People v. Pantig

Summary

The Supreme Court reversed a trial court's order requiring payment of civil liability after acquitting a defendant of estafa. Defendant Pantig was acquitted of fraudulently obtaining P1,200 from Consuelo Pablo, but the trial court still ordered him to pay the amount, finding it was received as a loan. The Supreme Court held that civil liability in criminal cases must arise from the criminal act itself. Since Pantig was acquitted, any obligation to return the money arose from civil contract law, not criminal liability, and could not be enforced in the criminal proceeding. The payment order was revoked without prejudice to a separate civil action.