Del Rosario and Peña were found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violating Article 213, paragraph , sub-paragraph of the Revised Penal Code, otherwise known as Illegal Exaction.Their charge stemmed from the demand they made as payment from every applicant of a municipal business permit or a business plate fee. They asked for P300 from each applicant or a total of P110,700 back in February 2009.
Molina tried to extinguish himself from any liability by stressing that he is not an official entrusted with collection, so he pointed his finger at Peña, who is responsible for the local revenue collection. “To that end, therefore, his role in such pecuniary activity of the municipality elevates to a legal certainty,” the decision stated.