[ GR No.

190475, Apr 10, 2013 ]

JAIME ONG Y ONG v. PEOPLE +

DECISION

G.R. No. 190475

SERENO, C.J.:
Before the Court is an appeal from the Decision[1] dated 18 August 2009 of the Court of Appeals (CA), which
affirmed the Decision[2]dated 06 January 2006 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 37, Manila. The
RTC had convicted accused Jaime Ong y Ong (Ong) of the crime of violation of Presidential Decree No.
(P.D.) 1612, otherwise known as the Anti-Fencing Law.

Ong was charged in an Information[3] dated 25 May 1995 as follows:

That on or about February 17, 1995, in the City of Manila, Philippines, the said accused, with intent of gain
for himself or for another, did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously receive and acquire from
unknown person involving thirteen (13) truck tires worth ?65, 975.00, belonging to FRANCISCO AZAJAR Y
LEE, and thereafter selling One (1) truck tire knowing the same to have been derived from the crime of
robbery.

CONTRARY TO LAW.

Upon arraignment, Ong entered a plea of "not guilty." Trial on the merits ensued, and the RTC found him
guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of P.D. 1612. The dispositive portion of its Decision reads:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, this Court finds that the prosecution has established the guilt of the
accused JAIME ONG y ONG beyond reasonable doubt for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1612 also
known as Anti-Fencing Law and is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of imprisonment of 10 years and 1
day to 16 years with accessory penalty of temporary disqualification.

SO ORDERED.[4]

Dissatisfied with the judgment, Ong appealed to the CA. After a review of the records, the RTC's finding of
guilt was affirmed by the appellate court in a Decision dated 18 August 2009.

Ong then filed the instant appeal before this Court.

THE FACTS

The version of the prosecution, which was supported by the CA, is as follows:

Private complainant was the owner of forty-four (44) Firestone truck tires, described as T494 1100 by 20 by
14. He acquired the same for the total amount of P223,401.81 from Philtread Tire and Rubber Corporation,
a domestic corporation engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of Firestone tires. Private
complainant's acquisition was evidenced by Sales Invoice No. 4565 dated November 10, 1994 and an
Inventory List acknowledging receipt of the tires specifically described by their serial numbers. Private
complainant marked the tires using a piece of chalk before storing them inside the warehouse in 720 San
Jose St., corner Sta. Catalina St., Barangay San Antonio Valley 1, Sucat, Parañaque, owned by his relative
Teody Guano. Jose Cabal, Guano's caretaker of the warehouse, was in charge of the tires. After appellant
sold six (6) tires sometime in January 1995, thirty-eight (38) tires remained inside the warehouse.

On February 17, 1995, private complainant learned from caretaker Jose Cabal that all thirty-eight (38) truck
tires were stolen from the warehouse, the gate of which was forcibly opened. Private complainant, together
with caretaker Cabal, reported the robbery to the Southern Police District at Fort Bonifacio.

Pending the police investigation, private complainant canvassed from numerous business establishments in
an attempt to locate the stolen tires. On February 24, 1995, private complainant chanced upon Jong's
Marketing, a store selling tires in Paco, Manila, owned and operated by appellant. Private complainant
inquired if appellant was selling any Model T494 1100 by 20 by 14 ply Firestone tires, to which the latter
replied in the affirmative. Appellant brought out a tire fitting the description, which private complainant
recognized as one of the tires stolen from his warehouse, based on the chalk marking and the serial number
thereon. Private complainant asked appellant if he had any more of such tires in stock, which was again
answered in the affirmative. Private complainant then left the store and reported the matter to Chief
Inspector Mariano Fegarido of the Southern Police District.

On February 27, 1995, the Southern Police District formed a team to conduct a buy-bust operation on
appellant's store in Paco, Manila. The team was composed of six (6) members, led by SPO3 Oscar Guerrero
and supervised by Senior Inspector Noel Tan. Private complainant's companion Tito Atienza was appointed
as the poseur-buyer.

On that same day of February 27, 1995, the buy-bust team, in coordination with the Western Police District,
proceeded to appellant's store in Paco, Manila. The team arrived thereat at around 3:00 in the afternoon.
Poseur-buyer Tito Atienza proceeded to the store while the rest of the team posted themselves across the
street. Atienza asked appellant if he had any T494 1100 by 20 by 14 Firestonetruck tires available. The latter
immediately produced one tire from his display, which Atienza bought for ?5,000.00. Atienza asked
appellant if he had any more in stock. Appellant then instructed his helpers to bring out twelve (12) more
tires from his warehouse, which was located beside his store. After the twelve (12) truck tires were brought
in, private complainant entered the store, inspected them and found that they were the same tires which
were stolen from him, based on their serial numbers. Private complainant then gave the prearranged signal
to the buy-bust team confirming that the tires in appellant's shop were the same tires stolen from the
warehouse.

After seeing private complainant give the pre-arranged signal, the buy-bust team went inside appellant's
store. However, appellant insisted that his arrest and the confiscation of the stolen truck tires be witnessed
by representatives from the barangay and his own lawyer. Resultantly, it was already past 10:00 in the
evening when appellant, together with the tires, was brought to the police station for investigation and
inventory. Overall, the buy-bust team was able to confiscate thirteen (13) tires, including the one initially
bought by poseur-buyer Tito Atienza. The tires were confirmed by private complainant as stolen from his
warehouse.[5]

For his part, accused Ong solely testified in his defense, alleging that he had been engaged in the business of
buying and selling tires for twenty-four (24) years and denying that he had any knowledge that he was
selling stolen tires in Jong Marketing. He further averred that on 18 February 1995, a certain Ramon Go
(Go) offered to sell thirteen (13) Firestone truck tires allegedly from Dagat-dagatan, Caloocan City, for
P3,500 each. Ong bought all the tires for P45,500, for which he was issued a Sales Invoice dated 18
February 1995 and with the letterhead Gold Link Hardware & General Merchandise (Gold Link). [6]

Ong displayed one (1) of the tires in his store and kept all the twelve (12) others in his bodega. The poseur-
buyer bought the displayed tire in his store and came back to ask for more tires. Ten minutes later,
policemen went inside the store, confiscated the tires, arrested Ong and told him that those items were
stolen tires.[7]

The RTC found that the prosecution had sufficiently established that all thirteen (13) tires found in the
possession of Ong constituted a prima facie evidence of fencing. Having failed to overcome the
presumption by mere denials, he was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of P.D. 1612.[8]

On appeal, the CA affirmed the RTC's findings with modification by reducing the minimum penalty from
ten (10) years and one (1) day to six (6) years of prision correcional.[9]

OUR RULING

The Petition has no merit.

The essential elements of the crime of fencing are as follows: (1) a crime of robbery or theft has been
committed; (2) the accused, who is not a principal or on accomplice in the commission of the crime of
robbery or theft, buys, receives, possesses, keeps, acquires, conceals, sells or disposes, or buys and sells, or
in any manner deals in any article, item, object or anything of value, which has been derived from the
proceeds of the crime of robbery or theft; (3) the accused knew or should have known that the said article,
item, object or anything of value has been derived from the proceeds of the crime of robbery or theft; and
(4) there is, on the part of one accused, intent to gain for oneself or for another.[10]

We agree with the RTC and the CA that the prosecution has met the requisite quantum of evidence in
proving that all the elements of fencing are present in this case.

First, the owner of the tires, private complainant Francisco Azajar (Azajar), whose testimony was
corroborated by Jose Cabal - the caretaker of the warehouse where the thirty-eight (38) tires were stolen
testified that the crime of robbery had been committed on 17 February 1995. Azajar was able to prove
ownership of the tires through Sales Invoice No. 4565[11] dated 10 November 1994 and an Inventory
List.[12] Witnesses for the prosecution likewise testified that robbery was reported as evidenced by
their Sinumpaang Salaysay[13] taken at the Southern Police District at Fort Bonifacio.[14] The report led to
the conduct of a buy-bust operation at Jong Markerting, Paco, Manila on 27 February 1995.

Second, although there was no evidence to link Ong as the perpetrator of the robbery, he never denied the
fact that thirteen (13) tires of Azajar were caught in his possession. The facts do not establish that Ong was
neither a principal nor an accomplice in the crime of robbery, but thirteen (13) out of thirty-eight (38)
missing tires were found in his possession. This Court finds that the serial numbers of stolen tires
corresponds to those found in Ong's possession.[15] Ong likewise admitted that he bought the said tires from
Go of Gold Link in the total amount of P45,500 where he was issued Sales Invoice No. 980.[16]

Third, the accused knew or should have known that the said article, item, object or anything of value has
been derived from the proceeds of the crime of robbery or theft. The words "should know" denote the fact
that a person of reasonable prudence and intelligence would ascertain the fact in performance of his duty to
another or would govern his conduct upon assumption that such fact exists. [17] Ong, who was in the business
of buy and sell of tires for the past twenty-four (24) years,[18] ought to have known the ordinary course of
business in purchasing from an unknown seller. Admittedly, Go approached Ong and offered to sell the
thirteen (13) tires and he did not even ask for proof of ownership of the tires.[19] The entire transaction, from
the proposal to buy until the delivery of tires happened in just one day.[20] His experience from the business
should have given him doubt as to the legitimate ownership of the tires considering that it was his first time
to transact with Go and the manner it was sold is as if Go was just peddling the thirteen (13) tires in the
streets.

In Dela Torre v. COMELEC,[21] this Court had enunciated that:

[C]ircumstances normally exist to forewarn, for instance, a reasonably vigilant buyer that the object of the
sale may have been derived from the proceeds of robbery or theft. Such circumstances include the time and
place of the sale, both of which may not be in accord with the usual practices of commerce. The nature and
condition of the goods sold, and the fact that the seller is not regularly engaged in the business of selling
goods may likewise suggest the illegality of their source, and therefore should caution the buyer. This
justifies the presumption found in Section 5 of P.D. No. 1612 that "mere possession of any goods, . . ., object
or anything of value which has been the subject of robbery or thievery shall be prima facie evidence of
fencing" a presumption that is, according to the Court, "reasonable for no other natural or logical
inference can arise from the established fact of . . . possession of the proceeds of the crime of robbery or
theft."xxx.[22]

Moreover, Ong knew the requirement of the law in selling second hand tires. Section 6 of P.D. 1612
requires stores, establishments or entities dealing in the buying and selling of any good, article, item, object
or anything else of value obtained from an unlicensed dealer or supplier thereof to secure the necessary
clearance or permit from the station commander of the Integrated National Police in the town or city where
that store, establishment or entity is located before offering the item for sale to the public. In fact, Ong has
practiced the procedure of obtaining clearances from the police station for some used tires he wanted to
resell but, in this particular transaction, he was remiss in his duty as a diligent businessman who should
have exercised prudence.

In his defense, Ong argued that he relied on the receipt issued to him by Go. Logically, and for all practical
purposes, the issuance of a sales invoice or receipt is proof of a legitimate transaction and may be raised as a
defense in the charge of fencing; however, that defense is disputable.[23] In this case, the validity of the
issuance of the receipt was disputed, and the prosecution was able to prove that Gold Link and its address
were fictitious.[24] Ong failed to overcome the evidence presented by the prosecution and to prove the
legitimacy of the transaction. Thus, he was unable to rebut the prima facie presumption under Section 5 of
P.D. 1612.

Finally, there was evident intent to gain for himself, considering that during the buy-bust operation, Ong
was actually caught selling the stolen tires in his store, Jong Marketing.

Fencing is malum prohibitum, and P.D. 1612 creates a prima facie presumption of fencing from evidence of
possession by the accused of any good, article, item, object or anything of value, which has been the subject
of robbery or theft; and prescribes a higher penalty based on the value of the property.[25]

The RTC and the CA correctly computed the imposable penalty based on P5,075 for each tire recovered, or
in the total amount of P65,975. Records show that Azajar had purchased forty-four (44) tires from
Philtread in the total amount of P223,401.81.[26] Section 3 (p) of Rule 131 of the Revised Rules of Court
provides a disputable presumption that private transactions have been fair and regular. Thus, the
presumption of regularity in the ordinary course of business is not overturned in the absence of the
evidence challenging the regularity of the transaction between Azajar and Philtread.

In fine, after a careful perusal of the records and the evidence adduced by the parties, we do not find
sufficient basis to reverse the ruling of the CA affirming the trial court's conviction of Ong for violation of
P.D. 1612 and modifying the minimum penalty imposed by reducing it to six (6) years of prision
correccional.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Petition is DENIED for lack of merit. Accordingly, the assailed
Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR No. 30213 is hereby AFFIRMED.

SO ORDERED.