Case Digest (G.R. No. 156541)
Facts:
- Petitioners: Luz Cajigas and Larry Cajigas.
- Case: Spouses Cajigas vs. People, G.R. No. 156541.
- Charges: Estafa under Article 315, paragraph 2 (d) of the Revised Penal Code, amended by Presidential Decree No. 818.
- Location: Ozamiz City, Philippines.
- Dates of alleged offenses: September 2 and October 14, 1989.
- Key event: Issuance of postdated checks to Daisy Fuentes, a businesswoman.
- Total amount of checks: P88,758.21 for jewelry purchases.
- Outcome: Checks dishonored due to insufficient funds; petitioners had closed their bank accounts.
- Trial Court: Found both petitioners guilty; Luz sentenced to reclusion perpetua and both ordered to indemnify Daisy Fuentes.
- Court of Appeals: Upheld the trial court's decision but modified penalties.
- Luz's defense: Claimed to have replaced dishonored checks with pawn tickets, which was disputed by Daisy Fuentes.
Issue:
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Ruling:
- The Supreme Court partially granted the petition.
- Luz Cajigas: Guilt affirmed for two counts of estafa; sentenced to an indeterminate penalty of six years and one day of prision mayor (minimum) to twenty-one years of reclusion perpetua (maximum) for Criminal Case No. RTC-1411, and six years and one day of prision mayor (minimum) to twenty-three years of reclusi...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Court found sufficient evidence of Luz's guilt; she admitted to issuing the checks and assured Daisy Fuentes they were funded.
- Essential elements of estafa were present: checks issued for obligations, insufficient funds, and damages incurred by Daisy.
- Luz's claim of replacing dishonored checks with pawn tic...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 156541)
Facts:
In the case of Spouses Cajigas vs. People, G.R. No. 156541, the petitioners, Luz Cajigas and Larry Cajigas, faced charges of estafa under Article 315, paragraph 2 (d) of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 818. The incidents occurred in Ozamiz City, Philippines, with the alleged offenses taking place on September 2 and October 14, 1989. The prosecution's case centered on the issuance of postdated checks by the petitioners to Daisy Fuentes, a businesswoman engaged in selling ready-to-wear clothing and jewelry. The total amount of the checks was P88,758.21, which were intended as payment for jewelry purchases. However, these checks were dishonored due to insufficient funds, as the petitioners had closed their bank accounts before issuing them. The Regional Trial Court found both Luz and Larry Cajigas guilty, sentencing Luz to reclusion perpetua and ordering both to indemnify Daisy Fuentes for her losses. The Court of Appeals upheld the trial court's decision but modified the penalties. Luz's defense argued that she had replaced the dishonored checks with pawn tickets, a claim that Daisy Fuentes disputed.
Issue:
The main issues raised in this case are:
- Whether Luz Cajigas is guilty beyond reasonable dou...