G.R. No.
106357 September 3, 1998
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
PRISCILLA BALASA, NORMITA VISAYA, GUILLERMO FRANCISCO, NORMA FRANCISCO and
ANALINA FRANCISCO, accused, NORMA FRANCISCO, GUILLERMO FRANCISCO and
ANALINA FRANCISCO, accused-appellants.
G.R. No. 108601-02 September 3, 1998
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
PRISCILLA BALASA, NORMITA VISAYA, GUILLERMO FRANCISCO, NORMA FRANCISCO and
ANALINA FRANCISCO, accused, NORMA FRANCISCO, GUILLERMO FRANCISCO and
ANALINA FRANCISCO, accused-appellants.
ROMERO, J.:
Avarice, mother of crimes, greedy for more the more she possesses, eversearching
open-mouthed for gold. 1
Greed has always been one of man's failings. The hope of greater gain has lured many a man to
throw caution, and his common sense, to the wind. This human foible, known to many, has been
exploited throughout the ages by con men, charlatans and cheats to bilk the gullible public of their
hard-earned money. History has thus seen the unraveling of various disingenuous stratagems which
are at bottom nothing but seams. The case at hand once again proves that "a sucker is born every
minute."
Totoong walang pagkaubos sa ating daigdig ang mga taong nanlilinlang. Hindi magkakagayon
naman kung walang nagpapalinlang. Dahil sa kanilang malaking hangarin na magkamal ng kimpal
kimpal na kayamanan, pinapasukan nila ang mga kaduda-dudang alok ng mga mapagsamantala na
kung sila ay mamuhunan ng kaunting salapi, ito ay tutubo ng malaki sa ilang araw lamang. Kaya't
napakaraming mga tao ang nagagantso. Hindi masasabing mga hangal o dili kaya'y mga maralita na
walang gaanong pinag-aralan ang mga nabibiktima. Kahit ang mga maykaya at matataas sa ating
lipunan ay napaglalaruan din. Milyun-milyong salapi ang nahuhuthot sa kanila, hindi ng mga
masakim na magnanakaw, kundi ng kanila na ring mga kasamahan sa tinatawag na "alta sociedad."
Mismong mga kaibigan at kapanatag ng loob ang naguudyok sa kanilang sumali sa mga pakana na
magpapayaman sa kanila. Higit namang nakakaawa kapag ang naloloko ay iyong nangungutang
lamang at nagbabakasakali na ang ilang daan nila ay magiging libo.
Itong kapasiyahang ito ng Mataas na Hukuman ay nagbababalang muli. Magpakaingat-ingat ang
lahat. Ang naghahangad ng kagitna, isang salop ang nawawala.
Iyon namang nanlilinlang. Walang gawaing masama na hindi nabubunyag rin. Totoong mahigpit ang
ating batas na pumaparusa sa mga ganyang hindi na natututo, lalo't higit kung ang mga salarin ay
mga sindikato.
Tunghayan natin kung papaano naganap ang gawang panloloko sa mga taga Palawan ng mga dayo
lamang.
On July 6, 1989, the Panata Foundation of the Philippines, Inc., a non-stock, non-profit corporation
with principal address at San Miguel, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, was registered with the securities
and Exchange Commission, under S.E.C. Reg. No. 165565. Its ten incoporators were Priscilla
Balasa, Normita Visaya, Analina Francisco, Lolita Gelilang, Cynthia Ang, Norma Francisco, Purabel
Espidol, Melinda Mercado, Rodolfo Ang, Jr. and Teresa G. Carandang. Five incorporators, namely,
Priscilla Balasa, Normita Visaya, Analina Francisco, Lolita Gelilang and Cynthia Ang were named
first trustees.
In addition, the management of the foundation was entrusted to Priscilla Balasa, as president and
general manager; Normita Visaya as corporate secretary and head comptroller; Norma Francisco as
cashier; Guillermo Francisco as the disbursing officer; and Analina Francisco as treasurer. The latter
also doubled as a typist of the Foundation.
On the other hand, the employees of the foundation were the tellers Rosemarie Balasa, Sylvia
Magnaye, Judith Ponciano, Jessica Buaya, Rosario Arciaga, Paul Francisco, Enriquita Gabayan and
Anita Macmac. The comptrollers, Ruth Jalover, Amarino Agayo, and Avelina Yan were under the
supervision of Normita Visaya. Nelia Daco, one of the clerks assigned outside, was the one in direct
contact with the depositors.
The Foundation's purposes, as stated in its by-laws, were as follows:
1. Uplift members' economic condition by way of financial or
consultative basis (sic);
2. To encourage members in a self-help program;
3. To grant educational assistance;
4. To implement the program on the Anti-Drug campaign;
5. To acquire facilities either by or through purchase, lease, bequest
of donations, equipments (sic), machineries (sic) and supplies for
purposes of carrying out its business operation or hold such real or
personal properties as may be convenient and proper in order to
achieve the purpose of this corporation;
6. To cooperate with other organizations, institutions with similar
activities for purposes of carrying out its business; and
7. To organize seminars or conferences specially in the rural areas
and other selected cities.2
After obtaining its SEC registration, the foundation immediately swung into operation. It sent out
brochures soliciting deposits from the public, assuring would-be depositors that their money would
either be doubled after 21 days or trebled after 30 days. Priscilla Balasa also went around
convincing people to make deposits with the foundation at their office at the Diaz Apartment, Puerto
Princesa.
The modus operandi for investing with the foundation was as follows:
When a person would deposit an amount, the amount would be taken by a clerk to be given to the
teller. The teller would then fill up a printed form called a "slot." These "slots" were part of a booklet,
with one booklet containing one hundred "slots." A "slot," which resembled a check, contained the
following data:
PANATA FOUNDATION Control No. 33
(Logo) OF THE PHILIPPINES INC. Date 12-5-87
