Resolution: Republic of The Philippines Department of Justice Office of The City Prosecutor Baguio City

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Republic of the Philippines

Department of Justice
OFFICE OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR
Baguio City

JENNICA SEGUNDO, Respondent.


Complainant,

NPS. No. 1-27-INV-14000


-versus-

BRENDA Q. VILLACORTA, FOR: VIOLATION OF B.P. 22

x----------------------------x

RESOLUTION

Complainant JENNICA SEGUNDO charges respondent BRENDA


VILLACORTA with Violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 (B.P. Blg. 22)
otherwise known as the Anti- Bouncing Check Law.

In support of her complaint-affidavit, the complainant attached the


following documents:

1. ANNEX "A", Promissory Note containing the loan agreement;


2. ANNEX "B", BPI Check No. 0029859 dated September 10,
2018;
3. ANNEX "C", Demand Letter and Notice of Dishonor of BPI
Check No. 0029859, dated September 18, 2018
4. ANNEX "D", envelope;
5. ANNEX "E", Registry Return Receipt
6. ANNEX "F", final demand letter; and
6. ANNEX "G", deposit slip;

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STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

In the Complaint-Affidavit executed by the complainant, she averred


that on September 8, 2018, at the office of the respondent at Unit 23
Maharlika Bldg, Session Road, Baguio City, a BPI Check in the amount of
Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 2,800,000.00) was issued to
her. The check was issued as payment for the debt contracted by respondent
from complainant on August 15, 2017. However, respondent advised the
complainant that the latter could encash the check only after 2 days or on
September 10, 2018. Complainant then heeded to respondent's advise and
went to BPI Abanao Branch on September 10, 2018.

However, upon presentment of the check, it was dishonored by reason


of "Closed Account" on the next day, September 11, 2018. Complainant
then sent a Notice of Dishonor on September 18, 2018 through Katrina
Reyes. Such notice was tendered personally by Katrina Reyes at the
respondent's office at Unit 23 Maharlika Bldg, Session Road, Baguio City
but she refused to receive it. Hence, on September 19, 2018, Katrina Reyes
sent the demand letter and notice of dishonor through registered mail.

On February 6, 2019, complainant decided to file a complaint-


affidavit charging respondent for violation of BP Blg. 22.

THE ISSUE

Whether or not there is probable cause for a violation of B.P. Blg. 22


against respondent Brenda Villacorta.

ANALYSES, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

To be liable for violation of B.P. 22, the following essential elements


must be present: (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

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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 insufficiency of funds or creditor dishonor for the same reason had
not the drawer, without any valid cause, ordered the bank to stop payment.

Based on the facts presented in the instant case, the alleged act
committed by the respondent indisputably falls within the purview of a
violation of B.P. Blg. 22. Respondent issued a check for the payment of her
loan in favor of complainant; she knew that at the time she issued such
check, her account is already closed; and upon presentment by complainant
of the check , it was dishonored.

Moreover, in the case of Resterio vs. People of the Philippines, it was


ruled that the notice of dishonor to be given to the drawer, maker, or issuer
should be written. Here, the complainant, sent the demand letter and a copy
of the dishonored check through Katrina Reyes which was tendered to
respondent but refused to receive it. Thereafter, Katrina Reyes sent the
demand letter and notice of dishonor through registered mail to respondent's
office at Unit 23 Maharlika Bldg, Session Road, Baguio City, as evidenced
by the registry return card and Katrina Reyes' judicial affidavit.

In the same case, it was held that the giving of the written notice of
dishonor does not only supply the proof for the second element arising from
the presumption of knowledge the law puts up but also affords the offender
due process. The law thereby allows the offender to avoid prosecution if she
pays the holder of the check the amount due thereon, or makes arrangements
for the payment in full of the check by the drawee within five banking days
from receipt of the written notice that the check had not been paid.

SEC. 2. Evidence of knowledge of insufficient funds. – The making,


drawing and issuance of a check payment of which is refused by the drawee
because of insufficient funds in or credit with such bank, when presented
within ninety (90) days from the date of the check, shall be prima facie
evidence of knowledge of such insufficiency of funds or credit unless such
maker or drawer pays the holder thereof the amount due thereon, or makes
arrangements for payment in full by the drawee of such check within five (5)

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banking days after receiving notice that such check has not been paid by the
drawee.

For this presumption to arise, the prosecution must prove the


following: (a) the check is presented within ninety (90) days from the date of
the check; (b) the drawer or maker of the check receives notice that such
check has not been paid by the drawee; and (c) the drawer or maker of the
check fails to pay the holder of the check the amount due thereon, or make
arrangements for payment in full within five (5) banking days after receiving
notice that such check has not been paid by the drawee. In other words, the
presumption is brought into existence only after it is proved that the issuer
had received a notice of dishonor and that within five days from receipt
thereof, he failed to pay the amount of the check or to make arrangements
for its payment. The presumption or prima facie evidence as provided in this
section cannot arise, if such notice of nonpayment by the drawee bank is not
sent to the maker or drawer, or if there is no proof as to when such notice
was received by the drawer, since there would simply be no way of
reckoning the crucial 5-day period.

Here, respondent did not make good the check within five banking
days from receipt of the demand particularly on November 15, 2019, as
shown in the registry return card.

As held in the case of Medalla vs. Laxa, the Supreme Court held that
The gravamen of the offense punished by B.P. 22 is the act of making and
issuing a worthless check or a check that is dishonored upon its presentation
for payment. It is not the non-payment of an obligation which the law
punishes. The law is not intended or designed to coerce a debtor to pay his
debt. The thrust of the law is to prohibit, under pain of penal sanctions, the
making of worthless checks and putting them in circulation. Because of its
deleterious effects on the public interest, the practice is proscribed by law.
The law punishes the act not as an offense against property, but an offense
against public order.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, we find that there is probable


cause for Violation of B.P. Blg. 22 against the herein respondent, BRENDA
VILLACORTA, for which she is charged under the information attached.

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Baguio City, Philippines, February 6, 2019.

CHELSEA DE LA ROSA
OFFICER-IN-CHARGE / Assistant City
Prosecutor
Roll No. 525655
IBP Lifetime No. 036886
MCLE No. 451684, January 2019

Copy Furnished:

By personal service

BRENDA VILLACORTA
JENNICA SEGUNDO

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