- Petitioner
- Rodolfo "Sonny" D. Vicente
- Respondent
- People
- Citation
- G.R. No. 246700
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- First Division
- Ponente
- Carandang, J.
- Decided
- March 3, 2021
Summary
Vicente was charged with estafa for allegedly misappropriating P42,600.00 received from Roxaco Land Corporation that should have been paid to Winner Sign Graphics for billboard printing services. The RTC convicted Vicente, finding he had an obligation to remit Winner's share but misappropriated the funds. The CA affirmed but reduced the penalty under RA 10951. The Supreme Court reversed, ruling that Vicente had no obligation to turn over Roxaco's payment to Winner since Winner was not a party to the Vicente-Roxaco contract. Under the Civil Code's relativity of contracts principle, Vicente received payment for his own account. However, Vicente was ordered to pay his separate debt of P35,400.00 to Winner with interest, representing the amount owed for subcontracted work.