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People v.

Mallari (GR no L-58886, Dec 13, 1998)


Facts: Consuelo Mallair together with 3 others were charged with Estafa thru Falsification of Public
Document due to the acts they committed when they feloniously defraud Julia S. Saclolo by offering her
the title of the land owned by Leonora Balderas as a collateral who was then in need of money. The said
title was forged and falsified before Celestino Hallazgo, notary public, by making it appear that Balderas
signed the document which Julia Saclolo paid for the amount of 1,500. The same also happened to
Remegio Tapawan. It was when Tapawan found out that he was tolled because the person who posed as
Leonora Balderas was a man by the name of Carlos Sunga that led to file the case against Mallari and 3
others involved. Petitioner Consuelo Mallari was sentenced to imprisonment before the CFI. Mallari
appealed before the Court of Appeals who affirmed the RTCs decision with modification as to the
penalty. She then contended that the said decision of CA put her twice in double jeopardy.

Issue: WON the acts done by Mallari constitute a continuing crime

Held: The court set aside the assailed decision of CA on the ground of double jeopardy.
A continued crime is a single crime consisting of a series of acts but all arising from one criminal
resolution. It is a continuous, unlawful act or series of acts set on foot by a single impulse and operated by
an unintermittent force. And although there are series of acts, there is only one crime committed hence
only one penalty shall be imposed.
The crime of estafa thru falsification of public document committed by Consuelo Mallari, although
consummated through a series of acts, was done by the single intent or impulse to defraud Remegio
Tapawan. And contrary to the appellate court's observation, there was only one deceit practiced by
petitioner on the two (2) victims, that being in need of money, Leonora Balderas was willing to mortgage
two (2) lots as security for a loan. It was, in fact, by mere play of fate that the second victim, Julia
Saclolo, should be dragged into the swindle by reason of Tapawan having only P1,500.00 at that time.
That there were two (2) victims, however, did not accordingly convert the crime into two separate
offenses, as the determinative factor is the unity or multiplicity of the criminal intent or of the transactions
for "the fact should not be lost sight of that it is the injury to the public which a criminal action seeks to
redress, and by such redress to prevent its repetition, and not the injury to individuals.
The singularity of the offense committed by Mallari is further demonstrated by the fact that the
falsification of the two (2) public documents as a means of committing estafa were performed on the same
date, in the same place, at the same time and on the same occasion. In the case of People v. de Leon, 10
the court held that the act of taking two or more roosters in the same place and on the same occasion is
dictated by only one criminal design and therefore, there is only one crime of theft even if the roosters are
owned by different persons.

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