Bouncing Checks (B.P. 22)
Some people still have this misplaced confidence in the deterrent effect of Batas Pambansa (BP) Blg. 22, also known as the Bouncing Checks Law (full text here). Here are some things a layman should know:
1. The issuer is not automatically liable simply because the check “bounced”. A check generally “bounces” when dishonored upon presentment (reasons include, account closed, drawn against insufficient funds or DAIF). However, it is indispensable that the issuer must be notified in WRITING about the fact of dishonor, and he has 5 days from receipt to pay the value of the check or make arrangements for the payment thereof. (Please see update on this matter at the Philippine e-Legal Forum).
2. Filing fees are generally not required for criminal cases. For B.P. 22 cases, however, the complainant is required to pay the filing fees (based on the value of the check/s and the damages claimed, just like in civil cases) upon filing of the case in court.
3. One major deterrent against bouncing checks is the threat of a warrant of arrest being issued once the criminal case is filed in court. This is no longer true. No warrant of arrest is issued unless the accused fails to appear when required by the court.
4. Even if a criminal case under B.P. 22 is filed, the court can’t issue a hold-departure order (HDO). All violations of the Bouncing Checks Law, regardless of the amount involved, are filed only with the municipal/metropolitan trial courts. These courts cannot issue an HDO.
5. Courts have the discretion of imposing: (a) imprisonment only; (b) fine only; OR (c) both. It is entirely possible that only a fine, without imprisonment, is imposed.
(See also: Basic Reminders in Preventing Check Fraud)
mikee,
Kung estafa nga offense mo, ang complainant ay nag file na sana sa Prosecutor’s office. Isa pa, kung utang lang talaga iyan, hindi puwedeng maging estafa. Nag issue ka ba ng post dated check? Kund hindi, utang lang iyan at malamang, may kilalang pulis ang inutangan mo at tinatakot ka lang para mapilitan kang magbayad. Magpasama ka sa abogado kung pupunta ka sa cidg.
In total, myself, my wife and 2 friends of ours, invested a total of 5 x Php1M into ‘V8 Motorcycles & Parts Dealer’, owned by Catherine L. Soronio.
The Checks she issued as a ROI started bouncing from January 16th 2009 due to her BPI Account getting closed following 3 checks having bounced due ‘DAIF’.
Soronio asked us for 3 month Moratoruim, but come April she was not good to her word, instead expecting us to cancel the Contracts she had enticed us in with and take out new ones where she repays over 5 years not 1 year.
I had my Atty issue a demand letter for the checks bouncing from April 16 2009. Soronio ignored that Demand Letter so my Atty filed Syndicated Estafa Case with Cebu City Prosecutors Office in May 2009.
Here we are more than 12 months on, and still no case been issued by Cebu City Prosecutors Office. Soem others whofiled the same, have been informed the Case was reduced to Estafa.
Why it take 12 months to process the case and then to Estafa? What happens to the Civil Claim to get our money back for all the Bounced checks of Php5M+
David,
Follow-up with the Prosecutor’s office since the case can now be filed in court. Your civil claim is deemed included in the criminal case. Coordinate with the prosecutor’s office if you can still file a separate complaint vs. Soronio for violation of BP 22. Coordinate also with the same office for possible travel ban on suspected criminal Soronio.
It would take quite long for complaints to be resolved at the Prosecutor’s office due to numerous cases being handled by the office. Normally, the prosecutor is advised to complete the resolution of complaints in 90 days counted from the time the case was submitted for decision.
dear,atty..nangutang po yong pinsan ng asawa ko na nasa dubia sa isang lending company dito po sa ortigas,isa po ako sa co-maker niya,ang problema tinawagan po ako ng lending company na ka kasuhan daw po nila ako kung hindi po daw ako maka ka pag bayad ng halagang buwanan na utang niya,oo nga po co-maker po niya ako pero ng makuha niya yung pera ni singko hindi po ako naka kuha nun,at ako pa po ang parang tina takot ng lending agency ng mag didimanda po daw sila ng bp.22,na hindi po man lang nila hinanap yong principal na nangutang sa kanila,sabit din po ba ako sa kaso….maraming salamat po
fitz,
Wala kang kaso. Ang tamang procedure, habulin nil muna ang principal na siyang may utang. Idemanda nila at kung talagang hindi na makabayad ang ulol na pinsan ng misis mo, saka ka lang nila dapat habulin, pero hindi sa kaso na violation ng BP 22, lalo na kung hindi ka naman nakapirma sa tseke. Sa susunod huwag ka nang mag co-maker. Mahirap ang buhay sa ngayon kaya iwasan mo na maging uto-uto. Huwag mong intindihin ang sinasabi sa iyo ng lending company. Pananakot lang iyon.
atty,
Tulungan po sana ako magkaroon ng knowledge sa case ko po na bp22,kasi po 8yrs ago yung ninang namin sa kasal niloko po nya ako ginamit ang check ko in the amount of 30,000…………pina rediscount po nya na alam naman nya na walang pundo,wala po akong utang sa ninang ko kaso sa friend namin in that time mas close sila sya yung sumingil daw dahil sa buntis ako umaga,tanghali gabi ng dahil sa 30,000 nakunan ako and by the time na irediscount nya yung check nasa hospital na ako na niraraspa wala ako knowledge na o hnd sya nagpaalam na rediscounted na,isang beses naglalakad ako dun nya sinabi and but that time wala akong trabaho wala akong income ,isang araw yung nagparediscount nya siningil na ako,hnd ko naman utang,tinakot ako na ikukulong lahat ng pananakot hanggang nakapagbgay ako ng 23000,naging 3t monthly na gusto interest lang yun ayaw npa magbigay ng na recievables….sobrang pressure 2003 denemanda ako ng estafa at bp22,na dismiss yung estafa then 2006 na dismiss yung bp22…..and last yr 2009 biglang nagising yung case at ngayon kasalukuyan po akong pumupunta sa korte uli kht takot na takot ako humaharap ako sa kadahilanang gusto ko iparamdam na hind ako yung dapat singilin dahil ako pa dehado nakunan at sobrang bigat na prblema po sa akin ito…tulungan po sana ninyo ako