Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Bouncing Checks in the Philippines: Criminal Liability Under B.P. 22
Learn what B.P. 22 says about bouncing checks in the Philippines, the penalties for issuing worthless checks, and how complainants can file a criminal case.
Acquitted Corporate Officer Not Civilly Liable for Bouncing Check: Supreme Court Ruling
Supreme Court clarifies that a corporate officer acquitted of BP 22 violations cannot be held civilly liable for the dishonored check's value.
Disbarment for Bouncing Checks: What Lawyers Must Know About Gross Misconduct
A lawyer was disbarred for issuing worthless checks. Learn the ethical rules, CPRA penalties, and practical lessons for attorneys.
Estafa and Bouncing Checks: Understanding Penalties and Retroactivity in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when RA 10951's reduced estafa penalties apply retroactively and why a trial court erred in releasing a convict.
Client Money and Bouncing Checks: A Lawyer’s Fiduciary Duty After Bernasconi v. Demaisip
A Supreme Court ruling on lawyer suspension clarifies the strict fiduciary duty to account for client funds and the consequences of issuing bouncing checks.
Perjury and Bouncing Checks in the Philippines: What Saulo v. People Teaches
Understand perjury and BP 22 bouncing check liability through the Supreme Court's ruling in Saulo v. People.
Lawyer Suspended for Dishonored Loan and Disregard of Legal Processes
A lawyer was suspended one year and fined for failing to pay a loan, issuing a bouncing check, and ignoring IBP proceedings.
B.P. 22 and the Corporate Veil: When Corporate Officers Face Personal Liability
The Supreme Court pierces the corporate veil in B.P. 22 cases, holding officers personally liable for bouncing checks—but only with proper notice of dishonor.
Venue in Estafa Cases: Where Does a Bouncing Check Crime Occur?
The Supreme Court clarifies that in estafa cases involving bouncing checks, venue lies where the check was issued and dishonored, not where negotiations occurred.
Positive Identification and Circumstantial Evidence in B.P. 22 Cases: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How Philippine courts use eyewitness identification and circumstantial evidence to convict in Bouncing Checks Law cases, explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Lawyer Suspended for Bounced Checks and Unpaid Debts: A Lesson in Professional Integrity
The Supreme Court suspended a lawyer for one year for failing to pay debts and issuing bouncing checks, reinforcing ethical standards for attorneys.
Lawyer Disbarred for Neglect, Dishonored Check, and Misconduct in Land Title Case
Supreme Court disbars a lawyer who took fees for a land title transfer, did nothing, and issued a bouncing check.
B.P. 22 Penalties: Supreme Court Tempers Imprisonment for Bouncing Checks
The Supreme Court clarifies that imprisonment for B.P. 22 violations must be proportionate and not excessive, modifying a 51-year sentence.
Bouncing Checks and Due Process: Notice of Dishonor as a Shield Against Liability
The Supreme Court acquits a B.P. 22 accused because the prosecution failed to prove she received the notice of dishonor.
Ethical Standards Upheld: Lawyer Suspended for Issuing a Bouncing Check
A lawyer's two-year suspension for issuing a bouncing check under BP 22, and the ethical duties it reinforces for the legal profession.
Lawyer Suspended for Dishonoring Obligations and Issuing Bouncing Checks
Supreme Court suspends lawyer for two years for issuing worthless checks and evading debts, violating the Code of Professional Responsibility.
When Lawyers Issue Bouncing Checks: Good Faith Is No Defense in Disciplinary Cases
The Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for two years for issuing worthless checks, clarifying that good faith is not a defense in disciplinary proceedings.
Sumbilla v. Matrix Finance: When Courts Correct Excessive Penalties in Final Bouncing Check Cases
The Supreme Court relaxed the finality rule to correct an excessive fine in a BP 22 conviction, protecting debtors from penalties beyond the law's limits.
When a Final Judgment Violates the Law on Bouncing Checks: Correcting an Excessive Penalty
The Supreme Court corrected an excessive fine in a final BP 22 conviction, showing when final judgments may be modified.
Bouncing Checks AND Broken Promises Establishing Fraud IN Estafa Cases
Dishonored Checks and Moral Turpitude: Dismissal in Public Service
A court employee's conviction for violating Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 (Bouncing Checks Law) constitutes a crime involving moral turpitude, warranting dismissal from public service.
Upholding Ethical Standards: Disbarment for Misconduct and Exorbitant Fees in Legal Practice
Supreme Court suspends lawyer for two years for demanding exorbitant fees to "expedite" a case already dismissed, plus issuing bouncing checks.
Proof of Notice of Dishonor: A Critical Safeguard in Bouncing Check Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court requires strict proof of written notice of dishonor before convicting under the Bouncing Checks Law.
Bouncing Checks and Civil Liability: Why You Can't Sue Separately for a BP 22 Violation in the Philippines
Learn why a bounced check can lead to estafa prosecution, not just BP 22, and what this means for your civil remedies.