G.R. No. 39864, December 8, 1933
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, plaintiff-appellee, vs. MARCELINO VALENCIA, MELCHOR QUIJANO, and SOCORRO QUIJANO, defendants. MARCELINO VALENCIA and SOCORRO QUIJANO, appellants.

FACTS

Appellants Marcelino Valencia and Socorro Quijano, along with Melchor Quijano, were charged for using counterfeit ten-peso bills to purchase goods from two stores in Mabalacat, Pampanga. Marcelino pleaded guilty, while Socorro pleaded not guilty. After trial, Melchor was acquitted. The trial court convicted Marcelino under Article 166 of the Revised Penal Code (connivance with counterfeiters) and Socorro under Article 168 (uttering false treasury or bank notes without connivance). Both appealed.

ISSUE

1. Whether the trial court correctly qualified Marcelino Valencia’s crime under Article 166 instead of Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code.
2. Whether the evidence was sufficient to convict Socorro Quijano.

RULING

1. As to Marcelino Valencia: The Supreme Court affirmed his conviction under Article 166. By pleading guilty, he admitted all material allegations in the information, including connivance with the counterfeiters. His subsequent testimony as a witness could not alter the legal effect of his plea. With the mitigating circumstance of plea of guilty, and applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law, his sentence was modified to an indeterminate penalty of 8 years and 1 day to 10 years and 8 months of prision mayor, and a fine of P100 without subsidiary imprisonment.
2. As to Socorro Quijano: The Supreme Court affirmed her conviction, finding the evidence sufficient to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. She was convicted under Article 168. Applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law, her sentence was modified to an indeterminate penalty of 6 years and 1 day to 9 years and 4 months of prision mayor, and a fine of P100 without subsidiary imprisonment.
The judgment was modified as indicated and affirmed.

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