FLORENDO B. ARIAS v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES. G.R. Nos.

237106-07,
June 10, 2019

Facts: Reimbursements were claimed and paid by DPWH in an amount totaling millions
of pesos covering 409 transactions for the emergency repairs of 39 DPWH vehicles. Of
the 409 transactions, 274 transactions were made in the name of accused Martinez.

Of the 39 vehicles, only the Mitsubishi L-200 was assigned to accused Martinez. The
others were assigned to other agencies or officials of the DPWH.

To support the issuance of the Disbursement Vouchers and checks for the
reimbursements by the DPWH, certain documents were submitted.

The Court finds Arias et al., guilty of Estafa Through Falsification Of Documents,
and Violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019.

Issues: WON the court erred in its decision in giving due course to the prosecution's
exhibits despite failure to present the original documents alleged to have been falsified.

Ruling: NO. The petition lacks merit. All the elements of the crime of Estafa through
Falsification of Documents were established by the prosecution.
The Court finds that all the aforementioned documents submitted were falsified. Except
for the Cash Invoices issued by suppliers.
Petitioner acted with evident bad faith when he affixed his signature to the falsified
documents in order to induce the government to pay the claim for fictitious emergency
repairs and purchases of spare parts of certain vehicles.