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 “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 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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good eve po. i just want to check po if dapat po ba na nagnonotify si bank sa client niya if may problem ang acount nila. nangyari po kasi samin ito ngayon last 2016 nagopen po kami ng account for post dated check. nagkarron po kami ng bouncing check last september 2016 pero wala po advice si bangko na may kailangan kami isettle sa kanila. So expecting po na wala kami problem sa kanila. Nagpatuloy po ang monthly deposit namin sa kanila until 2018. nagulat nalang po kami na close account na without prior notice or text message man lamang.
so nagpunta po ako sa bangko to check kung ano po nangyari sa account namin. So, ayun po ang explanation po ng bangko ay nagkaroon sila ng charges sa account namin which is 300 pesos per month na nagstart pa po last march 2017 at kagaya po ng una wala po ulit consent samin na until ngayon pong araw na ito nalaman ko po na ubos na po yung maintaining balance at ikinlose na yung account. Ganyan po ba talaga ang process ni bank na basta basta nalang sila magbabawas ng pera ng client nila without consent? at icoclose yung functional na account without consent which is monthly naman po ako nasa bank and pwede naman nila iinform kami na may problema na pala ang account. ngayon po kahit piso wala na po natira sa pera na sana ay iniipon namin dahil lagi po sobra ang idinedeposit ko kada month.
Good day, Nah issue PO ako nang check SA Loan ko SA bank,nakahulog nman po ako, but nawalan ako trabaho kalaunan so nagbounce na mga check ko that’s was 7 years ago. SA ngayun the collecting agencies haunting me. SA 7 years Wala na along klarong trabaho. Tanong ko PO makukulung pi ba ako?
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Hello po. Nagtayo po kmi ng business. Yun pong isang supplier namin ay nagbigay sa amin ng terms. Kaso po dahil nagsisimula pa lang at nagkamali ng diskarte ay nakapagpautang din po kami kaya dpo namin nabayaran yung supplier namin. In return po nnghingi na lng xa ng cheke sa amin.kaso po d namin talaga makaya pang hulugan dahil unti unti po humihina buss. Lagi po nakikipag usap kami, and nakikiusap din po kmi na bka pwdng hulog hulugan na lang.kaso po ayaw po nya pumayag at gusto po ay ibigay nang gulpi yung utang namin. Paano po pwd namin gawin? D naman po kami ttakbo at willing naman kami magbayad kaya lang po ay hulugan? Please po, help po. Maraming salamat po.
if may loan ka sa mga lending? then di mo na kaya magbayad pwede ka ba nila kasuhan? or pwede bang ask mo sila na pakiusapan na wag ka munang singilin until meron ka ng pambayad?
Hi gs2 ko lang po magtanong, kumuha po ako ng nbi pinababalik po ako since may kilala po ako dun na check po na may lumalabas na case bp 22 2014, may court of arrest na po. Pero di po ako aware na may demanda ako at wala rin po akong natatanggap na letter ng hearing. May change po ba na ma dismmised ung kaso. At pano po kung hndi naman ako aware sa kaso. Ano po ang dapat kong gawin. Salamat
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