People Vs Nery

In People vs.
Nery (supra), the court affirmed the conviction of the accused for estafa and rejected her theory of
novation because the alleged novation occurred after the criminal case was filed and while it was pending trial. In this
case, although the accused made partial payments for the two diamond rings she received on commission from the
complainant, this was made after a case against her had been filed in the municipal court. P
As pointed out in People vs. Nery, novation prior to the filing of the criminal
information — as in the case at bar — may convert the relation between the parties
into an ordinary creditor-debtor relation, and place the complainant in estoppel to
insist on the original transaction or "cast doubt on the true nature" thereof.
Again, in the latest case of Ong vs. Court of Appeals (L-58476, 124 SCRA 578, 580-581 [1983] ),
this Court reiterated the ruling in People vs. Nery ( 10 SCRA 244 [1964] ), declaring that: têñ.£îhqwâ£
The novation theory may perhaps apply prior to the filling of the criminal information
in court by the state prosecutors because up to that time the original trust relation
may be converted by the parties into an ordinary creditor-debtor situation, thereby
placing the complainant in estoppel to insist on the original trust. But after the justice
authorities have taken cognizance of the crime and instituted action in court, the
offended party may no longer divest the prosecution of its power to exact the criminal
liability, as distinguished from the civil. The crime being an offense against the state,
only the latter can renounce it (People vs. Gervacio, 54 Off. Gaz. 2898; People vs.
Velasco, 42 Phil. 76; U.S. vs. Montanes, 8 Phil. 620).
On 15 November 1954, in a market stall in Bacolod City, the said accused

received from Federico Matillano two [2] diamond rings to be sold by her on
commission. The agreement was for the accused to deliver on the following
day, the sum of P230.00 to her principal, to whom the accused had
represented having a ready buyer, and whatever overprice could be obtained
in the sale would be retained by the accused as her commission.
Soledad Nery failed to show up on the following day; after several days, in a
casual encounter with Federico Matillano, she claimed that her prospective
buyer withdrew from the transaction and that she was looking for another
buyer. Days, weeks, and months passed; and, his patience exhausted,
Federico brought the matter to the attention of the police authorities of
Bacolod on 5 January 1955. In no time, Soledad was found and brought to
the police station; then and there, she promised, in writing [Exh. "A"], to
deliver the price of the rings or the rings on 25 January 1955.
When the last-mentioned date arrived and Soledad failed to comply with her
promise, the City Attorney, at the instance of Federico Matillano, filed on 12
February 1955 a complaint with the Municipal Court. The case was either
withdrawn or dismissed, however, the accused making two payments of
P20.00 each to Federico. After these payments, the accused failed to pay
further; hence, the fiscal filed the corresponding information, dated 30 June
1958, with the court of first instance.
On 10 October 1958, during the pendency of the case in the court of first
instance, the accused, assisted by counsel, Atty. Marcos Gomez, executed a
deed, which is copied hereunder, as follows:
"Bacolod City
"October 10, 1958.
"I hereby promise to pay Mr. Federico Matillano, the sum of One Hundred
Ninety Pesos (P190.00) Philippine Currency, to be paid in the following
manner:
For the month of Nov. 1958 — P 50.00
For the month of Dec. 1958 — 40.00
For the month of Jan. 1959 — 100.00
"In the event that I fail to comply with the above compromise, the complaint
for estafa filed against me by Mr. Matillano will be push through.
"[Sgd.] Soledad Nery.
"I hereby bind myself jointly and severally to the above-mentioned

obligation of Soledad Nery.
"[Sgd.] Atty. Marcos S. Gomez
"Witness:
"[Sgd.] Leopoldo Lopez."
During the month of March, 1959, the accused Soledad Nery tendered a
P50.00-payment to Federico Matillano, which the latter accepted, but the
balance of the price of the two rings was never paid.
Finding the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of estafa,
the trial Court imposed an indeterminate sentence of no less than two (2)
months and one (1) day of arresto mayor to no more than one (1) year and
one (1) day of prisión correccional; to indemnify Federico Matillano the sum
of P140.00, representing the unpaid balance, with subsidiary imprisonment
in case of insolvency at the rate of P2.50 a day but not exceeding a third of
the principal penalty; and to pay the costs.
The only issue is defined in the appealed Decision as follows:

"La cuescion mas importante que
"It is well-settled that criminal liability for estafa is not affected by

compromise or novation of contract, for it is a public offense which must be
prosecuted and punished by the Government on its own motion though
complete reparation should have been made of the damage suffered by the
offended party [U.S. vs. Mendozona, 2 Phil. 353; U.S. vs. Ontengco, 4 Phil.
144; U.S. vs. Rodriguez, 9 Phil. 153; People vs. Leachon, 56 Phil. 739;
Javier vs. People, 70 Phil. 550]. As was said in the case of People vs.
Gervacio 102 Phil. 687, 'a criminal offense is committed against the People
and the offended party may not waive or extinguish the criminal liability that
the law imposes for the commission of the offense'. The fact, therefore, that
the accused herein had, with the consent of the offended party, assumed the
obligation of paying the rentals, which he collected, out of his own salary
after he had committed the misappropriation, does not obliterate the
criminal liability already incurred." [People vs. Benitez, L-15923, June 30,
1960].

People Vs Nery

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In People vs.

On 15 November 1954, in a market stall in Bacolod City, the said accused

"October 10, 1958.

"[Sgd.] Soledad Nery.

"I hereby bind myself jointly and severally to the above-mentioned

"[Sgd.] Atty. Marcos S. Gomez

The only issue is defined in the appealed Decision as follows:

"It is well-settled that criminal liability for estafa is not affected by

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