Animus lucrandi (an internal act) established through overt acts of offender

With regard to appellant's contention that animus lucrandi was not established by the prosecution, the same is completely devoid of merit. Animus lucrandi or intent to gain, as the Solicitor General correctly submits, is an internal act which can be established through the overt acts of the offender. As this Court pithily put it in the early case of People vs. Sia Teb Ban, one's intention may be gathered from ones deeds. Appellants act of obtaining possession of the victims clutch bag through violence speaks for itself. And, the fact that the clutch bag of the victim was later found to contain a considerable amount of money only confirms that appellant had intended to rob Tandingan all along. [G.R. No. 118076. November 20, 1996]