Aquino VS Paiste

JUANITA A.
AQUINO, petitioner,
vs.
TERESITA B. PAISTE, respondent.
G.R. No. 147782
June 25, 2008
VELASCO, JR., J.:
CASE FACTS:
At 9:00 o'clock in the morning of March 14, 1991, petitioner

Juanita Aquino, Elizabeth Garganta, and another woman identified only as
"Adeling," went to the house of respondent Teresita Paiste at 611 Peñalosa St.,
Tondo, Manila. The children of respondent and petitioner were grade school
classmates. After the usual pleasantries, petitioner started to convince
respondent to buy a gold bar owned by a certain Arnold, an Igorot. After
respondent was shown a sample of the gold bar, she agreed to go with them to a
pawnshop in Tondo to have it tested. She was told that it was genuine.
However, she told the three that she had no money.
Regardless, petitioner and Garganta went back to the house of respondent the
following day. The two convinced her to go with them to Angeles City, Pampanga
to meet Arnold and see the gold bar. They reached Angeles City and met Arnold
who showed them the gold bar. Arnold informed them that it was worth PhP
60,000. After respondent informed them again she had no money, petitioner
continued to press her that buying the gold bar would be good investment. The
three left and went home.On March 16, 1991, petitioner, Garganta, and Adeling
returned to the house of respondent. Again, they failed to convince her to buy
the gold bar. On the next day, the three returned, this time they told respondent
that the price was reduced to PhP 10,000. She agreed to go with them to
Angeles City to meet Arnold once more. Arnold pretended to refuse the PhP
10,000 offer and insisted on PhP 50,000.
On petitioner's insistence, on March 18, 1991, the two went to Angeles City and
bought the gold bar for PhP 50,000.
On March 19, 1991, respondent had the gold bar tested and she was informed
that it was fake. Respondent then proceeded to petitioner's house to inform the
latter that the gold bar was fake. Petitioner replied that they had to see
Garganta, and that she had nothing to do with the transaction. [3]
On March 27, 1991, respondent brought petitioner to the National Bureau of

Investigation (NBI)-NCR in the presence of a certain Atty. Tolentino where
petitioner amicably promised respondent they would locate Garganta, and the
document they both signed would be disregarded should they locate Garganta.
In view of the acceptance of fault by MRS. JUANITA ASIO-AQUINO of the
case/complaint filed by MRS. TERESITA PAISTE before the NBI-National
Capital Region for Swindling, Mrs. J. Aquino agreed to pay the complainant half
the amount swindled from the latter. Said P25,000.00 offered by Mrs. J. Aquino
as settlement for the case of Estafa will be paid by her through installment
scheme in the amount of P1,000.00 per month beginning from the month of
March, 1991 until fully paid.
On July 16, 1998, the trial court rendered a Decision convicting petitioner of
the crime charged, the Court finds the accused Juanita Aquino guilty beyond
reasonable doubt of the crime of Estafa.
The RTC found that petitioner conspired with Garganta, Adeling, and
Arnold in committing the crime of estafa. The trial court likewise gave credence
to the amicable settlement as additional proof of petitioner's guilt as an
amicable settlement in criminal cases is an implied admission of guilt.
ISSUE : Whether or Not the Lower court committed a lone error upon
convicting the accused.
WON there was a violation of the rights of the accused under custodial
investigation .
HELD:
NO, the lower court did not committed error in convicting the accused for the
crime of Estafa hence It Is Evident That When Petitioner Was Brought By
Respondent Before The Nbi-Ncr On March 27, 1991 To Be Investigated, She
Was Already Under Custodial Investigation And The Constitutional Guarantee
For Her Rights Under The Miranda Rule Has Set In. it is undisputed that she
was provided with counsel, in the person of Atty. Uy. The presumption that
Atty. Uy is a competent and independent counsel the accused never raised and
objection against the lawyer's appointment during the course of the
investigation and the accused thereafter subscribes to the veracity of his
statement before the swearing officer the accused is deemed to have engaged
such lawyer.when petitioner engaged Atty. Uy as her lawyer, she undoubte
Thus, the presence of Atty. Uy safeguarded petitioner's rights even if the
custodial investigation did not push through and precluded any threat of
violence, coercion, or intimidation.
Therefore their was no violation of the constitutional rights of the accused
because records shows that from the start of the investigation he was provided
with council.

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JUANITA A.

At 9:00 o'clock in the morning of March 14, 1991, petitioner

On March 27, 1991, respondent brought petitioner to the National Bureau of

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