SECOND DIVISION

[G.R. No. 132926. July 20, 2001]

ELVIRA AGULLO, petitioner, vs. SANDIGANBAYAN a ! "EO"LE O# $%E "%ILI""INES, respondents. DE&ISION
BUENA, J.:

Charged with, tried and convicted in Criminal Case No. 1357 !or malversation o! "#$lic !#nds, herein "etitioner Elvira %g#llo, erstwhile Dis$#rsing O!!icer o! the then &inistr' o! (#$lic )or*s and +ighwa's ,&()+-, .egional O!!ice No. VIII, Candah#g, (alo, /e'te, now comes $e!ore the +igh Co#rt to assail the Decisioni011 o! the Sandigan$a'an "rom#lgated on 12 &arch 1 3, and its .esol#tion dated 11 &arch 1 4, den'ing "etitioner5s motion !or reconsiderationii031 $#t red#cing the "enalt' im"osed on "etitioner as !ollows6
7'%ERE#ORE, the Co#rt !inds the acc#sed Elvira S. %g#llo g#ilt' $e'ond reasona$le do#$t o! the crime o! &alversation o! (#$lic 8#nds, de!ined and "enali9ed #nder %rticle 317, "aragra"h : o! the .evised (enal Code. 0;here $eing neither mitigating nor aggravating circ#mstances, no evidence having $een add#ced res"ecting "artial or !#ll restit#tion o! the amo#nt malversed,1 &o ()!*+) , -.* a/(* 0* o1 a y a,,+a2a-) , 0)+0u3(-a 0*( a ! .*+ 1ull +*(-)-u-)o /y (ala+y !*!u0-)o , the acc#sed Elvira S. %g#llo sho#ld $e, as she is, here$' sentenced to the indeterminate "enalt' o!, !rom ;EN ,1<- =E%.S and ONE ,1- D%= o! (.ISION &%=O., as &INI&>&? to 0EI@+;EEN ,14=E%.S, EI@+; ,4- &ON;+S %ND ONE ,1- D%= O8 .EC/>SION ;E&(O.%/1 SEVEN$EEN 4156 YEARS, #OUR 476 8ON$%S a ! ONE 416 DAY o1 RE&LUSION $E8"ORAL, AS 8A9I8U8, with the accessor' "enalties o! the law? to "a' a !ine in the s#m o! (32,:<:.32 witho#t s#$sidiar' im"risonment in case o! insolvenc'? to s#!!er the "enalt' o! (er"et#al S"ecial DisA#ali!ication and to "a' the costs.B ,Em"hasis o#rs-

In an in!ormationiii031 dated 3< Se"tem$er 1 44, herein "etitioner was charged with the crime o! malversation o! "#$lic !#nds, committed as !ollows6
7;hat on or a$o#t the "eriod Octo$er 33, 1 45 to C#l' 1:, 1 42, incl#sive or within said dates in the &#nici"alit' o! (alo, (rovince o! /e'te, (hili""ines, and within the D#risdiction o! the +onora$le Co#rt, the a$oveEnamed acc#sed, $eing then the dis$#rsing o!!icer o! then &inistr' o! (#$lic )or*s and +ighwa's, .egional O!!ice No. VIII, Candah#g, (alo, /e'te, charged with the o!!icial c#stod' o! "#$lic !#nds th#s "aid, collected and received $' her in her o!!icial ca"acit', and $' reason o! which d#ties she is acco#nta$le thereo!, ta*ing advantage o! her o!!icial "osition, did then and there wil!#ll', #nlaw!#ll' and !elonio#sl' ta*e, convert and misa""ro"riate !or her own "ersonal #se and $ene!it the "#$lic !#nds she had in her "ossession in the amo#nt o! ;went' SiF ;ho#sand 8o#r +#ndred 8o#r (esos and 32G1<< ,"26,707.26-, $elonging to the government o! the .e"#$lic o! the (hili""ines, to the damage and "reD#dice o! the latter in the a!orestated amo#nt. 7Contrar' to law.B

>"on arraignment, herein "etitioner %g#llo, assisted $' counsel de officio %ntonio &an9ano, "leaded not g#ilt'iv0:1 to the charge, a!ter which the Sandigan$a'an cond#cted a "reEtrial on 11 8e$r#ar' 1 < and iss#ed the !ollowing (reE;rial Order6v051
7)hen this case was called !or "reEtrial, the acc#sed "ersonall' and thro#gh her co#nsel %tt'. %ntonio &an9ano o! the C/%O readil' entered into (-):ula-)o ( inso!ar as her o11)0)al :o()-)o ) ,o2*+ 3* - as well as the 1a0- o1 au!)- o1 .*+ a00ou -( are concerned, incl#ding therewith the admission that, in all res"ects the Cash (rod#ction Notice and the EFamination o! her Cash and %cco#nts which the government mar*ed as EFhi$it H%5 was !aith!#l re"rod#ction o! the original, and inso!ar as the contents thereo! are concerned, are correct. ;he acc#sed li*ewise admitted that she had received a l*--*+ o1 !*3a !, said letter dated C#l' 1:, 1 42 mar*ed as eFhi$it HI5. )ith this the acc#sed stated that her

!*1* (* ;a( :+*3)(*! o .*+ .a2) , (u11*+*! a (-+o<* o O0-o/*+ 22, 19=> a( a +*(ul- o1 ;.)0. -.* a3ou - (u/?*0o1 -.* (.o+-a,* 1ou ! ) .*+ au!)- .a! /** lo(-. 7;he acc#sed also indicated that not onl' had she immediatel' re"lied to the letter $' vario#s comm#nications $' her or in her $ehal! "rotesting the witholding o! vario#s amo#nts d#e her $' wa' o! salaries on the "remise that the loss o! the amo#nt s#$Dect matter o! the In!ormation was not chargea$le to her as a "ersonal lia$ilit'. ;he acc#sed has li*ewise in!ormed the Co#rt that "rior to the incident on Octo$er 33, 1 45, she had $een au!)-*! o 8ay 25, 19=> a !, a1-*+ -.* ) 0)!* -, o D*0*3/*+ 23, 19=> al-.ou,. (.* 0o 0*!*( (.* ;a( al(o au!)-*! o July 17, 19=6. 7Considering that all the doc#ments necessar' !or the de!ense o! the acc#sed are still to $e organi9ed, %tt'. &an9ano is given ten ,1<- da's !rom toda' within which to "re"are a "ro"osal !or sti"#lations o! !acts and, i! that is not "ossi$le, at least a com"lete o#tline o! his case together with the mar*ing o! the doc#ments he wishes to "resent which the "rosec#tion might not admit as to the s#$stance thereo! tho#gh the gen#ineness o! the doc#ments "resented might $e conceded. 7)ith the a$ove, the "rosec#tion ma' now rest its case and the "resentation o! the evidence !or the de!ense ma' ta*e "lace on %"ril 5 and 2, and &a' 17 and 14, 1 <, at 46<< o5 cloc* in the morning and 36<< o5 cloc* in the a!ternoon. 7;he setting !or tomorrow is cancelled. 7SO O.DE.ED.B ,Em"hasis o#rs-

%s $orne $' the records, the charge o! malversation against "etitioner germinated !rom an a#dit cond#cted on 1: C#l' 1 42 $' Ignacio @ere9, %#diting EFaminer III, as a res#lt o! which a (32,:<:.32 cash shortage was discovered on "etitioner5s acco#nta$ilit'. On the same date, @ere9 in!ormed "etitioner o! said !inding o! cash shortage and reA#ired the latter, thro#gh a letter o! demand,vi021 to 7"rod#ce immediatel' the missing !#nds.B 8#rther, "etitioner was reA#ired to s#$mit within 73 ho#rs !rom recei"t a written eF"lanation o! the cash shortage. In a lettervii071 dated 35 %#g#st 1 42, addressed to the .esident %#ditor o! the &()+, "etitioner com"lied with the directive $' eF"laining that the cash shortage was, in e!!ect, d#e to a 7!ort#ito#s eventB where the amo#nt co#ld have $een stolenGta*en $' some$od' on the da' she s#!!ered a stro*e on 33 Octo$er 1 45, near the corner o! C#an /#na Street and Imelda %ven#e, ;aclo$an Cit'. In the co#rse o! the "reEtrial, "etitioner %g#llo conceded the !act o! a#dit and admitted viii041 the !indings in the .e"ort o! Cash EFamination and the !acts set !orth in the /etter o! Demand. In e!!ect, she admitted the !act o! shortage in the amo#nt stated in the In!ormation. Notwithstanding, "etitioner %g#llo, at all stages o! the criminal indictment, "ersistentl' "ro!essed her innocence o! the charge and categoricall' denied having malversed or converted the "#$lic !#nds in A#estion !or her own "ersonal #se or $ene!it.iF0 1 )ith "etitioner5s admission o! the !act o! cash shortage, the "rosec#tion then rested its case. F01<1 8or its "art, the de!ense, in its $id to overt#rn the "res#m"tion o! malversation and shatter the "rima !acie evidence o! conversion, o!!ered the testimon' o! the !ollowing witnesses6 "etitioner Elvira %g#llo? .ene Iriones %#stero, Cashier III o! the De"artment o! (#$lic )or*s and +ighwa's ,D()+-, .egion VIII? and Engracia Cam"osanoE Camao', Iaranga' Ca"tain o! +ina$#'an, Dagame, /e'te. D#ring trial, the de!ense o!!ered to "resent the testimon' o! witness %#stero !or the "#r"ose o! "roving that an amo#nt eA#al to "26,522.0>Fi0111 was withheld !rom the salar' and other com"ensation o! "etitioner %g#llo. 8#rther, the de!ense o!!ered the testimon' o! witness Iaranga' Ca"tain Camao' !or the "#r"ose o! esta$lishing that 7the acc#sed s#!!ered a heart attac* ,stro*e- on Octo$er 33, 1 45? that on C#ne 3<, 1 42, the acc#sed in!ormed her that the acc#sed lost the mone' !or which she ,was $eing- s#$Dected to criminal "rosec#tion F F F? and that $etween Octo$er 33, 1 45 and C#ne 3<, 1 42, there had $een no demand #"on the acc#sed to "rod#ce the mone' !or which she was declared short.BFii0131 %dditionall', the de!ense "resented the !ollowing doc#mentar' evidence, Fiii0131 all o! which were admitted $' the Sandigan$a'an6
7E@.)/)- A1B E /etter dated 35 %#g#st 1 42 $' acc#sed to the .esident %#ditor &()+, .egional O!!ice No. 4, Candah#g, (alo, /e'te?

7E@.)/)- A2B E /etter dated 33 %#g#st 1 47 $' acc#sed to Engr. %l!redo (. ;orres, .egional Director? 7E@.)/)- A3BE &edical Certi!icate dated <5 %#g#st 1 42, iss#ed $' Dr. C#an ;. %$ando, &.D., St. (a#l5s +os"ital, ;aclo$an Cit'? 7E@.)/)- A3CAB J Veri!ied &edical Certi!icate dated 1 Can#ar' 1 42, iss#ed $' Dr. C#an %$ando, notari9ed on "age <3? 7E@.)/)- A7BC /etter dated 32 Decem$er 1 42 $' acc#sed to the .egional Director? 7E@.)/)- A>B J /etter dated 1 8e$r#ar' 1 47 to the .egional Director $' %tt'. Eric ;. De Ve'ra? 7E@.)/)- A6B J /etter dated 15 %"ril 1 47 $' acc#sed to the .egional Director? 7E@.)/)- A5B J /etter dated <1 Se"tem$er 1 47 o! Director %l!redo ;orres o! D()+ to the .egional Director CO%? 7E@.)/)- A=B J /etter o! %cc#sed dated 32 Novem$er 1 47? 7E@.)/)- A9B J %!!idavit o! acc#sed Elvira %g#llo? 7E@.)/)- A10BC %!!idavit o! witness Engracia Camao'? 7E@.)/)- A11B J /etterE.eA#est dated <: &a' 1 44 o! acc#sed to the .egional Director? 7E@.)/)- A12B J Certi!ication $' &a#ricio (acatang? 7E@.)/)- A13B J (rotest o! acc#sed against the a""ointment o! S'lvia de la .osa? 7E@.)/)- A17BC /etter dated 35 8e$r#ar' 1 47 to the &anager, Em"lo'ees Com"ensation De"artment, @SIS, &etro &anila? 7E@.)/)- A1>B J Initial %""roval o! the Em"lo'ees Com"ensation De"artment, @SIS? 7E@.)/)- A16B J +os"itali9ation Claim !or "a'ment o! acc#sed? 7E@.)/)- A15B J .e"ort o! InD#r' signed and a""roved $' (a$lo (. I#rgos, .egional Engineering Coordinator and +ead o! O!!ice? 7E@.)/)- A1=B J Certi!ication iss#ed $' (NI ;aclo$an, thr# its %sst. &anager I./. ;elmo? 7E@.)/)- A19B J &emorand#m to acc#sed dated <3 %"ril 1 4:? 7E@.)/)- A20B J &emorand#m dated <5 &a' 1 <.B

%t the witness stand, "etitioner %g#llo #nrelentingl' maintained her innocence and vehementl' denied the acc#sation against her. ;h#s, according to "etitioner, in the morning o! 31 Octo$er 1 45, she re"orted !or wor* and "re"ared an inventor' o! her cash acco#nta$ilit'Fiv01:1 as Dis$#rsing O!!icerFv0151 o! the &()+ .egional O!!ice, Candah#g, (alo, /e'te. On the same da', "etitioner received aro#nd thirteen ,13- chec*s in the !orm o! cash advances in her name totaling "26,056.=5,Fvi0121 which amo#nt re"resented salaries o! &()+ o!!icials and em"lo'ees. %ro#nd 163< (&, "etitioner, together with IenDamin Veridiano, driver o! &()+ 8inance and &anagement Division, "roceeded to the (hili""ine National Ian* ,(NI- ;aclo$an Cit' Iranch, on $oard the &()+ o!!icial vehicle, to encash the a!oresaid chec*s. >"on encashment o! the chec*s, "etitioner then "#t the mone' inside a (NI envelo"e which she !#rther "laced in her $ag. 8rom the (NI, "etitionerEE who $oarded the o!!icial vehicle driven $' Veridiano !or the "#r"ose o! "roceeding !#rther to the &()+ .egional O!!iceK!elt di99iness, chest "ain and na#sea. %s a res#lt o! her condition, "etitioner %g#llo reA#ested driver Veridiano to dro" her o!! at "etitioner5s residence located at 1< C#an /#na StreetEE a$o#t hal! a *ilometer awa' !rom the (NI.Fvii0171 In the morning o! the !ollowing da', 33 Octo$er 1 45, "etitioner J #"on reali9ing that it was then the thirdE wee* "a'da' o! the month, and $#rdened with the tho#ght that she !ailed to give the salar' o! the "ermanent em"lo'ees J strove to re"ort !or wor* des"ite her wea* "h'sical condition. (etitioner %g#llo testi!ied that she le!t her residence alone and $ro#ght with her the $ag containing the mone' which she encashed the "revio#s

da' !rom the (NI.Fviii0141 >"on leaving the ho#se with the mone' inside her $ag, she wal*ed the stretch o! C#an /#na Street and was a$le to reach almost the corner o! C#an /#na and Imelda %ven#e FiF01 1 a distance o! aro#nd 5< meters awa' !rom her residenceFF03<1 when she was stric*en with dee" chest "ainFFi0311 and eF"erienced di99iness? her vision $l#rred and 7the right "art o! ,her- $od' ,$ecame- heav'B to the "oint that she 7co#ld not move an'more.B %t this "oint, she colla"sed and lost conscio#sness.FFii0331 In the a!ternoon o! the same da', she !o#nd hersel! in a hos"ital $ed o! St. (a#l5s +os"ital located a$o#t a $loc* awa' !rom "etitioner5s residence. >"on inA#ir', she was in!ormed that a certain &etro ;aclo$an %ide $' the name o! ;eresa /oren9o came to her resc#e when she !ainted, assisted in r#shing her to the hos"ital, and in!ormed her !amil' a$o#t %g#llo5s dire condition and the #n!ort#nate event that $e!ell her.FFiii0331 (etitioner was con!ined in St. (a#l5s +os"ital !or over a wee* J !rom 33 Octo$er 1 45 to <1 Novem$er 1 45 FFiv03:1 E #nder the care o! her attending "h'sician, Dr. C#an %$ando, who iss#ed the corres"onding &edical Certi!icate "regnant with the !ollowing !indings6
7L L L +'"ertension com"licated with Cere$ro Vasc#lar %ccident ,CV%-, .t. +emi"aresis and >rinar' In!ection. 7Condition started a""arentl' 3< hrs. $e!ore admission as moderate headache and di99iness, associated with $l#rring o! vision and na#sea. 8i!teen hrs. "rior to admission, she !elt wea*ness o! her right hal! o! her $od' and sl#rring o! s"eech. +ad histor' o! high $lood "ress#re ta*en last %"ril 1 45. IG(M 1 <G13<. On admission IG(M was 33<G13<? (.M 43Gmin.? ..M 3<Gmin. 7"*+-) * - 1) !) ,(6 conscio#s, coherent, sl#rred s"eech, rt. +emi"legia. 7D)a, o()(D M &alignant h'"ertension. M CV% with .ight +emi"legia. M >rinar' ;ract In!ection.B

%s to "etitioner5s medical histor' and "h'sical condition a!ter her stroke, the Sandigan$a'an, in its decision, o$served !rom the records6
7L L L In the "ast, the acc#sed had li*ewise s#!!ered a stro*e and had #ndergone medical treatment. % medical certi!icate, mar*ed as EFhi$its 73B and 73E%B, attest,s- to the !act that she had a histor' o! high $lood "ress#re and had $een #ndergoing treatment !or the said malad'. Since her s#dden $rea*down on Octo$er 33, 1 45, the right "art o! her $od' $ecame "aral'9ed and her s"eech has $een im"aired. She was advised $' her doctor to #ndergo "h'sical thera"' and to ta*e medicine reg#larl'. She was advised not to re"ort !or wor* d#ring s#ch time that she was #nder rec#"eration. Onl' on 8e$r#ar' 3, 1 42 did she start to re"ort !or wor*, altho#gh at irreg#lar intervals, #ntil the date o! the a#dit, C#l' 1:, 1 42.B

Stri*ing down the de!ense as 7incredible and without basis, the Sandigan$a'an rendered its assailed decision, convicting "etitioner %g#llo o! the crime o! malversation o! "#$lic !#nds, ratiocinating "rinci"all' that no evidence has been presented linking the loss of the government funds with the alleged sudden heart attack of the accused (herein petitioner). )e do not agree. I' and large, the "ieces o! evidence "resented against "etitioner in this case do not !#l!ill the test o! moral certaint' and ma' not $e deemed s#!!icient to s#""ort a conviction. FFv0351 .ecords reveal that evidence !or the "rosec#tion consisted solel' o! the R*:o+- o1 &a(. E@a3) a-)o ,FFvi0321 dated 1: C#l' 1 42, which was "resented $' the "rosec#tion to "rove the cash shortage in the amo#nt o! (32,:<:.32, on "etitioner %g#llo5s acco#nta$ilit' as Dis$#rsing O!!icer o! the then &()+. /i*ewise, the "rosec#tion "resented the L*--*+ o1 D*3a !FFvii0371 dated 1: C#l' 1 42 signed $' %#diting EFaminer III Ignacio @ere9. %side !rom the a!orementioned doc#ments, the :+o(*0u-)o o:-*! o- -o :+*(* - a () ,l* ;)- *(( to $#ttress its $id !or conviction and +*l)*! 3*+*ly o -.* prima facie evidence of conversion o+ presumption of malversation #nder %rticle 317, "aragra"h ,:- o! the .evised (enal Code, to wit6

7%.;. 317. &alversation o! "#$lic !#nds or "ro"ert'K(res#m"tion o! malversationK L L L 7;he !ail#re o! a "#$lic o!!icer to have d#l' !orthcoming an' "#$lic !#nds or "ro"ert' with which he is chargea$le, #"on demand $' an' d#l' a#thori9ed o!!icer, shall $e :+)3a 1a0)* *2)!* 0* -.a- .* .a( :u- (u0. 3)(() , 1u !( o+ :+o:*+-y -o :*+(o al u(*(.B

Stated otherwise, the evidence !or the "rosec#tion, #"on which the Sandigan$a'an riveted its D#dgment o! conviction, was limited to doc#ments to wit, the .e"ort o! Cash EFamination and /etter o! Demand. %s co#ld $e readil' gleaned !rom the assailed decision, the verdict adD#dging herein "etitioner g#ilt' o! the crime o! malversation was anchored solel' on the "res#m"tion "rovided #nder %rticle 317, "aragra"h : o! the .evised (enal Code, which prima facie evidence, in t#rn, was rooted loosel' on the doc#mentar' evidence "resented $' the "rosec#tion, to wit? the .e"ort o! Cash EFamination and /etter o! DemandK"ieces o! evidence which the de!ense concededl' admitted, $#t which, to o#r mind, do not s#!!ice to convict the "etitioner $e'ond reasona$le do#$t o! the crime charged. ;h#s, in a string o! categorical "rono#ncements, this Co#rt has consistentl' and em"haticall' r#led that the presumption of conversion incarnated in %rticle 317, "aragra"h ,:- o! the .evised (enal Code is K $' its ver' nat#re K re$#tta$le. ;o "#t it di!!erentl', the "res#m"tion #nder the law is not concl#sive $#t !)(:u-a/l* /y satisfactory evidence to the e!!ect that the acc#sed did not #tili9e the "#$lic !#nds or "ro"ert' !or his "ersonal #se, gain or $ene!it. %ccordingl', i! the acc#sed is a$le to "resent adequate evidence -.a- 0a nullify any likelihood -.a- .* .a! :u- -.* 1u !( o+ :+o:*+-y -o :*+(o al u(* , then that "res#m"tion wo#ld $e at an end and the prima facie case is e!!ectivel' negated. ;his Co#rt has re"eatedl' said that when the a$sence o! !#nds is o- !u* -o -.* :*+(o al u(* -.*+*o1 /y -.* a00u(*!, the "res#m"tion is com"letel' destro'ed? in !act, the "res#m"tion is never deemed to have eFisted at all.FFviii0341 %""l'ing the !oregoing "rinci"le, the "rosec#tion in the instant case #"on whose $#rden, as in Dia vs. !andiganbayan,FFiF03 1 was laden the tas* o! esta$lishing $' "roo! $e'ond reasona$le do#$t that "etitioner had committed the o!!ense charged, mainl' relied on the stat#tor' "res#m"tion a!oresaid and 1a)l*! -o :+*(* - a y
(u/(-a -)al :)*0* o1 *2)!* 0* -o ) !)0a-* -.a- :*-)-)o *+ .a! u(*! -.* 1u !( 1o+ :*+(o al ,a) .

)orth noting is that the Sandigan$a'an, in its im"#gned decision, admitted that conversion or the placing of malversed government funds to personal uses has, indeed, not been proven in the case at bar.FFF03<1 (erha"s reali9ing s#ch ga"ing hole, the Sandigan$a'an nonetheless lea"ed into the concl#sion, al$eit erroneo#s, that herein "etitioner was D#st the same g#ilt' o! malversation invo*ing the "rima !acie evidence stated in %rticle 317, "aragra"h ,:- o! the .evised (enal Code. On this score, the r#le o! general a""lication is that the !act#al !indings o! the Sandigan$a'an are concl#sive on this co#rt. +owever, s#ch r#le admits o! settled eFce"tions, among others6 ,1- the concl#sion is a !inding gro#nded entirel' on s"ec#lation, s#rmise and conDect#res? ,3- the in!erence made is mani!estl' mista*en? ,3- there is grave a$#se o! discretion? ,:- the D#dgment is $ased on misa""rehension o! !acts? and ,5the !indings o! !act o! the Sandigan$a'an are "remised on a want o! evidence and are contradicted $' evidence on record.FFFi0311 On this matter, the Sandigan$a'an5s concl#sion that 7-.*+* )( o *2)!* 0* to show that the acc#sed was then carr'ing the s#m o! (32,:<:.32 in her "erson when she allegedl' colla"sed at C#an /#na Street, ;aclo$an Cit',B is to sa' the least, witho#t !act#al $asis and not d#l' s#""orted $' evidence. On the star* contrar', the records are eFtant, as "etitioner %g#llo, in !act, testi!ied on the witness stand that she had the mone' with her when she s#!!ered a stro*e and colla"sed on the streets o! ;aclo$an Cit' on 33 Octo$er 1 45. .ecords li*ewise reveal that the amo#nt o! (337.3 , which is the di!!erence $etween (32,:<:.32 FFFii0331 and (32,<72.47,FFFiii0331 re"resents the salar' o! &r. %lco$er, Cr., %dministrative O!!icer o! the D()+ in Candah#g, who made a tele"hone call to "etitioner !or the latter to $ring the s#m o! (337.3 , together with the "a'roll. In the case $e!ore #s, the Sandigan$a'an #ndo#$tedl' disregarded or overloo*ed certain evidence o! s#$stance which, to a large eFtent, $ear considera$le weight in the adD#dication o! "etitioner5s g#ilt or the

a!!irmation o! her constit#tional right to $e "res#med innocent #ntil "roven otherwise. >"on thoro#gh scr#tin' o! the evidence add#ced $' $oth "rosec#tion and de!ense, we hold that "etitioner %g#llo has satis!actoril' overcome and re$#tted $' com"etent "roo!, the prima facie evidence o! conversion so as to eFonerate her !rom the charge o! malversation. ;o this end, "etitioner "resented evidence that satis!actoril' "rove that not a single centavo o! the missing !#nds was #sed !or her own "ersonal $ene!it or gain. ;r#e eno#gh, the evidence add#ced $' the de!ense reveals s#!!icient circ#mstances to esta$lish the strongest degree o! "ro$a$ilit' that the "#$lic !#nds s#$Dect o! the criminal indictment !or malversation was lost d#ring that !ate!#l da' o! 33 Octo$er 1 45, where "etitioner %g#llo s#!!ered a stro*e on the streets o! ;aclo$an Cit' as she was then on her wa' to the &()+ .egional O!!ice. In !act, the records tho#gh insensate, clearl' reveal that the "rosec#tion admitted that "etitioner s#!!ered a stro*e on the streets o! ;aclo$an on 33 Octo$er 1 45. %s to the "rosec#tion5s allegation that no evidence eFists regarding loss o! the "#$lic !#nds, this "ost#lation is $elied $' the records as "etitioner hersel! testi!ied on the stand that she had the mone' s#$Dect o! inA#ir' when she colla"sed and lost conscio#sness as a res#lt o! the stro*e. ;o #s, this circ#mstance J co#"led with the other "ec#liarities attendant in the instant case and !#rther considering the "al"a$le !ail#re o! the "rosec#tion to add#ce other evidence to clearl' esta$lish conversion J suffice to make the mind uneasy as to %g#llo5s guilt, notwithstanding the prima facie evidence established by law against herein "etitioner, which by no means dispenses with the need of proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt."FFFiv03:1 %!ter all, mere a$sence o! !#nds is not s#!!icient "roo! o! conversion. Neither is the mere !ail#re o! the acc#sed to t#rn over the !#nds at an' given time s#!!icient to ma*e even a prima facie case. Conversion m#st $e a!!irmativel' "roved, either $' direct evidence or $' the "rod#ction o! !acts !rom which conversion necessaril' !ollows.FFFv0351 ;r#l', these serve as strong considerations that serio#sl' im"air the $asis #"on which is !o#nded the legal "res#m"tion o! "ersonal misa""ro"riation o! mone' or "ro"ert' o! acco#nta$le o!!icers who !ail to have !orthcoming, s#ch mone' or "ro"ert' when so demanded $' a d#l' a#thori9ed o!!icial. FFFvi0321 Veril', a !inding o! prima facie evidence o! acco#nta$ilit' does not shatter the "res#m"tive innocence the acc#sed enDo's $eca#se, $e!ore prima facie evidence arises, 7certain !acts 0have still to $e1 "rovedB? the trial co#rt cannot de"end alone on s#ch an evidence, $eca#se "recisel', it is merel' "rima !acie. It m#st still satis!' that the acc#sed is g#ilt'K $e'ond reasona$le do#$tKo! the o!!ense charged. Neither can it rel' on the wea* de!ense the latter ma' add#ce.FFFvii0371 Nota$l', the Sandigan$a'an, in convicting "etitioner, o$vio#sl' relied more on the !laws and de!iciencies in the evidence "resented $' the de!ense, not on the strength and merit o! the "rosec#tion5s evidence. FFFviii0341 ;his co#rse o! action is im"ermissi$le !or the evidence o! the "rosec#tion clearl' cannot s#stain a conviction 7in an #n"reD#diced mind.BFFFiF03 1 %ll told, this Co#rt, thro#gh the scholarl' ponencia o! &r. C#stice Isagani Cr#9 in "eople vs. De #u man,Fl 0:<1 in*ed in vivid "rose the "remi#m accorded to the right o! an acc#sed to $e "res#med innocent #ntil the contrar' is "roved, to wit6
7;he constit#tional "res#m"tion o! innocence is not an em"t' "latit#de meant onl' to em$ellish the Iill o! .ights. Its "#r"ose is to $alance the scales in what wo#ld otherwise $e an #neven contest $etween the lone individ#al "itted against the (eo"le o! the (hili""ines and all the reso#rces at their command. Its ineFora$le mandate is that, !or all the a#thorit' and in!l#ence o! the "rosec#tion, the acc#sed m#st $e acA#itted and set !ree i! his g#ilt cannot $e "roved $e'ond the whis"er o! do#$t.B

+ence, in light o! the satis!actor' eF"lanation "ro!!ered $' the de!ense and in view o! the im"otenc' o! the "rosec#tion5s evidence, "etitioner5s constit#tional right to $e "res#med innocent necessaril' thrives. Corollaril', the prima facie evidence o! conversion in the instant case, withers, so to s"ea*, li*e a "etri!ied twig wilted in the scorching heat o! the noonda' s#n. '%ERE#ORE, "remises considered, the instant "etition is granted. A&&ORDINGLY, the decision o!

res"ondent Sandigan$a'an dated 12 &arch 1 3 and its .esol#tion dated 14 &arch 1 4, are here$' REVERSED and SE$ ASIDE. (etitioner Elvira %g#llo is here$' A&EUI$$ED on gro#nds o! reasona$le do#$t. 8OREOVER, the D()+ is here$' directed to re!#nd "etitioner the s#m o! ;hree +#ndred Seventeen (esos and Sevent' Nine Centavos ,(317.7 - re"resenting the amo#nt overded#cted !rom "etitioner5s salar', cost o! living allowance and other emol#ments. SO ORDERED. Bellosillo (Chairman , !endo"a, and #e $eon, %%., conc#r. &uisumbing, %., on o!!icial $#siness.

dt'earch (.)* (()+,

i011 ii031

Decision o! Sandigan$a'an, 1st Division, "rom#lgated on 12 &arch 1 &otion !or .econsideration dated 37 &arch 1 .ecords, "". 1E3. Certi!icate o! %rraignment dated <3 %#g#st 1 4 ? .ecords ". 1 . .ecords, "". 32E37. EFhi$it 7IB. EFhi$it 71B. -ollo, ". 73? -ollo, ". 75. 3? -ollo, "". 57E23.

3? -ollo, "". 3 E52.

iii031 iv0:1 v051 vi021 vii071

viii041 iF0 1 F01<1 Fi0111 Fii0131

.bid, ". 72. .bid, ". 45. .bid, ". 3? EFhi$it 713B, Certi!ication dated < &a' 1 44 iss#ed $' &a#ricio (acatang. Decision, "".5E2? -ollo, "". :3E::. -ollo, "". :1E:3. -ollo, ". 1< .

Fiii0131 Fiv01:1 Fv0151

%t the time o! trial, "etitioner %g#llo was em"lo'ed as Cler* III at the De"artment o! (#$lic )or*s and +ighwa's? ;SN, <2 %"ril 1 <, ". 5? -ollo, ". 1<7.
Fvi0121

EFhi$it 14, Certi!ication dated 14 %#g#st 1 42 signed $' (hili""ine National Ian* ;aclo$an Cit' Iranch %ssistant &anager I./. ;elmo.
Fvii0171 Fviii0141 FiF01 1

-ollo, ". 113. ;SN, <2 %"ril 1 <, ". 11? .ollo. (. 11:. <, ". 11? -ollo, ".

%ro#nd siF ,2- meters !rom the corner o! C#an /#na Street and Imelda %ven#e? ;SN, <2 %"ril 1 .bid.

11:.
FF03<1 FFi0311

%6 7 L L L &asa*it na masa*itB, the chest "ain, ver' 7ma$igat ditoB ,witness "ointing to her chest- L L LB? ;SN <2 %"ril 1 <, ". 1<? -ollo, ". 113.
FFii0331 FFiii0331 FFiv03:1 FFv0351 FFvi0321 FFvii0371 FFviii0341

-ollo, ". 11:. ;SN, <2 %"ril 1 EFhi$it H35. %lvare9 vs. Sandigan$a'an, 3<1 SC.% 557 01 EFhi$it 7%.B EFhi$it 7I.B 11. <, ". 13? -ollo, ". 115.

Dia9 vs. Sandigan$a'an, 3<3 SC.% 114 01 1 citing >.S. vs. Catolico, 14 (hil. 5<:, >.S. vs. Elvina, 3: (hil 33<, N#i9o vs. Sandigan$a'an, 1: SC.% 1<4 01 471, &ahina' vs. Sandigan$a'an, 173 SC.% 337 01 4 1.
FFiF03 1 FFF03<1 FFFi0311

3<3 SC.% 114 01 -ollo, ". 5:.

1.

Dia9 vs. Sandigan$a'an, 3<3 SC.% 114 01 Sandigan$a'an, 13: SC.% 1<5 01 451.
FFFii0331

1? I#ga'ong vs. (eo"le, 3<3 SC.% 723 01

11 citing Cesar vs.

;he amo#nt o! cash shortage alleged in the In!ormation.

FFFiii0331 FFFiv03:1 FFFv0351 FFFvi0321 FFFvii0371

%mo#nt encashed at the (hili""ine National Ian*. @ali vs. Co#rt o! %""eals, 4 SC.% 324 01 4<1. >.S. vs. Catolico, 14 (hil. 5<: 01 111 cited in I#ga'ong vs. (eo"le, 3<3 SC.% 723 01 @ali vs. Co#rt o! %""eals, 4 SC.% 324 01 4<1. Ia$ida vs. (eo"le, 174 SC.% 3<: 01 4 1 citing (eo"le vs. &ingoa, 3 SC.% 452 01 531. I#ga'ong vs. (eo"le, 3<3 SC.% 723 01 11. 11.

FFFviii0341 FFFiF03 1

S*0-)o 2, Rul* 133, Rul*( o1 &ou+- "rovides, 7 "+oo1 /*yo ! +*a(o a/l* !ou/-. J In a criminal case, the acc#sed is entitled to an acA#ittal, #nless his g#ilt is shown $e'ond reasona$le do#$t. (roo! $e'ond reasona$le do#$t does not mean s#ch a degree o! "roo! as, eFcl#ding "ossi$ilit' o! error, "rod#ces a$sol#te certaint'. &oral certaint' onl' is reA#ired, or that degree o! "roo! which "rod#ces conviction in an unpre$udiced mind.B
Fl0:<1

1 : SC.% 2<1, 2<2 01

11.