Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC
G.R. No. 155!" #anua$% 1&' ()
*U+S MARCOS P. *AURE*' Petitione$'
,s.
-ON. .EUS C. ABROGAR' P$esi/in0 #u/0e of the Re0ional T$ial Cou$t' Ma1ati Cit%'
B$anch 15' PEOP*E O2 T-E P-+*+PP+NES 3 P-+*+PP+NE *ONG 4+STANCE
TE*EP-ONE COMPAN5 Respon/ents.
R E S O * U T + O N
5NARES6SANT+AGO' #.7
On 2eb$ua$% (!' ("' this Cou$t8s 2i$st 4i,ision $en/e$e/ 9u/0:ent in this case as
follo;s7
+N *+G-T O2 A** T-E 2OREGO+NG' the petition is GRANTE4. The assaile/ O$/e$s
of the Re0ional T$ial Cou$t an/ the 4ecision of the Cou$t of Appeals a$e RE<ERSE4 an/
SET AS+4E. The Re0ional T$ial Cou$t is /i$ecte/ to issue an o$/e$ 0$antin0 the :otion of
the petitione$ to =uash the A:en/e/ +nfo$:ation.
SO OR4ERE4.1
B% ;a% of b$ief bac10$oun/' petitione$ is one of the accuse/ in C$i:inal Case No. ))6
(>(5' file/ ;ith the Re0ional T$ial Cou$t of Ma1ati Cit%' B$anch 15. The A:en/e/
+nfo$:ation cha$0e/ the accuse/ ;ith theft un/e$ A$ticle &? of the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e'
co::itte/ as follo;s7
On o$ about Septe:be$ 161)' 1)))' o$ p$io$ the$eto in Ma1ati Cit%' an/ ;ithin the
9u$is/iction of this -ono$able Cou$t' the accuse/' conspi$in0 an/ confe/e$atin0 to0ethe$
an/ all of the: :utuall% helpin0 an/ ai/in0 one anothe$' ;ith intent to 0ain an/ ;ithout
the 1no;le/0e an/ consent of the Philippine *on0 4istance Telephone @P*4TA' /i/ then
an/ the$e ;illfull%' unla;full% an/ feloniousl% ta1e' steal an/ use the inte$national lon0
/istance calls belon0in0 to P*4T b% con/uctin0 +nte$national Si:ple Resale @+SRA'
;hich is a :etho/ of $outin0 an/ co:pletin0 inte$national lon0 /istance calls usin0 lines'
cables' antenae' an/Bo$ ai$ ;a,e f$e=uenc% ;hich connect /i$ectl% to the local o$ /o:estic
eCchan0e facilities of the count$% ;he$e the call is /estine/' effecti,el% stealin0 this
business f$o: P*4T ;hile usin0 its facilities in the esti:ate/ a:ount of P('&!'"51.)(
to the /a:a0e an/ p$e9u/ice of P*4T' in the sai/ a:ount.
CONTRAR5 TO *AD.(
Petitione$ file/ a EMotion to Fuash @;ith Motion to 4efe$ A$$ai0n:entA'E on the 0$oun/
that the factual alle0ations in the A:en/e/ +nfo$:ation /o not constitute the felon% of
theft. The t$ial cou$t /enie/ the Motion to Fuash the A:en/e/ +nfo$:ation' as ;ell
petitione$8s subse=uent Motion fo$ Reconsi/e$ation.
Petitione$8s special ci,il action fo$ ce$tio$a$i ;as /is:isse/ b% the Cou$t of Appeals.
Thus' petitione$ file/ the instant petition fo$ $e,ie; ;ith this Cou$t.
+n the abo,e6=uote/ 4ecision' this Cou$t hel/ that the A:en/e/ +nfo$:ation /oes not
contain :ate$ial alle0ations cha$0in0 petitione$ ;ith theft of pe$sonal p$ope$t% since
inte$national lon0 /istance calls an/ the business of p$o,i/in0 teleco::unication o$
telephone se$,ices a$e not pe$sonal p$ope$ties un/e$ A$ticle &? of the Re,ise/ Penal
Co/e.
Respon/ent Philippine *on0 4istance Telephone Co:pan% @P*4TA file/ a Motion fo$
Reconsi/e$ation ;ith Motion to Refe$ the Case to the Sup$e:e Cou$t En Banc. +t
:aintains that the A:en/e/ +nfo$:ation cha$0in0 petitione$ ;ith theft is ,ali/ an/
sufficientG that it states the na:es of all the accuse/ ;ho ;e$e specificall% cha$0e/ ;ith
the c$i:e of theft of P*4T8s inte$national calls an/ business of p$o,i/in0
teleco::unication o$ telephone se$,ice on o$ about Septe:be$ 1 to 1)' 1))) in Ma1ati
Cit% b% con/uctin0 +SR o$ +nte$national Si:ple ResaleG that it i/entifies the inte$national
calls an/ business of p$o,i/in0 teleco::unication o$ telephone se$,ice of P*4T as the
pe$sonal p$ope$ties ;hich ;e$e unla;full% ta1en b% the accuse/G an/ that it satisfies the
test of sufficienc% as it enable/ a pe$son of co::on un/e$stan/in0 to 1no; the cha$0e
a0ainst hi: an/ the cou$t to $en/e$ 9u/0:ent p$ope$l%.
P*4T fu$the$ insists that the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e shoul/ be inte$p$ete/ in the conteCt of
the Ci,il Co/e8s /efinition of $eal an/ pe$sonal p$ope$t%. The enu:e$ation of $eal
p$ope$ties in A$ticle >15 of the Ci,il Co/e is eCclusi,e such that all those not inclu/e/
the$ein a$e pe$sonal p$ope$ties. Since A$ticle &? of the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e use/ the
;o$/s Epe$sonal p$ope$t%E ;ithout =ualification' it follo;s that all Epe$sonal p$ope$tiesE
as un/e$stoo/ in the conteCt of the Ci,il Co/e' :a% be the sub9ect of theft un/e$ A$ticle
&? of the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e. P*4T alle0es that the inte$national calls an/ business of
p$o,i/in0 teleco::unication o$ telephone se$,ice a$e pe$sonal p$ope$ties capable of
app$op$iation an/ can be ob9ects of theft.
P*4T also a$0ues that Eta1in0E in $elation to theft un/e$ the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e /oes not
$e=ui$e Easpo$tation'E the sole $e=uisite bein0 that the ob9ect shoul/ be capable of
Eapp$op$iation.E The ele:ent of Eta1in0E $efe$$e/ to in A$ticle &? of the Re,ise/ Penal
Co/e :eans the act of /ep$i,in0 anothe$ of the possession an/ /o:inion of a :o,able
couple/ ;ith the intention' at the ti:e of the Eta1in0'E of ;ithhol/in0 it ;ith the cha$acte$
of pe$:anenc%. The$e :ust be intent to app$op$iate' ;hich :eans to /ep$i,e the la;ful
o;ne$ of the thin0. Thus' the te$: Epe$sonal p$ope$tiesE un/e$ A$ticle &? of the Re,ise/
Penal Co/e is not li:ite/ to onl% pe$sonal p$ope$ties ;hich a$e Esusceptible of bein0
se,e$e/ f$o: a :ass o$ la$0e$ =uantit% an/ of bein0 t$anspo$te/ f$o: place to place.E
P*4T li1e;ise alle0es that as ea$l% as the 1)&s' inte$national telephone calls ;e$e in
eCistenceG hence' the$e is no basis fo$ this Cou$t8s fin/in0 that the *e0islatu$e coul/ not
ha,e conte:plate/ the theft of inte$national telephone calls an/ the unla;ful t$ans:ission
an/ $outin0 of elect$onic ,oice si0nals o$ i:pulses e:anatin0 f$o: such calls b%
unla;full% ta:pe$in0 ;ith the telephone /e,ice as ;ithin the co,e$a0e of the Re,ise/
Penal Co/e.
Acco$/in0 to $espon/ent' the Einte$national phone callsE ;hich a$e Eelect$ic cu$$ents o$
sets of elect$ic i:pulses t$ans:itte/ th$ou0h a :e/iu:' an/ ca$$% a patte$n $ep$esentin0
the hu:an ,oice to a $ecei,e$'E a$e pe$sonal p$ope$ties ;hich :a% be sub9ect of theft.
A$ticle >1"@&A of the Ci,il Co/e /ee:s Efo$ces of natu$eE @;hich inclu/es elect$icit%A
;hich a$e b$ou0ht un/e$ the cont$ol b% science' a$e pe$sonal p$ope$t%.
+n his Co::ent to P*4T8s :otion fo$ $econsi/e$ation' petitione$ *au$el clai:s that a
telephone call is a con,e$sation on the phone o$ a co::unication ca$$ie/ out usin0 the
telephone. +t is not s%non%:ous to elect$ic cu$$ent o$ i:pulses. -ence' it :a% not be
consi/e$e/ as pe$sonal p$ope$t% susceptible of app$op$iation. Petitione$ clai:s that the
analo0% bet;een 0ene$ate/ elect$icit% an/ telephone calls is :isplace/. P*4T /oes not
p$o/uce o$ 0ene$ate telephone calls. +t onl% p$o,i/es the facilities o$ se$,ices fo$ the
t$ans:ission an/ s;itchin0 of the calls. -e also insists that EbusinessE is not pe$sonal
p$ope$t%. +t is not the EbusinessE that is p$otecte/ but the E$i0ht to ca$$% on a business.E
This $i0ht is ;hat is consi/e$e/ as p$ope$t%. Since the se$,ices of P*4T cannot be
consi/e$e/ as Ep$ope$t%'E the sa:e :a% not be sub9ect of theft.
The Office of the Solicito$ Gene$al @OSGA a0$ees ;ith $espon/ent P*4T that
Einte$national phone calls an/ the business o$ se$,ice of p$o,i/in0 inte$national phone
callsE a$e subsu:e/ in the enu:e$ation an/ /efinition of pe$sonal p$ope$t% un/e$ the
Ci,il Co/e hence' :a% be p$ope$ sub9ects of theft. +t note/ that the cases of Unite/ States
,. Genato'& Unite/ States ,. Ca$los> an/ Unite/ States ,. Ta:buntin0'5 ;hich $eco0niHe/
intan0ible p$ope$ties li1e 0as an/ elect$icit% as pe$sonal p$ope$ties' a$e /ee:e/
inco$po$ate/ in ou$ penal la;s. Mo$eo,e$' the theft p$o,ision in the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e
;as /elibe$atel% couche/ in b$oa/ te$:s p$ecisel% to be all6enco:passin0 an/ e:b$acin0
e,en such scena$io that coul/ not ha,e been easil% anticipate/.
Acco$/in0 to the OSG' p$osecution un/e$ Republic Act @RAA No. ?>?> o$ the Access
4e,ice Re0ulations Act of 1))? an/ RA ?!)( o$ the Elect$onic Co::e$ce Act of (
/oes not p$eclu/e p$osecution un/e$ the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e fo$ the c$i:e of theft. The
latte$ e:b$aces unautho$iHe/ app$op$iation o$ use of P*4T8s inte$national calls' se$,ice
an/ business' fo$ pe$sonal p$ofit o$ 0ain' to the p$e9u/ice of P*4T as o;ne$ the$eof. On
the othe$ han/' the special la;s punish the su$$eptitious an/ a/,ance/ technical :eans
e:plo%e/ to ille0all% obtain the sub9ect se$,ice an/ business. E,en assu:in0 that the
co$$ect in/ict:ent shoul/ ha,e been un/e$ RA ?>?>' the =uashal of the info$:ation
;oul/ still not be p$ope$. The cha$0e of theft as alle0e/ in the +nfo$:ation shoul/ be
ta1en in $elation to RA ?>?> because it is the ele:ents' an/ not the /esi0nation of the
c$i:e' that cont$ol.
Consi/e$in0 the 0$a,it% an/ co:pleCit% of the no,el =uestions of la; in,ol,e/ in this
case' the Special 2i$st 4i,ision $esol,e/ to $efe$ the sa:e to the Banc.
De $esol,e to 0$ant the Motion fo$ Reconsi/e$ation but $e:an/ the case to the t$ial cou$t
fo$ p$ope$ cla$ification of the A:en/e/ +nfo$:ation.
A$ticle &? of the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e p$o,i/es7
A$t. &?. Dho a$e liable fo$ theft. I Theft is co::itte/ b% an% pe$son ;ho' ;ith intent to
0ain but ;ithout ,iolence a0ainst' o$ inti:i/ation of pe$sons no$ fo$ce upon thin0s' shall
ta1e pe$sonal p$ope$t% of anothe$ ;ithout the latte$8s consent.
The ele:ents of theft un/e$ A$ticle &? of the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e a$e as follo;s7 @1A that
the$e be ta1in0 of pe$sonal p$ope$t%G @(A that sai/ p$ope$t% belon0s to anothe$G @&A that the
ta1in0 be /one ;ith intent to 0ainG @>A that the ta1in0 be /one ;ithout the consent of the
o;ne$G an/ @5A that the ta1in0 be acco:plishe/ ;ithout the use of ,iolence a0ainst o$
inti:i/ation of pe$sons o$ fo$ce upon thin0s.
P$io$ to the passa0e of the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e on 4ece:be$ ?' 1)&' the /efinition of the
te$: Epe$sonal p$ope$t%E in the penal co/e p$o,ision on theft ha/ been establishe/ in
Philippine 9u$isp$u/ence. This Cou$t' in Unite/ States ,. Genato' Unite/ States ,. Ca$los'
an/ Unite/ States ,. Ta:buntin0' consistentl% $ule/ that an% pe$sonal p$ope$t%' tan0ible
o$ intan0ible' co$po$eal o$ inco$po$eal' capable of app$op$iation can be the ob9ect of theft.
Mo$eo,e$' since the passa0e of the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e on 4ece:be$ ?' 1)&' the te$:
Epe$sonal p$ope$t%E has ha/ a 0ene$all% accepte/ /efinition in ci,il la;. +n A$ticle &&5 of
the Ci,il Co/e of Spain' Epe$sonal p$ope$t%E is /efine/ as Ean%thin0 susceptible of
app$op$iation an/ not inclu/e/ in the fo$e0oin0 chapte$ @not $eal p$ope$t%A.E Thus' the
te$: Epe$sonal p$ope$t%E in the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e shoul/ be inte$p$ete/ in the conteCt
of the Ci,il Co/e p$o,isions in acco$/ance ;ith the $ule on statuto$% const$uction that
;he$e ;o$/s ha,e been lon0 use/ in a technical sense an/ ha,e been 9u/iciall% const$ue/
to ha,e a ce$tain :eanin0' an/ ha,e been a/opte/ b% the le0islatu$e as ha,in0 a ce$tain
:eanin0 p$io$ to a pa$ticula$ statute' in ;hich the% a$e use/' the ;o$/s use/ in such
statute shoul/ be const$ue/ acco$/in0 to the sense in ;hich the% ha,e been p$e,iousl%
use/." +n fact' this Cou$t use/ the Ci,il Co/e /efinition of Epe$sonal p$ope$t%E in
inte$p$etin0 the theft p$o,ision of the penal co/e in Unite/ States ,. Ca$los.
Co0niHant of the /efinition 0i,en b% 9u$isp$u/ence an/ the Ci,il Co/e of Spain to the
te$: Epe$sonal p$ope$t%E at the ti:e the ol/ Penal Co/e ;as bein0 $e,ise/' still the
le0islatu$e /i/ not li:it o$ =ualif% the /efinition of Epe$sonal p$ope$t%E in the Re,ise/
Penal Co/e. Neithe$ /i/ it p$o,i/e a $est$icti,e /efinition o$ an eCclusi,e enu:e$ation of
Epe$sonal p$ope$t%E in the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e' the$eb% sho;in0 its intent to $etain fo$ the
te$: an eCtensi,e an/ un=ualifie/ inte$p$etation.1a,,phi1.H;J Conse=uentl%' an%
p$ope$t% ;hich is not inclu/e/ in the enu:e$ation of $eal p$ope$ties un/e$ the Ci,il Co/e
an/ capable of app$op$iation can be the sub9ect of theft un/e$ the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e.
The onl% $e=ui$e:ent fo$ a pe$sonal p$ope$t% to be the ob9ect of theft un/e$ the penal
co/e is that it be capable of app$op$iation. +t nee/ not be capable of Easpo$tation'E ;hich
is /efine/ as Eca$$%in0 a;a%.E! #u$isp$u/ence is settle/ that to Eta1eE un/e$ the theft
p$o,ision of the penal co/e /oes not $e=ui$e aspo$tation o$ ca$$%in0 a;a%.?
To app$op$iate :eans to /ep$i,e the la;ful o;ne$ of the thin0.) The ;o$/ Eta1eE in the
Re,ise/ Penal Co/e inclu/es an% act inten/e/ to t$ansfe$ possession ;hich' as hel/ in the
assaile/ 4ecision' :a% be co::itte/ th$ou0h the use of the offen/e$s8 o;n han/s' as ;ell
as an% :echanical /e,ice' such as an access /e,ice o$ ca$/ as in the instant case. This
inclu/es cont$ollin0 the /estination of the p$ope$t% stolen to /ep$i,e the o;ne$ of the
p$ope$t%' such as the use of a :ete$ ta:pe$in0' as hel/ in Nati,i/a/ ,. Cou$t of
Appeals'1 use of a /e,ice to f$au/ulentl% obtain 0as' as hel/ in Unite/ States ,.
Ta:buntin0' an/ the use of a 9u:pe$ to /i,e$t elect$icit%' as hel/ in the cases of Unite/
States ,. Genato' Unite/ States ,. Ca$los' an/ Unite/ States ,. Mena0as.11
As illust$ate/ in the abo,e cases' app$op$iation of fo$ces of natu$e ;hich a$e b$ou0ht
un/e$ cont$ol b% science such as elect$ical ene$0% can be achie,e/ b% ta:pe$in0 ;ith an%
appa$atus use/ fo$ 0ene$atin0 o$ :easu$in0 such fo$ces of natu$e' ;$on0full% $e/i$ectin0
such fo$ces of natu$e f$o: such appa$atus' o$ usin0 an% /e,ice to f$au/ulentl% obtain such
fo$ces of natu$e. +n the instant case' petitione$ ;as cha$0e/ ;ith en0a0in0 in +nte$national
Si:ple Resale @+SRA o$ the unautho$iHe/ $outin0 an/ co:pletin0 of inte$national lon0
/istance calls usin0 lines' cables' antennae' an/Bo$ ai$ ;a,e f$e=uenc% an/ connectin0
these calls /i$ectl% to the local o$ /o:estic eCchan0e facilities of the count$% ;he$e
/estine/.
As ea$l% as 1)1' the Cou$t /ecla$e/ in Genato that o;ne$ship o,e$ elect$icit% @;hich an
inte$national lon0 /istance call consists ofA' as ;ell as telephone se$,ice' is p$otecte/ b%
the p$o,isions on theft of the Penal Co/e. The pe$tinent p$o,ision of the Re,ise/
O$/inance of the Cit% of Manila' ;hich ;as in,ol,e/ in the sai/ case' $ea/s as follo;s7
+n9u$% to elect$ic appa$atusG Tappin0 cu$$entG E,i/ence. I No pe$son shall /est$o%'
:utilate' /eface' o$ othe$;ise in9u$e o$ ta:pe$ ;ith an% ;i$e' :ete$' o$ othe$ appa$atus
installe/ o$ use/ fo$ 0ene$atin0' containin0' con/uctin0' o$ :easu$in0 elect$icit%'
tele0$aph o$ telephone se$,ice' no$ tap o$ othe$;ise ;$on0full% /eflect o$ ta1e an%
elect$ic cu$$ent f$o: such ;i$e' :ete$' o$ othe$ appa$atus.
No pe$son shall' fo$ an% pu$pose ;hatsoe,e$' use o$ en9o% the benefits of an% /e,ice b%
:eans of ;hich he :a% f$au/ulentl% obtain an% cu$$ent of elect$icit% o$ an% tele0$aph o$
telephone se$,iceG an/ the eCistence in an% buil/in0 p$e:ises of an% such /e,ice shall' in
the absence of satisfacto$% eCplanation' be /ee:e/ sufficient e,i/ence of such use b% the
pe$sons benefitin0 the$eb%.
+t ;as fu$the$ $ule/ that e,en ;ithout the abo,e o$/inance the acts of subt$action
punishe/ the$ein a$e co,e$e/ b% the p$o,isions on theft of the Penal Co/e then in fo$ce'
thus7
E,en ;ithout the: @o$/inanceA' the $i0ht of the o;ne$ship of elect$ic cu$$ent is secu$e/
b% a$ticles 51! an/ 51? of the Penal Co/eG the application of these a$ticles in cases of
subt$action of 0as' a flui/ use/ fo$ li0htin0' an/ in so:e $espects $ese:blin0 elect$icit%' is
confi$:e/ b% the $ule lai/ /o;n in the /ecisions of the sup$e:e cou$t of Spain of #anua$%
(' 1??!' an/ Ap$il 1' 1?)!' const$uin0 an/ enfo$cin0 the p$o,isions of a$ticles 5& an/
5&1 of the Penal Co/e of that count$%' a$ticles 51! an/ 51? of the co/e in fo$ce in these
islan/s.
The acts of Esubt$actionE inclu/e7 @aA ta:pe$in0 ;ith an% ;i$e' :ete$' o$ othe$ appa$atus
installe/ o$ use/ fo$ 0ene$atin0' containin0' con/uctin0' o$ :easu$in0 elect$icit%'
tele0$aph o$ telephone se$,iceG @bA tappin0 o$ othe$;ise ;$on0full% /eflectin0 o$ ta1in0
an% elect$ic cu$$ent f$o: such ;i$e' :ete$' o$ othe$ appa$atusG an/ @cA usin0 o$ en9o%in0
the benefits of an% /e,ice b% :eans of ;hich one :a% f$au/ulentl% obtain an% cu$$ent of
elect$icit% o$ an% tele0$aph o$ telephone se$,ice.
+n the instant case' the act of con/uctin0 +SR ope$ations b% ille0all% connectin0 ,a$ious
e=uip:ent o$ appa$atus to p$i,ate $espon/ent P*4T8s telephone s%ste:' th$ou0h ;hich
petitione$ is able to $esell o$ $e6$oute inte$national lon0 /istance calls usin0 $espon/ent
P*4T8s facilities constitutes all th$ee acts of subt$action :entione/ abo,e.
The business of p$o,i/in0 teleco::unication o$ telephone se$,ice is li1e;ise pe$sonal
p$ope$t% ;hich can be the ob9ect of theft un/e$ A$ticle &? of the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e.
Business :a% be app$op$iate/ un/e$ Section ( of Act No. &)5( @Bul1 Sales *a;A' hence'
coul/ be ob9ect of theft7
Section (. An% sale' t$ansfe$' :o$t0a0e' o$ assi0n:ent of a stoc1 of 0oo/s' ;a$es'
:e$chan/ise' p$o,isions' o$ :ate$ials othe$;ise than in the o$/ina$% cou$se of t$a/e an/
the $e0ula$ p$osecution of the business of the ,en/o$' :o$t0a0o$' t$ansfe$o$' o$ assi0no$'
o$ an% sale' t$ansfe$' :o$t0a0e' o$ assi0n:ent of all' o$ substantiall% all' of the business o$
t$a/e the$etofo$e con/ucte/ b% the ,en/o$' :o$t0a0o$' t$ansfe$o$ o$ assi0no$' o$ all' o$
substantiall% all' of the fiCtu$es an/ e=uip:ent use/ in an/ about the business of the
,en/o$' :o$t0a0o$' t$ansfe$o$' o$ assi0no$' shall be /ee:e/ to be a sale an/ t$ansfe$ in
bul1' in conte:plation of the Act. C C C.
+n St$ochec1e$ ,. Ra:i$eH'1( this Cou$t state/7
Dith $e0a$/ to the natu$e of the p$ope$t% thus :o$t0a0e/ ;hich is one6half inte$est in the
business abo,e /esc$ibe/' such inte$est is a pe$sonal p$ope$t% capable of app$op$iation
an/ not inclu/e/ in the enu:e$ation of $eal p$ope$ties in a$ticle &&5 of the Ci,il Co/e'
an/ :a% be the sub9ect of :o$t0a0e.
+nte$est in business ;as not specificall% enu:e$ate/ as pe$sonal p$ope$t% in the Ci,il
Co/e in fo$ce at the ti:e the abo,e /ecision ;as $en/e$e/. 5et' inte$est in business ;as
/ecla$e/ to be pe$sonal p$ope$t% since it is capable of app$op$iation an/ not inclu/e/ in
the enu:e$ation of $eal p$ope$ties. A$ticle >1> of the Ci,il Co/e p$o,i/es that all thin0s
;hich a$e o$ :a% be the ob9ect of app$op$iation a$e consi/e$e/ eithe$ $eal p$ope$t% o$
pe$sonal p$ope$t%. Business is li1e;ise not enu:e$ate/ as pe$sonal p$ope$t% un/e$ the
Ci,il Co/e. #ust li1e inte$est in business' ho;e,e$' it :a% be app$op$iate/. 2ollo;in0 the
$ulin0 in St$ochec1e$ ,. Ra:i$eH' business shoul/ also be classifie/ as pe$sonal p$ope$t%.
Since it is not inclu/e/ in the eCclusi,e enu:e$ation of $eal p$ope$ties un/e$ A$ticle >15'
it is the$efo$e pe$sonal p$ope$t%.1&
As can be clea$l% 0leane/ f$o: the abo,e /is=uisitions' petitione$8s acts constitute theft of
$espon/ent P*4T8s business an/ se$,ice' co::itte/ b% :eans of the unla;ful use of the
latte$8s facilities. +n this $e0a$/' the A:en/e/ +nfo$:ation inaccu$atel% /esc$ibes the
offense b% :a1in0 it appea$ that ;hat petitione$ too1 ;e$e the inte$national lon0 /istance
telephone calls' $athe$ than $espon/ent P*4T8s business.
A pe$usal of the $eco$/s of this case $ea/il% $e,eals that petitione$ an/ $espon/ent P*4T
eCtensi,el% /iscusse/ the issue of o;ne$ship of telephone calls. The p$osecution has
ta1en the position that sai/ telephone calls belon0 to $espon/ent P*4T. This is e,i/ent
f$o: its Co::ent ;he$e it /efine/ the issue of this case as ;hethe$ o$ not Ethe
unautho$iHe/ use o$ app$op$iation of P*4T inte$national telephone calls' se$,ice an/
facilities' fo$ the pu$pose of 0ene$atin0 pe$sonal p$ofit o$ 0ain that shoul/ ha,e othe$;ise
belon0e/ to P*4T' constitutes theft.E1>
+n /iscussin0 the issue of o;ne$ship' petitione$ an/ $espon/ent P*4T 0a,e thei$
$especti,e eCplanations on ho; a telephone call is 0ene$ate/.15 2o$ its pa$t' $espon/ent
P*4T eCplains the p$ocess of 0ene$atin0 a telephone call as follo;s7
&?. The $ole of teleco::unication co:panies is not li:ite/ to :e$el% p$o,i/in0 the
:e/iu: @i.e. the elect$ic cu$$entA th$ou0h ;hich the hu:an ,oiceB,oice si0nal of the
calle$ is t$ans:itte/. Befo$e the hu:an ,oiceB,oice si0nal can be so t$ans:itte/' a
teleco::unication co:pan%' usin0 its facilities' :ust fi$st b$ea1 /o;n o$ /eco/e the
hu:an ,oiceB,oice si0nal into elect$onic i:pulses an/ sub9ect the sa:e to fu$the$
au0:entation an/ enhance:ents. Onl% afte$ such p$ocess of con,e$sion ;ill the $esultin0
elect$onic i:pulses be t$ans:itte/ b% a teleco::unication co:pan%' a0ain' th$ou0h the
use of its facilities. Upon $eachin0 the /estination of the call' the teleco::unication
co:pan% ;ill a0ain b$ea1 /o;n o$ /eco/e the elect$onic i:pulses bac1 to hu:an
,oiceB,oice si0nal befo$e the calle/ pa$t% $ecei,es the sa:e. +n othe$ ;o$/s' a
teleco::unication co:pan% both con,e$tsB$econ,e$ts the hu:an ,oiceB,oice si0nal an/
p$o,i/es the :e/iu: fo$ t$ans:ittin0 the sa:e.
&). Mo$eo,e$' in the case of an inte$national telephone call' once the elect$onic i:pulses
o$i0inatin0 f$o: a fo$ei0n teleco::unication co:pan% count$% @i.e. #apanA $eaches the
Philippines th$ou0h a local teleco::unication co:pan% @i.e. p$i,ate $espon/ent P*4TA'
it is the latte$ ;hich /eco/es' au0:ents an/ enhances the elect$onic i:pulses bac1 to the
hu:an ,oiceB,oice si0nal an/ p$o,i/es the :e/iu: @i.e. elect$ic cu$$entA to enable the
calle/ pa$t% to $ecei,e the call. Thus' it is not t$ue that the fo$ei0n teleco::unication
co:pan% p$o,i/es @1A the elect$ic cu$$ent ;hich t$ans:its the hu:an ,oiceB,oice si0nal
of the calle$ an/ @(A the elect$ic cu$$ent fo$ the calle/ pa$t% to $ecei,e sai/ hu:an
,oiceB,oice si0nal.
>. Thus' cont$a$% to petitione$ *au$el8s asse$tion' once the elect$onic i:pulses o$ elect$ic
cu$$ent o$i0inatin0 f$o: a fo$ei0n teleco::unication co:pan% @i.e. #apanA $eaches
p$i,ate $espon/ent P*4T8s net;o$1' it is p$i,ate $espon/ent P*4T ;hich /eco/es'
au0:ents an/ enhances the elect$onic i:pulses bac1 to the hu:an ,oiceB,oice si0nal an/
p$o,i/es the :e/iu: @i.e. elect$ic cu$$entA to enable the calle/ pa$t% to $ecei,e the call.
Dithout p$i,ate $espon/ent P*4T8s net;o$1' the hu:an ,oiceB,oice si0nal of the callin0
pa$t% ;ill ne,e$ $each the calle/ pa$t%.1"
+n the assaile/ 4ecision' it ;as conce/e/ that in :a1in0 the inte$national phone calls' the
hu:an ,oice is con,e$te/ into elect$ical i:pulses o$ elect$ic cu$$ent ;hich a$e
t$ans:itte/ to the pa$t% calle/. A telephone call' the$efo$e' is elect$ical ene$0%. +t ;as also
hel/ in the assaile/ 4ecision that intan0ible p$ope$t% such as elect$ical ene$0% is capable
of app$op$iation because it :a% be ta1en an/ ca$$ie/ a;a%. Elect$icit% is pe$sonal
p$ope$t% un/e$ A$ticle >1" @&A of the Ci,il Co/e' ;hich enu:e$ates Efo$ces of natu$e
;hich a$e b$ou0ht un/e$ cont$ol b% science.E1!
+n/ee/' ;hile it :a% be conce/e/ that Einte$national lon0 /istance calls'E the :atte$
alle0e/ to be stolen in the instant case' ta1e the fo$: of elect$ical ene$0%' it cannot be sai/
that such inte$national lon0 /istance calls ;e$e pe$sonal p$ope$ties belon0in0 to P*4T
since the latte$ coul/ not ha,e ac=ui$e/ o;ne$ship o,e$ such calls. P*4T :e$el% enco/es'
au0:ents' enhances' /eco/es an/ t$ans:its sai/ calls usin0 its co:pleC co::unications
inf$ast$uctu$e an/ facilities. P*4T not bein0 the o;ne$ of sai/ telephone calls' then it
coul/ not ,ali/l% clai: that such telephone calls ;e$e ta1en ;ithout its consent. +t is the
use of these co::unications facilities ;ithout the consent of P*4T that constitutes the
c$i:e of theft' ;hich is the unla;ful ta1in0 of the telephone se$,ices an/ business.
The$efo$e' the business of p$o,i/in0 teleco::unication an/ the telephone se$,ice a$e
pe$sonal p$ope$t% un/e$ A$ticle &? of the Re,ise/ Penal Co/e' an/ the act of en0a0in0 in
+SR is an act of Esubt$actionE penaliHe/ un/e$ sai/ a$ticle. -o;e,e$' the A:en/e/
+nfo$:ation /esc$ibes the thin0 ta1en as' Einte$national lon0 /istance calls'E an/ onl%
late$ :entions Estealin0 the business f$o: P*4TE as the :anne$ b% ;hich the 0ain ;as
/e$i,e/ b% the accuse/. +n o$/e$ to co$$ect this inaccu$ac% of /esc$iption' this case :ust
be $e:an/e/ to the t$ial cou$t an/ the p$osecution /i$ecte/ to a:en/ the A:en/e/
+nfo$:ation' to clea$l% state that the p$ope$t% sub9ect of the theft a$e the se$,ices an/
business of $espon/ent P*4T. Pa$entheticall%' this a:en/:ent is not necessitate/ b% a
:ista1e in cha$0in0 the p$ope$ offense' ;hich ;oul/ ha,e calle/ fo$ the /is:issal of the
info$:ation un/e$ Rule 11' Section 1> an/ Rule 11)' Section 1) of the Re,ise/ Rules on
C$i:inal P$oce/u$e. To be su$e' the c$i:e is p$ope$l% /esi0nate/ as one of theft. The
pu$pose of the a:en/:ent is si:pl% to ensu$e that the accuse/ is full% an/ sufficientl%
app$ise/ of the natu$e an/ cause of the cha$0e a0ainst hi:' an/ thus 0ua$antee/ of his
$i0hts un/e$ the Constitution.
ACCOR4+NG*5' the :otion fo$ $econsi/e$ation is GRANTE4. The assaile/ 4ecision
/ate/ 2eb$ua$% (!' (" is RECONS+4ERE4 an/ SET AS+4E. The 4ecision of the
Cou$t of Appeals in CA6G.R. SP No. "??>1 affi$:in0 the O$/e$ issue/ b% #u/0e .eus C.
Ab$o0a$ of the Re0ional T$ial Cou$t of Ma1ati Cit%' B$anch 15' ;hich /enie/ the
Motion to Fuash @Dith Motion to 4efe$ A$$ai0n:entA in C$i:inal Case No. ))6(>(5 fo$
theft' is A22+RME4. The case is $e:an/e/ to the t$ial cou$t an/ the Public P$osecuto$ of
Ma1ati Cit% is he$eb% 4+RECTE4 to a:en/ the A:en/e/ +nfo$:ation to sho; that the
p$ope$t% sub9ect of the theft ;e$e se$,ices an/ business of the p$i,ate offen/e/ pa$t%.
SO OR4ERE4.
CONSUE*O 5NARES6SANT+AGO
Associate #ustice
DE CONCUR7
RE5NATO S. PUNO
Chief #ustice
*EONAR4O A. FU+SUMB+NG
Associate #ustice ANTON+O T. CARP+O
Associate #ustice
MA. A*+C+A AUSTR+A6MART+NE.
Associate #ustice RENATO C. CORONA
Associate #ustice
CONC-+TA CARP+O MORA*ES
Associate #ustice A4O*2O S. A.CUNA
Associate #ustice
4ANTE O. T+NGA
Associate #ustice M+N+TA <. C-+CO6NA.AR+O
Associate #ustice
PRESB+TERO #. <E*ASCO' #R.
Associate #ustice ANTON+O E4UAR4O B. NAC-URA
Associate #ustice
TERES+TA #. *EONAR4O64E CASTRO
Associate #ustice ARTURO 4. BR+ON
Associate #ustice
C E R T + 2 + C A T + O N
Pu$suant to Section 1&' A$ticle <+++ of the Constitution' it is he$eb% ce$tifie/ that the
conclusions in the abo,e Resolution ;e$e $eache/ in consultation befo$e the case ;as
assi0ne/ to the ;$ite$ of the opinion of the Cou$t.
RE5NATO S. PUNO
Chief #ustice
2ootnotes
1 Rollo' p. !(?.
( +/. at 5!65?.
& 15 Phil. 1! @1)1A.
> (1 Phil. 55& @1)11A.
5 >1 Phil. &"> @1)(1A.
" K$i,en1o ,. Re0iste$ of 4ee/s' !) Phil. >"1 @1)>!A.
! People ,. Me$ca/o' "5 Phil. ""5 @1)&?A.
? +/.G 4u$an ,. Tan' ?5 Phil >!" @1)5A.
) Re0ala/o' C$i:inal *a; Conspectus @( e/.A' p. 5(.
1 G.R. No. *61>??!' #anua$% &1' 1)"1' 1 SCRA &?.
11 11 N.E. (/ >& @1)&!A.
1( >> Phil. )&& @1)((A.
1& ++ Tolentino' Co::enta$ies an/ #u$isp$u/ence on the Ci,il Co/e of the Philippines ("
@1))( e/.A.
1> Rollo' p. )(.
15 +/. at !?16!?&G ?&(6?&!G ?!(' ?!>6?!!.
1" +/. at ?!56?!!.
1! Sup$a note 1&.