Soon-Ruiz facing estafa charges over “worthless” P1.5M check

CEBU, Philippines - One Cebu Party's vice gubernatorial candidate Nerissa Soon-Ruiz is facing criminal complaints of estafa and six counts of violation of the Anti-Bouncing Checks Law for allegedly issuing post-dated checks totaling more than P1.5 million despite having a closed bank account.

Former Barangay Punta Engaño captain Angel Rodriguez of Lapu-Lapu City filed Wednesday the complaints against Ruiz before the prosecutor's office in Cebu City, where the "worthless" checks were issued.

She alleged that Ruiz defrauded her by issuing the checks with knowledge that these were of no value and would be dishonored by the drawee bank.

In her complaint-affidavit, Rodriguez recalled lending money amounting to P1.5 million to Ruiz, her friend, in exchange for the candidacy of Ruiz as representative of the lone congressional district of Lapu-Lapu City under Rodriguez's team.

The transaction took place in October 2014.

Ruiz reportedly said that the money was intended for the settling of a case with the Ombudsman which was filed against her for alleged misuse of her pork barrel during her stint as representative of the Sixth District of Cebu.

Rodriguez said she was assured that checks would be issued simultaneously to her to cover the P1.5 million and these checks Ruiz would issue would be of value once presented to the bank for payment.

"I agreed to the conditions, thus, I issued her three checks amounting P1.5 million. In return, she issued me post-dated checks in the amount of P1.5 million," she said.

The checks are due on October 15, November 15 and December 15, 2016.

Ruiz requested another P250,000 which was eventually granted by Rodriguez. In return, Ruiz allegedly issued three checks covering the amount which will be due on June 15, July 30, and October 30, 2015.

"Unfortunately when I deposited the said post-dated checks she issued amounting to a total of P250,000 and despite giving way to her request to deposit her checks at a future date, but when it was presented to the bank for payment, the checks that respondent (Ruiz) issued were returned with the annotation that the account has been closed," Rodriguez said.

Although the earlier issued post-dated checks amounting to P1.5 million are not yet due, Rodriguez included these in her complaints.

"It is relevant to include those checks because the account of respondent is a closed account and the said post-dated checks were drawn against the same account, thus, has become a useless piece of paper and of no value," she explained.

She said she immediately notified Ruiz through different channels so she could make good of the checks but to no avail.

Sought for comment, Ruiz denied violating any law. She said the checks covering the P1.5 million are not yet due.

She added that she already delivered the payment for the P250,000 representing the checks which were dishonored by the bank due to a closed account, but Rodriguez's camp allegedly refused to receive the amount without reason.

She said it was her sister who delivered the money to Rodriguez's lawyer three days from her receipt of the demand letter from Rodriguez.

The law on bouncing checks punishes the act of making and issuing a worthless check or a check that is dishonored upon its presentation for payment.

Rodriguez is running for mayor of Lapu-Lapu City under the United Nationalist Alliance party.

The Garcia-led One Cebu Party earlier broke alliance with UNA after the latter allegedly "did not appreciate nor reciprocate One Cebu's loyalty." — (FREEMAN)