CASE DIGESTS

Special Penal Laws

CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY
A.Y. 2015-2016
Josephine Domagsang, petitioner vs. Court of Appeals and People of the Philippines, respondents
G.R. No. 139292, 5 December 2000
Ponente: Justice Vitug.
FACTS
On 8 May 1992, Criminal Case 92-4465 was filed against petitioner Josephine Domagsang by private
complainant Ignacio H. Garcia in RTC Makati Br. 63, which read that she issued a PhP50,000 Trader's
Royal Bank check (Check No. 149900) postdated 24 January 1991 payable to him, but upon deposit of
the check, the checks were dishonored by the bank because the account where the funds to be drawn
was closed. Later, subsequent informations (Criminal Cases No. 924466 to No. 924482) filed against
her by Garcia for remaining seventeen (17) Trader's Royal Bank checks, charging the same accusation
as 92-4465. The said eighteen (18) postdated checks were issued by Josephine Domagsang in Garcia's
name as repayment of the loan that she obtained from him for financial assistance. Garcia failed to
receive payment for the dishonored checks. He demanded payment from her by allegedly calling her
office and stating the dishonor of the issued checks. He made a subsequent demand for payment
(through his lawyer) to Domagsang, but his demands were ignored by her.
She filed with leave of court demurrer to evidence on 7 September 1993, stating that there was absence
of a demand letter from Garcia and that the checks were issued as collaterals or evidence of
indebtedness and not as payment. During the hearing on 17 February 1994, Domagsang (through her
counsel) waived her right to present evidence in her defense. Later on, the trial court convicted her of
eighteen (18) counts of violating the Anti-Bouncing Checks Law (BP 22) and she was sentenced for
one (1) year of imprisonment for each count, and was ordered to pay Garcia the amount of PhP573,
800.
The trial court's decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeals in its 15 February 1999 decision. She
asked for the appellate court for reconsideration of its decision, but the Court of Appeals expressed its
denial via its 9 July 1999 resolution.
VERDICT
The Supreme Court MODIFIED the Court of Appeals' decision: Domagsang was ACQUITTED of
the charges of violating BP 22 based on reasonable doubt. However, she was ordered to pay Garcia
PhP563,800 with 12% legal interest per year. Costs (of suit) against her.
LEGAL PROVISIONS
/archibald.manansala
ARCHIBALD JOSE T. MANANSALA
Juris Doctor 3rd Year

CASE DIGESTS
Special Penal Laws
CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY
A.Y. 2015-2016

Sections 1 3 of the Anti-Bouncing Checks Law (BP 22) states,

SECTION 1. Checks without sufficient funds. Any person who makes or draws and issues any check to
apply on account or for value, knowing at the time of issue that he does not have sufficient funds in or
credit with the drawee bank for the payment of such check in full upon its presentment, which check is
subsequently dishonored by the drawee bank for insufficiency of funds or credit or would have been
dishonored for the same reason had not the drawer, without any valid reason, ordered the bank to stop
payment, shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than thirty days but not more than one (1) year
or by fine of not less than but not more than double the amount of the check which fine shall in no case
exceed Two Hundred Thousand pesos, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the
court.
The same penalty shall be imposed upon any person who having sufficient funds in or credit with the
drawee bank when he makes or draws and issues a check, shall fail to keep sufficient funds or to
maintain a credit to cover the full amount of the check if presented within a period of ninety (90) days
from the date appearing thereon, for which reason it is dishonored by the drawee bank.
Where the check is drawn by a corporation, company or entity, the person or persons who actually
signed the check in behalf of such drawer shall be liable under this Act.
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) banking days after receiving notice that such check has not been paid by the drawee.
SEC. 3. Duty of drawee rules of evidence. It shall be the duty of the drawee of any check, when
refusing to pay the same to the holder thereof upon presentment, to cause to be written, printed or
stamped in plain language thereon, or attached thereto, the reason for drawee's dishonor or refusal to
pay the same: Provided, That where there are no sufficient funds in or credit with such drawee bank,
such fact shall always be explicitly stated in the notice of dishonor or refusal. In all having the drawee's
refusal to pay stamped or written thereon, or attached thereto, with the reason therefor as aforesaid,
shall be prima facie evidence of the making or issuance of said check, and the due presentment to the
drawee for payment and the dishonor thereof, and that the same was properly dishonored for the reason
written, stamped or attached by the drawee on such dishonored check.
Notwithstanding receipt of an order to stop payment, the drawee shall state in the notice that there were
/archibald.manansala
ARCHIBALD JOSE T. MANANSALA
Juris Doctor 3rd Year

CASE DIGESTS
Special Penal Laws
CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY
A.Y. 2015-2016
no sufficient funds in or credit with such bank for the payment in full of such check, if such be the
fact.
ISSUES AND HELD BY THE SUPREME COURT
Whether Garcia's alleged verbal demand of payment to Domagsang was sufficient to convict of
violating the Anti-Bouncing Checks Law and that written notice of dishonor is required for such
conviction?
The lower courts and Garcia argued that Domagsang was properly informed of the dishonored checks
when he called her in her office to demand payment and informed her about the dishonor of the checks
she issued. Meanwhile, petitioner Domagsang argued that there was absence lack of a proper written
notice of dishonor of the check which cause insufficiency for her conviction of charges of issuing a
dishonored check due to a closed account.
The Court agreed with Domagsang's argument and held that Garcia's verbal demand and notice through
a phone call proved fatal to his case, as sec. 3 of BP 22 requires him to issue a written notice of the
dishonored checks due to accounts which were closed or had insufficient funds. Further, it was also
held that absence of a notice of dishonor necessarily deprives an accused opportunity to preclude
criminal prosecution. Accordingly, procedural due process clearly enjoins that a notice of dishonor be
actually served, as she has right to demand (on ground of fair play) to require that the notice of
dishonor be actually sent to and received by her to afford her opportunity to avert prosecution under BP
22.

/archibald.manansala
ARCHIBALD JOSE T. MANANSALA
Juris Doctor 3rd Year