Digest Nego
Digest Nego
Digest Nego
Department, drew six crossed Manager's check having an aggregate amount of (P45,982.23) and
payable to certain member establishments of Visa Card. Subsequently, the Checks were deposited
with the defendant to the credit of its depositor, a certain Aida Trencio.
Following normal procedures, and after stamping at the back of the Checks the usual endorsements.
All prior and/or lack of endorsement guaranteed the defendant sent the checks for clearing through
the Philippine Clearing House Corporation (PCHC). Accordingly, plaintiff paid the Checks; its clearing
account was debited for the value of the Checks and defendant's clearing account was credited for
the same amount,
Thereafter, plaintiff discovered that the endorsements appearing at the back of the Checks and
purporting to be that of the payees were forged and/or unauthorized or otherwise belong to persons
other than the payees.
Pursuant to the PCHC Clearing Rules and Regulations, plaintiff presented the Checks directly to the
defendant for the purpose of claiming reimbursement from the latter. However, defendant refused to
accept such direct presentation and to reimburse the plaintiff for the value of the Checks; hence, this
case.
In accordance with Section 38 of the Clearing House Rules and Regulations, the dispute was
presented for Arbitration. After an exhaustive investigation and hearing the Arbiter rendered a
decision in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant ordering the PCHC to debit the clearing
account of the defendant, and to credit the clearing account of the plaintiff.
In a motion for reconsideration filed by the petitioner, the Board of Directors of the PCHC affirmed
the decision of the said Arbiter
The petitioner by its own acts and representation can not now deny liability because it assumed the
liabilities of an endorser by stamping its guarantee at the back of the checks. The petitioner having
stamped its guarantee of "all prior endorsements and/or lack of endorsements" is now estopped
from claiming that the checks under consideration are not negotiable instruments.