SECOND DIVISION

[G.R. No. 136142. October 24, 2000]

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. ALFONSO DATOR !"
#ENITO GENOL, accused (Acquitted)
PASTOR TELEN, accused-appellant.
D E $ I S I O N
DE LEON, %R., J.&
Before us on appeal is the Decision
i[1]
of the Regional Trial Court of Maasin Southern !e"te Branch
#$ in Cri%inal Case No& 1'(( con)icting the appellant of the cri%e of )iolation of *resi+ential Decree
No& ',$&
*astor Telen an+ his co-accuse+ .lfonso Dator an+ Benito /enol 0ere charge+ 0ith the cri%e of
)iolation of Section 12
ii[#]
of *resi+ential Decree No& ',$ other0ise 3no0n as the Re)ise+ 4orestr"
Co+e
iii[(]
in an Infor%ation that rea+s5
That on or a6out the #7th +a" of Octo6er 177( at aroun+ 25,, o8cloc3 in the e)ening in 6aranga" !a6oon
%unicipalit" of Maasin pro)ince of Southern !e"te *hilippines an+ 0ithin the 9uris+iction of this :onora6le Court
the a6o)e-na%e+ accuse+ conspiring confe+erating an+ %utuall" helping each other 0ith intent of gain +i+ then
an+ there 0ilfull" unla0full" an+ feloniousl" possess 1$1,&11 6oar+ feet of assorte+ lu%6er flitches )alue+ at
T;ENT<-T:REE T:O=S.ND 4IVE :=NDRED *ESOS >#($,,&,,? *hilippine Currenc" 0ithout an" legal
+ocu%ent as re@uire+ un+er eAisting forest la0s an+ regulations fro% proper go)ern%ent authorities to the
+a%age an+ pre9u+ice of the go)ern%ent&
CONTR.R< TO !.;&
=pon 6eing arraigne+ on Ma" #' 177B *astor Telen an+ his co-accuse+ .lfonso Dator an+ Benito
/enol assiste+ 6" counsel separatel" entere+ the plea of CNot guilt"D to the charge in the Infor%ation&
Thereafter trial on the %erits ensue+&
It appears that on Octo6er #7 177( *olice Station Co%%an+er .le9an+ro Ro9as of Maasin
Southern !e"te an+ S*O1 Necitas Bacala 0ere on 6oar+ a police patrol )ehicle hea+ing to0ar+s
Baranga" San Rafael Maasin Southern !e"te& =pon reaching Baranga" !a6oon of the sa%e
%unicipalit" the" notice+ a IsuEu cargo truc3 loa+e+ 0ith pieces of lu%6er 6oun+ to0ar+ the to0n proper
of Maasin& Suspicious that the cargo 0as illegall" cut pieces of lu%6er *olice Station Co%%an+er Ro9as
%aneu)ere+ their police )ehicle an+ ga)e chase&
i)[B]
=pon catching up 0ith the IsuEu cargo truc3 in Baranga" Soro-soro Maasin Southern !e"te the"
or+ere+ the +ri)er accuse+ Benito /enol to pull o)er& Benito /enol 0as left alone in the truc3 after his
co%panions hurrie+l" left& ;hen as3e+ if he ha+ the re@uire+ +ocu%ents for the proper transport of the
pieces of lu%6er /enol ans0ere+ in the negati)e& /enol infor%e+ the police authorities that the pieces
of lu%6er 0ere o0ne+ 6" herein appellant *astor Telen 0hile the IsuEu cargo truc3 6earing *late No&
:.4 1#2 0as registere+ in the na%e of Southern !e"te 4ar%ers .gro-In+ustrial Cooperati)e Inc&
>S!E4.ICO? 0hich is a local cooperati)e& Conse@uentl" *olice Officers Ro9as an+ Bacala +irecte+
Benito /enol to procee+ to the Maasin *olice Station Maasin Southern !e"te for further in)estigation&
)[$]
On No)e%6er $ 177( 4orest Ranger Ro%eo /alola 0as fetche+ fro% his office at the Co%%unit"
En)iron%ent an+ Natural Resources Office >CENRO? Maasin Southern !e"te 6" S*O1 Necitas Bacala
to inspect the pieces of lu%6er that 0ere confiscate+ on Octo6er #7 177( in Soro-soro Maasin
Southern !e"te fro% *astor Telen& /alola an+ his i%%e+iate super)isor Sulpicio Saguing foun+ that the
cargo consiste+ of fort"-one >B1? pieces of Dita lu%6er an+ ten >1,? pieces of .ntipolo lu%6er of +ifferent
+i%ensions 0ith a total )olu%e of 1$1,&11 6oar+ feet&
)i[1]
Su6se@uentl" S*O1 Bacala issue+ a seiEure receipt
)ii[']
co)ering the fift"-one >$1? pieces of
confiscate+ Dita an+ .ntipolo lu%6er an+ one >1? unit of IsuEu cargo truc3 0ith *late No& :.4 1#2& The
confiscate+ pieces of lu%6er an+ the cargo truc3 0ere turne+ o)er to S*O( Daniel !asala *N* *ropert"
Custo+ian Maasin Southern !e"te 0ho in turn officiall" transferre+ custo+" of the sa%e to the CENRO
Maasin Southern !e"te&
)iii[2]
The +efense +enie+ an" lia6ilit" for the cri%e charge+ in the Infor%ation& *astor Telen a utilit"
0or3er at the Integrate+ *ro)incial :ealth Office Southern !e"te for nineteen >17? "ears testifie+ that he
nee+e+ lu%6er to 6e use+ in reno)ating the house of his gran+parents in Baranga" .6gao Maasin
Southern !e"te 0here he %aintaine+ resi+ence& Fno0ing that it 0as prohi6ite+ 6" la0 to cut trees
0ithout appropriate per%it fro% the Depart%ent of En)iron%ent an+ Natural Resources >DENR? Telen
sought the assistance of a certain !an+o +ela *ena 0ho 0as an e%plo"ee at the CENRO Maasin
Southern !e"te& Dela *ena acco%panie+ Telen to the office of a certain Bo" !eonor 0ho 0as the Officer
in Charge of CENRO in Maasin Southern !e"te& !eonor +i+ not appro)e of the plan of Telen to cut tea3
or har+ lu%6er fro% his >Telen? %other8s trac3 of lan+ in Ta6unan San Gose Maasin Southern !e"te&
:o0e)er !eonor allege+l" allo0e+ Telen to cut the aging Dita trees onl"& .ccor+ing to Telen !eonor
assure+ hi% that a 0ritten per%it 0as not an"%ore necessar" 6efore he coul+ cut the Dita trees 0hich
are consi+ere+ soft lu%6er fro% the pri)ate lan+ of his %other pro)i+e+ the sa%e 0oul+ 6e use+
eAclusi)el" for the reno)ation of his house an+ that he shall plant trees as replace%ent thereof 0hich he
+i+ 6" planting /e%elina see+lings&
iA[7]
On Septe%6er 1$ 177( Telen re@ueste+ his cousin Vicente Sa6alo to hire for hi% a cargo truc3 in
or+er to haul the sa0n lu%6er fro% the lan+ of his %other in Ta6unan San Gose Maasin Southern
!e"te& :is cousin o6lige+ after Telen assure+ hi% that he ha+ alrea+" secure+ )er6al per%ission fro%
Bo" !eonor Officer in Charge of CENRO in Maasin Southern !e"te 6efore cutting the sai+ lu%6er&
A[1,]
.fter ha)ing 6een infor%e+ 6" Vicente Sa6alo on Octo6er #7 177( at a6out B5,, o8cloc3 in the
afternoon that a cargo truc3 0as a)aila6le for hire Telen instructe+ his cousin to personall" super)ise the
hauling of the sa0n lu%6er for hi% inas%uch as he 0as 6us" 0ith his 0or3 in the office& .t aroun+ '5,,
o8cloc3 in the e)ening Telen learne+ fro% his +aughter that the sa0n lu%6er 0ere confiscate+ 6" the
police in Baranga" Soro-soro Maasin Southern !e"te&
Ai[11]
=pon arri)al in Baranga" Soro-Soro Telen 0as accoste+ 6" *olice Station Co%%an+er .le9an+ro
Ro9as 0ho +e%an+e+ fro% hi% DENR per%it for the sa0n lu%6er& .fter confir%ing o0nership of the
sa0n lu%6er Telen eAplaine+ to Ro9as that he ha+ alrea+" secure+ )er6al per%ission fro% Bo" !eonor
to cut Dita trees 0hich are consi+ere+ soft lu%6er to 6e use+ in the reno)ation of his house an+ that he
ha+ alrea+" replace+ the sa0n Dita trees 0ith /e%elina see+lings 6ut to no a)ail& Ro9as or+ere+ that
the pieces of lu%6er an+ the IsuEu cargo truc3 6e i%poun+e+ at the %unicipal 6uil+ing of Maasin
Southern !e"te for failure of Telen to pro+uce the re@uire+ per%it fro% the DENR&
Aii[1#]
*astor Telen appeare+ 6efore Bert *esi+as CENRO hearing officer in Maasin Southern !e"te for
in)estigation in connection 0ith the confiscate+ pieces of lu%6er& Telen ha+ trie+ to contact Officer-in-
Charge Bo" !eonor of the CENRO Maasin Southern !e"te after the confiscation of the sa0n lu%6er on
Octo6er #7 177( an+ e)en +uring the in)estigation con+ucte+ 6" the CENRO hearing officer for three
>(? ti%es 6ut to no a)ail for the reason that Bo" !eonor 0as assigne+ at a reforestation site in Danao
Ce6u pro)ince&
Aiii[1(]
.lfonso Dator 0as the accounting %anager of S!E4.ICO Inc& a local cooperati)e engage+ in
6u"ing an+ selling a6aca fi6ers& Dator testifie+ that on Octo6er #7 177( at (5,, o8cloc3 in the afternoon
a certain Vicente Sa6alo acco%panie+ 6" their co%pan" +ri)er Benito /enol propose+ to hire the IsuEu
cargo truc3 o0ne+ 6" S!E4.ICO Inc& to haul pieces of coconut lu%6er fro% Baranga" San Gose to
Baranga" Soro-soro in Maasin Southern !e"te& :e rea+il" acce+e+ to the proposal inas%uch as the
o0ner of the allege+ coconut lu%6er accor+ing to Sa6alo 0as *astor Telen 0ho is a long ti%e frien+
an+ for%er office%ate at the pro)incial office of the Depart%ent of :ealth& Besi+es the fee to 6e earne+
fro% the hauling ser)ices %eant a++itional inco%e for the cooperati)e&
Ai)[1B]
.t a6out 15,, o8cloc3 in the e)ening of the sa%e +a" Dator %et the IsuEu cargo truc3 of S!E4.ICO
Inc& at the Canturing 6ri+ge in Maasin Southern !e"te 6eing escorte+ 6" a police patrol )ehicle hea+ing
to0ar+s the %unicipal to0n proper& .t the %unicipal hall 6uil+ing of Maasin he learne+ that the IsuEu
truc3 0as apprehen+e+ 6" the police for the reason that it containe+ a cargo of Dita an+ .ntipolo lu%6er
0ithout the re@uire+ per%it fro% the DENR& :e eAplaine+ to the police authorities that the IsuEu cargo
truc3 0as hire+ %erel" to transport coconut lu%6er ho0e)er it 0as i%poun+e+ at the %unicipal 6uil+ing
9ust the sa%e&
A)[1$]
Due to the inci+ent Dator lost his 9o6 as accounting %anager in S!E4.ICO Inc&
A)i[11]
4or his +efense Benito /enol testifie+ that he 0as e%plo"e+ 6" the S!E4.ICO Inc& as +ri)er of its
IsuEu cargo truc3& .si+e fro% transporting a6aca fi6ers the IsuEu cargo truc3 0as also a)aila6le for
hire&
A)ii[1']
;hile /enol 0as ha)ing the t0o tires of the IsuEu cargo truc3 )ulcaniEe+ on Octo6er #7 177( in
Baranga" Mantahan Maasin Southern !e"te Vicente Sa6alo approache+ hi% an+ offere+ to hire the
ser)ices of the cargo truc3& /enol acco%panie+ Sa6alo to the resi+ence of the accounting %anager of
S!E4.ICO Inc& .lfonso Dator 0hich 0as near6" an+ the latter agree+ to the proposal of Sa6alo to hire
the IsuEu cargo truc3 to haul pieces of coconut lu%6er fro% San Gose Maasin Southern !e"te for a
fee&
A)iii[12]
.t B5,, o8cloc3 in the afternoon of the sa%e +a" /enol Sa6alo an+ a son of .lfonso Dator
procee+e+ to San Gose after fetching a6out siA >1? haulers along the 0a" in Baranga" Soro-soro& =pon
arri)al in San Gose /enol re%aine+ 6ehin+ the steering 0heel to ta3e a rest& :e 0as un%in+ful of the
actual nature of the lu%6er that 0ere 6eing loa+e+& .fter the loa+ing /enol 0as instructe+ to procee+ to
Baranga" Soro-soro in front of the lu%6er"ar+ of a certain Gi%%" /o& Before the lu%6er coul+ 6e
unloa+e+ at 25,, o8cloc3 in the e)ening /enol 0as approache+ 6" *olice Station Co%%an+er .le9an+ro
Ro9as 0ho +e%an+e+ DENR per%it for the lu%6er& The pieces of lu%6er 0ere confiscate+ 6" Ro9as after
/enol faile+ to pro+uce the re@uire+ per%it fro% the DENR office&
AiA[17]
Vicente Sa6alo corro6orate+ the testi%onies of the three >(? accuse+ in this case& :e testifie+ in
su6stance that he 0as re@ueste+ 6" his cousin *astor Telen to engage the ser)ices of a cargo truc3 to
transport sa0n pieces of lu%6er fro% San Gose to 6e use+ in the reno)ation of his house in .6gao
Maasin Southern !e"teH that he approache+ Benito /enol an+ offere+ to hire the ser)ices of the IsuEu
cargo truc3 that he 0as +ri)ingH that 6oth of the% as3e+ the per%ission of .lfonso Dator 0ho rea+il"
acce+e+ to the proposal for a fee of *$,,&,,H
AA[#,]
that he sa0 /enol re%aine+ 6ehin+ the steering 0heel
as the loa+ing of the lu%6er 0as going on in San GoseH an+ that the lu%6er an+ the IsuEu cargo truc3
0ere confiscate+ in Baranga" Soro-soro for failure of his cousin *astor Telen to sho0 to *olice Station
Co%%an+er .le9an+ro Ro9as an" 0ritten per%it fro% the DENR for the su69ect lu%6er&
AAi[#1]
.fter anal"Eing the e)i+ence the trial court ren+ere+ a +ecision the +ispositi)e portion of 0hich
rea+s5
;:ERE4ORE 9u+g%ent is ren+ere+ as follo0s5
1& CONVICTIN/ the accuse+ *.STOR TE!EN 6e"on+ reasona6le +ou6t of the offense charge+ an+
there 6eing no %o+if"ing circu%stances an+ 0ith the In+eter%inate Sentence !a0 6eing inapplica6le
the herein accuse+ is here6" sentence+ to suffer the in+i)isi6le penalt" of REC!=SION *ER*ET=.
0ith the accessor" penalties pro)i+e+ 6" la0 0hich is t0o >#? +egrees higher than *RISION M.<OR
%aAi%u% the authoriEe+ penalt" si%ilar to Iualifie+ Theft an+ to pa" the costs& :is 6ail for his
pro)isional li6ert" is here6" cancelle+ an+ he shall 6e co%%itte+ to the Ne0 Bili6i+ *risons
Muntinlupa Metro Manila thru the .6u"og Regional *risons .6u"og !e"te )ia the *ro)incial ;ar+en
Maasin Southern !e"teH
#& .CI=ITTIN/ co-accuse+ .lfonso Dator an+ Benito /enol on reasona6le +ou6t for insufficienc" of
e)i+enceH an+ cancelling their 6ailH
(& CON4ISC.TIN/ an+ SEIJIN/ the 1$1,&11 6oar+ feet of illegal lu%6er 0orth *#($,,&,, an+
ORDERIN/ the CENRO Maasin Southern !e"te to sell the lu%6er at pu6lic auction un+er proper
per%ission fro% the Court 0ith the procee+s thereof turne+ o)er to the National /o)ern%ent thru the
National Treasur" un+er proper receipt an+ to RE*ORT the fact of sale to this Court +ul" co)ere+ 6"
+ocu%ents of sale an+ other receipts 6" e)i+encing the sale 0ithin fi)e >$? +a"s fro% the
consu%%ation of saleH an+
B& DIRECTIN/ the CENRO authorities to coor+inate 0ith its Regional Office for i%%e+iate a+%inistrati)e
procee+ings an+ +eter%ination of an" a+%inistrati)e lia6ilit" of the truc3 o0ner S!E4.ICO Inc& if an"
other0ise to release the truc3 to its o0ner&
SO ORDERED&
In his appeal *astor Telen interpose the follo0ing assign%ents of error5
I
T:E !O;ER CO=RT ERRED IN 4INDIN/ T:E .CC=SED-.**E!!.NT /=I!T< BE<OND RE.SON.B!E
DO=BT 4OR VIO!.TION O4 SEC& 12 *& D& ',$ .S .MENDED BEIN/ CONTR.R< TO !.; .ND T:E
EVIDENCE ON RECORD .ND 4OR BEIN/ NOT IN CON4ORMIT< ;IT: DENR .DMINISTR.TIVE ORDER
NO& '7 SERIES O4 177,&
II
T:E !O;ER CO=RT ERRED IN IM*OSIN/ T:E .CC=SED-.**E!!.NT T:E *EN.!T< O4 REC!=SION
*ER*ET=. 4OR T:E .!!E/ED VIO!.TION O4 SEC& 12 *& D& ',$ .S .MENDED IT BEIN/ . *.TENT!<
ERRONEO=S *EN.!T< NOT ;.RR.NTED B< .N< *ROVISION O4 T:E REVISED *EN.! CODE OR
G=RIS*R=DENCE&
III
T:E !O;ER CO=RT ERRED IN 4INDIN/ T:.T T:E V.!=E O4 T:E CON4ISC.TED !=MBER IS *#($,,&,,
4OR NO EVIDENCE O4 S=C: V.!=E ;.S EST.B!IS:ED D=RIN/ T:E TRI.!&
The appeal is not i%presse+ 0ith %erit&
It is not +ispute+ that appellant *astor Telen is the o0ner of the fift"-one >$1? pieces of assorte+
.ntipolo an+ Dita lu%6er 0ith a total )olu%e of 1$1,&11 6oar+ feet& :e allege+ that the pieces of lu%6er
0ere cut fro% the trac3 of lan+ 6elonging to his %other in San Gose Maasin Southern !e"te 0hich he
inten+e+ to use in the reno)ation of his house in Baranga" .6gao of the sa%e %unicipalit"& .fter ha)ing
6een confiscate+ 6" the police 0hile in transit in Baranga" Soro-soro appellant Telen faile+ to pro+uce
6efore the authorities the re@uire+ legal +ocu%ents fro% the DENR pertaining to the sai+ pieces of
lu%6er&
The fact of possession 6" the appellant of the su69ect fift"-one >$1? pieces of assorte+ .ntipolo an+
Dita lu%6er as 0ell as his su6se@uent failure to pro+uce the legal +ocu%ents as re@uire+ un+er eAisting
forest la0s an+ regulations constitute cri%inal lia6ilit" for )iolation of *resi+ential Decree No& ',$
other0ise 3no0n as the Re)ise+ 4orestr" Co+e&
AAii[##]
Section 12 of the co+e pro)i+es5
Section 12& Cutting, Gathering and/or Collecting Timber or Other Forest Products Without License&-.n"
person 0ho shall cut gather collect re%o)e ti%6er or other forest pro+ucts fro% an" forest lan+ or ti%6er fro%
aliena6le or +isposa6le pu6lic lan+ or fro% pri)ate lan+ 0ithout an" authorit" or possess ti%6er or other forest
pro+ucts 0ithout the legal +ocu%ents as re@uire+ un+er eAisting forest la0s an+ regulations shall 6e punishe+
0ith the penalties i%pose+ un+er .rticles (,7 an+ (1, of the Re)ise+ *enal Co+e5 *ro)i+e+ that in the case of
partnerships associations or corporations the officers 0ho or+ere+ the cutting gathering collection or
possession shall 6e lia6le an+ if such officers are aliens the" shall in a++ition to the penalt" 6e +eporte+ 0ithout
further procee+ings on the part of the Co%%ission on I%%igration an+ Deportation&
The Court shall further or+er the confiscation in fa)or of the go)ern%ent of the ti%6er or an" forest
pro+ucts cut gathere+ collecte+ re%o)e+ or possesse+ as 0ell as the %achiner" e@uip%ent
i%ple%ents an+ tools illegall" use+ in the area 0here the ti%6er or forest pro+ucts are foun+&
.ppellant Telen conten+s that he secure+ )er6al per%ission fro% Bo" !eonor Officer-in-Charge of
the DENR-CENRO in Maasin Southern !e"te 6efore cutting the lu%6er an+ that the latter purporte+l"
assure+ hi% that 0ritten per%it 0as not an"%ore necessar" 6efore cutting soft lu%6er such as the
.ntipolo an+ Dita trees in this case fro% a pri)ate trac3 of lan+ to 6e use+ in reno)ating appellant8s
house pro)i+e+ that he 0oul+ plant trees as replace%ents thereof 0hich he alrea+" +i+& It %ust 6e
un+erscore+ that the appellant stan+s charge+ 0ith the cri%e of )iolation of Section 12 of *resi+ential
Decree No& ',$ a special statutor" la0 an+ 0hich cri%e is consi+ere+ %ala prohi6ita& In the prosecution
for cri%es that are consi+ere+ %ala prohi6ita the onl" in@uir" is 0hether or not the la0 has 6een
)iolate+&
AAiii[#(]
The %oti)e or intention un+erl"ing the act of the appellant is i%%aterial for the reason that
his %ere possession of the confiscate+ pieces of lu%6er 0ithout the legal +ocu%ents as re@uire+ un+er
eAisting forest la0s an+ regulations ga)e rise to his cri%inal lia6ilit"&
In an" case the %ere allegation of the appellant regar+ing the )er6al per%ission gi)en 6" Bo"
!eonor Officer in Charge of DENR-CENRO Maasin Southern !e"te is not sufficient to o)erturn the
esta6lishe+ fact that he ha+ no legal +ocu%ents to support )ali+ possession of the confiscate+ pieces of
lu%6er& It +oes not appear fro% the recor+ of this case that appellant eAerte+ an" effort +uring the trial to
a)ail of the testi%on" of Bo" !eonor to corro6orate his allegation& .6sent such corro6orati)e e)i+ence
the trial court +i+ not co%%it an error in +isregar+ing the 6are testi%on" of the appellant on this point
0hich is at 6est self-ser)ing&
AAi)[#B]
The appellant cannot )ali+l" ta3e refuge un+er the pertinent pro)ision of DENR .+%inistrati)e Or+er
No& '7 Series of 177,
AA)[#$]
0hich prescri6es rules on the +eregulation of the har)esting transporting an+
sale of fire0oo+ pulp0oo+ or ti%6er plante+ in pri)ate lan+s& .ppellant su6%its that un+er the sai+
DENR .+%inistrati)e Or+er No& '7 no per%it is re@uire+ in the cutting of plante+ trees 0ithin title+ lan+s
eAcept Benguet pine an+ pre%iu% species liste+ un+er DENR .+%inistrati)e Or+er No& '2 Series of
172' na%el"5 narra %ola)e +ao 3a%agong ipil acacia a3le apanit 6anu"o 6ati3uling 6etis 6olong-
eta 3alantas lanete lu%6a"ao sangilo supa tea3 tin+alo an+ %anggis&
Conce+e+l" the )arieties of lu%6er for 0hich the appellant is 6eing hel+ lia6le for illegal possession
+o not 6elong to the pre%iu% species enu%erate+ un+er DENR .+%inistrati)e Or+er No& '2 Series of
172'& :o0e)er un+er the sa%e DENR a+%inistrati)e or+er a certification fro% the CENRO concerne+
to the effect that the forest pro+ucts ca%e fro% a title+ lan+ or taA +eclare+ aliena6le an+ +isposa6le lan+
%ust still 6e secure+ to acco%pan" the ship%ent& This the appellant faile+ to +o thus he is cri%inall"
lia6le un+er Section 12 of *resi+ential Decree No& ',$ necessitating prior ac@uisition of per%it an+ Clegal
+ocu%ents as re@uire+ un+er eAisting forest la0s an+ regulations&D The pertinent portion of DENR
.+%inistrati)e Or+er No& '7 Series of 177, is @uote+ hereun+er to 0it5
In line 0ith the National Reforestation *rogra% an+ in or+er to pro%ote the planting of trees 6" o0ners of
pri)ate lan+s an+ gi)e incenti)es to the tree far%ers Ministr" .+%inistrati)e Or+er No& B +ate+ Ganuar" 17 172'
0hich lifte+ the restriction in the har)esting transporting an+ sale of fire0oo+ pulp0oo+ or ti%6er pro+uce+ fro%
Ipil-Ipil >leucaenia spp? an+ 4alcate >Albizzia falcataria? is here6" a%en+e+ to inclu+e all other tree species plante+
in pri)ate lan+s eAcept BEN/=ET *INE an+ pre%iu% har+0oo+ species& :enceforth no per%it is re@uire+ in the
cutting of plante+ trees 0ithin the title+ lan+s or taA +eclare+ . an+ D lan+s 0ith correspon+ing application for
patent or ac@uire+ through court procee+ings eAcept BEN/=ET *INE an+ pre%iu% species liste+ un+er DENR
.+%inistrati)e Or+er No '2 Series of 172' proided, that a certification of the C!"#O concerned to the effect
that the forest products came from a titled land or ta$ declared alienable and disposable land is issued
accompan%ing the shipment&
.ppellant Telen neAt conten+s that proof of )alue of the confiscate+ pieces of lu%6er is
in+ispensa6le it 6eing the 6asis for the co%putation of the penalt" prescri6e+ in .rticle (,7 in relation to
.rticle (1, of the Re)ise+ *enal Co+eH an+ that in the a6sence of an" e)i+ence on recor+ to pro)e the
allegation in the Infor%ation that the confiscate+ pieces of lu%6er ha)e an e@ui)alent )alue of
*#($,,&,, there can 6e no 6asis for the penalt" to 6e i%pose+ an+ hence he shoul+ 6e ac@uitte+&
The appellant8s contention is untena6le& It is a 6asic rule in cri%inal la0 that penalt" is not an
ele%ent of the offense& Conse@uentl" the failure of the prosecution to a++uce e)i+ence in support of its
allegation in the Infor%ation 0ith respect to the )alue of the confiscate+ pieces of lu%6er is not
necessaril" fatal to its case& This Court notes that the esti%ate+ )alue of the confiscate+ pieces of
lu%6er as appearing in the official trans%ittal letter
AA)i[#1]
of the DENR-CENRO Maasin Southern !e"te
a++resse+ to the Office of the *ro)incial *rosecutor of the sa%e pro)ince is *#($,,&,, 0hich is allege+
in the Infor%ation& :o0e)er the sai+ trans%ittal letter cannot ser)e as e)i+ence or as a )ali+ 6asis for
the esti%ate+ )alue of the confiscate+ pieces of lu%6er for purposes of co%puting the proper penalt" to
6e i%pose+ on the appellant consi+ering that it is hearsa" an+ it 0as not for%all" offere+ in e)i+ence
contrar" to Section (B of Rule 1(# of the Re)ise+ Rules of Court&
In the case of *eople )s& EliEaga
AA)ii[#']
the accuse+-appellant therein 0as con)icte+ of the cri%es of
ho%ici+e an+ theft an+ the )alue of the 6ag an+ its contents that 0ere ta3en 6" the accuse+-appellant
fro% the )icti% 0as esti%ate+ 6" the prosecution 0itness to 6e *$,,&,,& In the a6sence of a conclusi)e
or +efinite proof relati)e to their )alue this Court fiAe+ the )alue of the 6ag an+ its contents at *1,,&,,
6ase+ on the atten+ant circu%stances of the case& More pertinentl" in the case of *eople )s& Re"es
AA)iii[#2]
this Court hel+ that if there is no a)aila6le e)i+ence to pro)e the )alue of the stolen propert" or that the
prosecution faile+ to pro)e it the correspon+ing penalt" to 6e i%pose+ on the accuse+-appellant shoul+
6e the %ini%u% penalt" correspon+ing to theft in)ol)ing the )alue of *$&,,&
In the case at 6ench the confiscate+ fift"-one >$1? pieces of assorte+ Dita an+ .ntipolo lu%6er 0ere
classifie+ 6" the CENRO officials as soft an+ therefore not pre%iu% @ualit" lu%6er& It %a" also 6e note+
that the sai+ pieces of lu%6er 0ere cut 6" the appellant a %ere 9anitor in a pu6lic hospital fro% the lan+
o0ne+ 6" his %other not for co%%ercial purposes 6ut to 6e utiliEe+ in the reno)ation of his house& It
+oes not appear that appellant Telen ha+ 6een con)icte+ nor 0as he an accuse+ in an" other pen+ing
cri%inal case in)ol)ing )iolation of an" of the pro)isions of the Re)ise+ 4orestr" Co+e >*&D& No& ',$ as
a%en+e+?& In )ie0 of the atten+ant circu%stances of this case an+ in the interest of 9ustice the 6asis for
the penalt" to 6e i%pose+ on the appellant shoul+ 6e the %ini%u% a%ount un+er .rticle (,7 paragraph
>1? of the Re)ise+ *enal Co+e 0hich carries the penalt" of arresto %a"or in its %ini%u% an+ %e+iu%
perio+s for si%ple theft&
Consi+ering that the cri%e of )iolation of Section 12 of *resi+ential Decree No& ',$ as a%en+e+ is
punishe+ as @ualifie+ theft un+er .rticle (1, of the Re)ise+ *enal Co+e pursuant to the sai+ +ecree the
i%posa6le penalt" on the appellant shall 6e increase+ 6" t0o +egrees that is fro% arresto %a"or in its
%ini%u% an+ %e+iu% perio+s to prision %a"or in its %ini%u% an+ %e+iu% perio+s&
AAiA[#7]
.ppl"ing the
In+eter%inate Sentence !a0
AAA[(,]
the penalt" to 6e i%pose+ on the appellant shoul+ 6e siA >1? %onths
an+ one >1? +a" of prision correccional to siA >1? "ears an+ one >1? +a" of prision %a"or&
;:ERE4ORE the +ecision of the Regional Trial Court of Maasin Southern !e"te Branch #$ in
Cri%inal Case No& 1'(( is .44IRMED 0ith the MODI4IC.TION that appellant *astor Telen is sentence+
to siA >1? %onths an+ one >1? +a" of prision correccional as %ini%u% to siA >1? "ears an+ one >1? +a" of
prision %a"or as %aAi%u%&
SO ORDERED.
'ellosillo, (Chairman), *endoza, +uisumbing, an+ 'uena, ,,&, concur&
i[1]
Penned by Judge Leandro T. Loyao, Jr. Rollo, pp. 12-23.
ii[2]
Renumbered Section 7 by Repub!ic "ct #o. 71$1.
iii[3]
"% amended by Pre%identia! &ecree #o. 1''(, and by )*ecuti+e ,rder 277, promu!gated on Ju!y
2', 1(7.
i+[-]
TS# dated June 2., 1((', pp. --'.
+[']
Id., pp. '-.
+i[$]
TS# dated "ugu%t 2-, 1(($, pp. 3--/ )*0ibit 123.
+ii[7]
)*0ibit 1"3.
+iii[]
TS# dated June 2., 1((', pp. 27-2.
i*[(]
TS# dated June 1., 1((7, pp. 2--.
*[1.]
Id., pp. 3, 13.
*i[11]
Id., p. '.
*ii[12]
Id., p. $.
*iii[13]
Id., pp. 1.-11.
*i+[1-]
TS# dated January 23, 1((7, pp. $-7.
*+[1']
Id., p. (.
*+i[1$]
Id., p. '.
*+ii[17]
TS# dated "ugu%t 17, 1((, p. -.
*+iii[1]
Id., pp. '-$.
*i*[1(]
Id., pp. 7-1..
**[2.]
TS# dated September 1, 1((, pp. '-$.
**i[21]
Id., pp. (, 11.
**ii[22]
4u%tang Lumber, 5nc. vs. 6", 2'7 S6R" -3., --$ 71(($8/ Peop!e vs. 9ue, 2$' S6R" 721, 73.
71(($8.
**iii[23]
:.S. vs. ;o 60ico, 1- P0i!. 12,13- 71(.(8.
**i+[2-]
#ationa! &e+e!opment 6o. vs. <or=men>% 6ompen%ation 6ommi%%ion, 1( S6R" $', $$
71($78.
**+[2']
&)#R "dmini%trati+e ,rder #o. 7(, Serie% o? 1((. amended &)#R "dmini%trati+e ,rder #o. $,
Serie% o? 1((., amending ?urt0er &)#R "dmini%trati+e ,rder #o. $, Serie% o? 1(.
**+i[2$]
,rigina! Record%, p.1.
**+ii[27]
$ S6R" 3$-, 33 71('.8.
**+iii[2]
;.R. #o. 3(.1, ,ctober 2, 1(33 cited in T0e Re+i%ed Pena! 6ode by Lui% 2. Reye%, 2oo= 55,
T@e!?t0 )dition, 1(1.
**i*[2(]
"rtic!e $17'8, Re+i%ed Pena! 6ode.
***[3.]
Peop!e vs. Simon, 23- S6R" ''', '7(-'. 71((-8.