Ocampo v. People

Summary

Petitioner Juliet P. Ocampo was convicted of 16 counts of violating Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 for issuing bouncing checks totaling P7.475 million to private respondent Michael Lim. The checks were issued as payment for a P6 million loan and interest. All courts from MeTC to Supreme Court affirmed her conviction. The Supreme Court held that B.P. Blg. 22 is malum prohibitum, punishing the mere act of issuing worthless checks regardless of the purpose or underlying obligation's validity. Petitioner's defenses of overpayment, lack of notice, and absence of valuable consideration were rejected. The Court modified the penalty structure and interest computation, imposing specific fines ranging from P25,000 to P200,000 per count with subsidiary imprisonment, plus civil indemnity for seven checks totaling P6 million with legal interest. The decision reinforces that criminal liability under B.P. Blg. 22 exists independently of civil obligations' validity.