's fee to be placed under Guilas’ name.

The defense argued that the finder's fee was legitimately owed to Ernesto Hernandez, who solicited the P2,100,000.00 investment from Rosario Mercader. Hernandez requested that the fee be placed under Guilas’ name to reduce his tax liability. Witnesses, including Hernandez, testified that the fee was rightfully claimed and that there was no prohibition under the Finders' Fee Program for substituting the name of the payee.

Rebuttal and Conviction:
The prosecution’s rebuttal witnesses claimed that Hernandez was ineligible for AFPSLAI membership. However, the defense countered that Hernandez’s membership was approved and that the P21,000.00 fee was legitimately owed to him.

The trial court convicted Andaya of falsification of a private document, finding that he caused it to appear Guilas was entitled to the finder's fee when it was actually owed to Hernandez. The court also held that the falsification was done with intent to cause damage to the government by aiding Hernandez in tax evasion. This decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeals.

Issue:

  1. Whether the Court of Appeals contradicted the trial court by stating Andaya was guilty of estafa through falsification of a commercial document instead of falsification of a private document.
  2. Whether the elements of falsification of a private document were proven beyond reasonable doubt.
  3. Whether the variance between the allegations in the information and the proof adduced during trial was material and prejudicial to Andaya.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Conclusion:

The Supreme Court granted the petition, reversed the Court of Appeals’ decision, and acquitted Andaya based on reasonable doubt. The trial court’s conviction violated Andaya’s constitutional rights and lacked sufficient proof of the elements of falsification of a private document.


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