Criminal Law Review

GR No: L-22032
Date: 4 March 1966
People v. Digoro
Facts:
Camolo Digoro and two other were charged with co!nter"eiting o" trea!r# and $an% note !nder &rticle 166 o" the R'C $e"ore the
C() o" Lanao* +!$e,!entl#- the cae wa .ro/iionall# dimied- !.on the .ro/incial "ical0 motion- with regard to the other
acc!ed* 1owe/er- an amended in"ormation wa "iled againt Camolo ca.tioned 2(or )llegal 'oeion o" Co!nter"eit 3rea!r# and
4an% Note2* 3he $od# o" the amended in"ormation read- in .art: 53hat on or a$o!t the 2nd da# o" 6!ne- 1979 and "or ometime
.rior thereto- in the M!nici.al Ditrict o" 3ara%a- 'ro/ince o" Lanao del +!r- 'hili..ine- and within the 8!ridiction o" thi 1onora$le
Co!rt- the aid acc!ed- did then and there will"!ll#- !nlaw"!ll# and "elonio!l#- with intent to .oe- ha/e in hi .oeion-
c!tod# and control- 100-.eo $ill- 20-.eo $ill- 10-.eo $ill- 7-.eo $ill- 2-.eo $ill and 1-'eo $ill denomination in reem$lance or
imilit!de to a gen!ine trea!r# or $an% note i!ed $# the Go/ernment o" the Re.!$lic o" the 'hili..ine9Contrar# to and in
/iolation o" &rticle 16: o" the Re/ied 'enal Code*;
Camolo .leaded g!ilt# and wa entenced to !""er im.rionment o" not more than ten <10= #ear and one <1= da# and not le than
i> <6= #ear and one <1= da# and to .a# the cot* 1owe/er- Camolo !$e,!entl# a..ealed hi con/iction on the gro!nd that the
amended in"ormation to which he .leaded g!ilt# doe not charge an o""ene*
Issue: ?hether Camolo ma# $e con/icted "or /iolation o" &rticle 16: !nder the amended in"ormation*
Held: No* 'oeion o" "ale trea!r# or $an% note alone- witho!t an#thing more- i not a criminal o""ene* (or it to contit!te an
o""ene !nder &rticle 16:- the .oeion m!t $e with intent to !e aid "ale trea!r# or $an% note* &n in"ormation alleging
.oeion o" "ale trea!r# and $an% note witho!t alleging intent to !e the ame $!t onl# 2intent to .oe2 them- charge no
o""ene*
& .lea o" g!ilt# to !ch an in"ormation there"ore doe not warrant con/iction o" the acc!ed* )t i well recogni@ed that a .lea o" g!ilt#
i an admiion onl# o" the material allegation o" the in"ormation $!t not that the "act th! alleged contit!te an o""ene* (rom the
allegation in the in"ormation to which the acc!ed .leaded g!ilt#- intent to !e cannot $e clearl# in"erred* )t i tr!e it wa tated that
the acc!ed .oeed the "ale trea!r# and $an% note 2!nlaw"!ll# and "elonio!l# *** Contrar# to and in /iolation o" &rticle 16: o"
the Re/ied 'enal Code2* +!ch tatement- howe/er- are not allegation o" "act $!t mere concl!ion that the "act alleged
contit!te the o""ene o!ght to $e charged* (!rthermore- the in"ormation alleged 2intent to .oe2 intead o" intent to !e* +!ch
allegation .recl!de clear in"erence o" intent to !e- in the a$ence o" e>.re allegation o" the latter- ince intent to !e entail
intent to .art with the .oeion* 3h!- the 8!dgment o" con/iction m!t $e et aide and the cae ho!ld $e remanded "or new
.roec!tion !nder an a..ro.riate and /alid in"ormation*
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