The Court of Appeals’ Seventh Division reversed and set aside the previous resolutions issued by the Department of Justice and directed it to charge six former officers of the closed Fortune Savings and Loan Association Inc. for estafa through falsification of commercial documents.
It cited sufficient evidence on record to indict the executives for estafa through falsification of commercial documents, a criminal offense under the Revised Penal Code and punishable with imprisonment of up to 20 years.
The CA decision in October 2019 stemmed from the petition for certiorari filed in September 2010 by Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., statutory receiver of the closed FSLAI, that asked the CA to reverse and effectively set aside the previous resolutions of the DOJ promulgated in 2008 and 2010 . The DOJ downgraded the charge against the former FSLAI officers from estafa through falsification of commercial documents to falsification of commercial documents.
PDIC in 2008 sought reconsideration of the DOJ resolution that found probable cause to charge these officers for falsification of commercial documents but excluded the estafa charges. The DOJ in 2010 denied the motion for reconsideration of the statutory receiver.
The PDIC, in its complaint, alleged that the former bank officers conspired to approve and release a real estate loan in September 1993 amounting to P6.5 million, which the borrower denied when a demand was sent to him by the statutory receiver.
The borrower claimed that the respondents directed him to sign the loan documents. The CA said that the documents adduced by the PDIC (i.e., promissory note, disclosure statement on loan/credit transaction, loan release sheet, loan action sheet, subject check and credit investigation report) showed that the FSLAI former officers committed acts of falsification and deceit in procuring the loan of P6,500,102.46 from FSLAI, and that the respondents received the proceeds of the loan.
These circumstances showed that the former FSLAI officers are probably guilty of the crime of estafa through falsification of commercial documents, it said.
The PDIC said it remains relentless in its pursuit of justice against erring bank owners, officers and unscrupulous parties who take advantage of the deposit insurance system for their gain. It said its vigorous legal actions are crucial for protecting the interests of depositors, safeguarding the Deposit Insurance Fund and deterring bank officials and individuals from abusing the deposit insurance system.