Hindi sapat ang Oral Notice of Dishonor upang makulong sa ilalim ng Batas Pambansa Blg. 22

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta - @Magtanong Kay Attorney | July 31, 2020

Dear Chief Acosta,

Ako ay nagbebenta ng mga construction materials. Dahil nga may krisis ngayon, may isa akong kliyente na nagbayad ng dalawang post-dated checks. Ngunit noong idineposit ko ang mga tseke, tumalbog ang mga ito. Tinawagan ko siya at sinabi ko na tumalbog ang mga tseke. Nangako siyang babayaran niya noong nakaraang buwan ngunit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin. Iniisip kong magsampa ng kasong BP 22 sa korte. Bukod sa mga tumalbog na tseke bilang ebidensiya, sapat na ba na ipaalam ko sa kanya orally ang tungkol dito? – Jessa

Dear Jessa,

Ang sagot sa iyong katanungan ay hindi po. Sinabi ng Korte Suprema sa kasong Dico vs. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 141669, February 28, 2005, Ponente: Honorable former Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario) na kinakailangang may naipadalang notice of dishonor sa gumawa o drawer ng tseke at personal na natanggap niya ito upang maging liable sa ilalim ng Batas Pambansa Blg. 22. Hindi sapat ang oral notice, viz:

“To hold a person liable under B.P. Blg. 22, the prosecution must not only establish that a check was issued and that the same was subsequently dishonored, it must further be shown that accused knew at the time of the issuance of the check that he did not have sufficient funds or credit with the drawee bank for the payment of such check in full upon its presentment. xxx Inasmuch as this element involves a state of mind of the person making, drawing or issuing the check which is difficult to prove, Section 2 of B.P. Blg. 22 creates a prima facie presumption of such knowledge. xxx 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.
A notice of dishonor received by the maker or drawer of the check is thus indispensable before a conviction can ensue. The notice of dishonor may be sent by the offended party or the drawee bank. The notice must be in writing. A mere oral notice to pay a dishonored check will not suffice. The lack of a written notice is fatal for the prosecution.” (Binigyang-diin)

Nawa ay nasagot namin ang inyong mga katanungan. Nais naming ipaalala sa inyo na ang opinyong ito ay nakabase sa inyong mga naisalaysay sa inyong liham at sa pagkakaintindi namin dito. Maaaring maiba ang opinyon kung mayroong karagdagang impormasyong ibibigay. Mas mainam kung personal kayong sumangguni sa abogado.