Some people still have confidence, which confidence may be regarded as misplaced by others, in the deterrent effect of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22, also known as the “Bouncing Checks Law” (full text here). Here are some things a layman should know:
1. Filing fees are generally not required for criminal cases. For B.P. 22 cases, however, the complainant is required to pay the filing fee (based on the value of the check/s and the damages claimed, just like in civil cases) upon filing of the case in court.
2. One major deterrent against the issuance of 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.
3. Even if a criminal case under B.P. 22 is filed, the court cannot issue a hold-departure order. 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 a hold-departure order.
4. 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, will be imposed.
5. The issuer is not automatically liable simply because the check “bouncedâ€. 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 five (5) days from receipt of the written notice within which to pay the value of the check or make arrangements for the payment thereof. This is based on the 1999 decision of the Supreme Court in King vs. People of the Philippines (G.R. No. 131540).
Recently, the SC “appears” to have relaxed this ruling in the 2005 case of Yulo vs. People of the Philippines (G.R. 142762). In this case, the SC reiterated the elements or requisites of the offense penalized by BP 22:
(1) the making, drawing, and issuance of any check to apply for account or for value;
(2) the knowledge of the maker, drawer, or issuer that at the time of issue he does not have sufficient funds in or credit with the drawee bank for the payment of the check in full upon its presentment; and
(3) the subsequent dishonor of the check by the drawee bank for insufficient funds or credit or dishonor for the same reason had not the drawer, without any valid cause, ordered the bank to stop payment.
It is immediately clear that the “written notice” is not an element of the crime. In fact, in the Yulo case, the High Tribunal rejected the argument of the accused regarding the absence of a written notice, thus:
We likewise find no reason to sustain petitioner’s contention that she was not given any notice of dishonor. Myrna had no reason to be suspicious of petitioner. It will be recalled that Josefina Dimalanta assured Myrna that petitioner is her “best friend†and “a good payer.†Consequently, when the checks bounced, Myrna would naturally turn to Josefina for help. We note that Josefina refused to give Myrna petitioner’s address but promised to inform petitioner about the dishonored checks.
This ruling, however, did not categorically overturn the doctrine enunciated in the earlier King case. In other words, at this stage, both sides could logically argue either way.
(See also: Basic Reminders in Preventing Check Fraud)
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hi warrior.
Gug pm.. tanong ko lang po may loan po kasi ako last year, and i issue post dated check, kasi un daw un required,. nakakabayad naman ako on time before, kaso due to finacial crisis, at nawalan na din po ako ng trabaho, bread winner pa ko sa pamilya ko.. d na ko nakahulog, parang nagclose aacount na ako sa bangko kasi hindi ko na sya napopondohan ng pera.. sa ngayon po kasi wala pa po akong trabaho, naghahanap palang..
Ano po bang pwede kong gawin?
Ano po ba makukulong po ba ako?
Please advise me…
Thank you po..
good pm, i also have the same problem with our checks, makukulong po ba kme pag di po namin nabayanran yung mga checks na na issue namin sa mga banks na may loan kame, ano po ba ang dapat namin gawin?
Ive been in court case of bp22 for 10,000 I will not let myself be in court in this small amount if I am guilty with this. I want to continue go in court to prove that I already paid it. This is the story.
Dahil sa financial problem and need immediate remedy, I look for a person that can help me, isa sa staff ko refer her friend na isang agent ng check rediscounting interest of 20% per month, dahil sa badly need ako kaya grab ko even high interest. I issued check to her within the day binigay nya pera sa akin. Then less than a week before mag due I text her na baka pede ko ito tubuan muna dahil di pa maganda flow ng budget ko, then she aggree and kinuha nya ang tubo na 2K pinuntahan nya ako sa office ko. Binigay ko new check ko for replacement ng may bago due date di pa nya dala yun old check ko dahil dapat daw dala na nya kapalit na check bago irelease yun una.Sabi ko cge by next week na nya bigay dahil thursday nun at friday naman di ako makakapsok dahil check up ko, sat and sun wal naman kami pasok. Days after agent maybe its the exact date of my check agent called me na on going na daw yun pagdep ng check ko at di daw makontact yun nagdedeposito para ipahold,nagcomplaint ako sa kanya na bakit ganun they agreed naman na tubuan if not eh di sana ginawan ko ng paraan, because of that I called her to talk to me personally then he drop by at my office, nag usap kami at nagdecide ako na bayaran na lang yun check pero di ko na pinaredeposit dahil sabi ko idededuct ko yun 2k na naibigay ko na. Maayos naman sya kausap.She gave to me the new check dahil nasa kanya pa pala yun, and I gave her the full amount na kulang pa sa 10K, the following days hindi na ko masyado nakakapasok dahil sa selan ng pregnancy ko so I told to my staff na kontakin si angie at kunin yun check ko, I also text and called angie na pakibigay na lang sa staff ko na tatawag sa kanya yun check and ibinigay ko rin yun mga name ng mga staff ko na pede komontak sa kanya at pagbigyan ng check ko. Hanggang sa hindi na talaga nya naibigay at ang dami dami nya naging dahilan and alibi, Hindi ko naman pinuntahan kahit may idea ako kun san nya dinala yun check ko bec I respect her sa mga csinabi nya na sya yun kausap nun financer at inuunawa ko sya dahil at keep on believing ako sa mga reason nya and binibigyan ko sya ng chance na ayusin yun sinasabi nya na pikikipag usap dun sa financer dahil may konti raw prob pero sya daw aayos. Hanggan nga sa punto na pinagtataguan na nya ako at nareceived na nga ako ng demand letter. Now ang kaso is nasa korte na for preliminary investigation and araigment. Yoko isettle dahil gusto ko ipaglaban na bayad ko na yun at biktima ako ng agent nya at feeling ko gusto nila ako biktimahin pareho. Please kindly help me to decide may karapatan po ba ako na ipaglaban ko or I need to surrender dahil sa end talo ako sa kaso ko? Thanks and more power!
Hello po, I loaned to a friend P20,000 with a 10% after a month. she issued to me a check of P22,000 which she told me to encash after a month. the check bounced..Right now I heard she transferred residence and doesnt answer any of my calls. I text, emailed and contacts her office but she also resigned from her work. The court said that i should give a notice in writing about the fact of dishonor, but how can i contact her? Please kindly help me on what to do? Thank you and God bless..