Mercantile Law Notes
Mercantile Law Notes
Mercantile Law Notes
LETTERS OF CREDIT
A. Definition
- A letter of credit is a written instrument whereby the writer requests or
authorizes the addressee to pay money or deliver goods to a third person and
assumes responsibility for payment of debt therefore to the addressee (Transfield
Phils vs. Luzon Hydro Corp 443 Scra 307)
-
Nature the letter of credit has evolved as the ubiquitous and most important
device in international trade. A creation of commerce and businessmen the letter
of credit is unique in the number of parties involved and its supranational
character. (Transfield Phils vs Luzon Hydro Corp, supra)
Arrangement:
Buyer (Applicant) one who procures the letter of credit
Issuing Bank one who issues the letter of credit and undertakes to pay
seller upon receipt of the draft and proper documents of title
Seller (Beneficiary) one who ships the goods to buyer and delivers the
documents of title to the bank along with the draft.
(Bank of America vs CA 228 Scra 357 (1993))
Definition
A trust receipt is a commercial document whereby the bank releases the
Concept
It is a security arrangement to which a bank acquires ownership pf the
imported personal property (Garcia vs CA 258 Scra 446)
1. Loan/Security Feature
PART II
C. Obligation and Liability of the Entrustee
1. Payment/Delivery of Proceeds of Sale on Disposition of Goods, Documents or
Instruments
- a trust receipt transaction imposes upon the entrustee the obligation to deliver to
the entruster the price of the sale, or if the merchandise is not sold, to return the
same to the entruster, and a violation of any of these undertakings constitutes estafa
defined under Art. 315(1)(b) of the Revised Penal Code, as proved by Sec. 13 of PD
115
(Gonzales vs. HSBC, 537 SCRA 255)
2. Return of Goods, Documents of Proceeds of the Sale or Disposition of Goods,
Documents or Instruments in case of non-sale
- failure of the entrustee to turn over the sale proceeds, or to return said goods if
they were not disposed of in accordance with the terms of the trust receipt, shall be
punishable as estafa under Art. 315 (1) of the Revised Penal Code, without need of
proving intent to defraud.
(Colinares vs. Cort of Appeals, 339 SCRA 609)
3. Liability for loss of goods, documents or instruments
- it is the entrustee that bears the risk of loss
4. Penal sanction if offender is a Corporation
- under PD 115, performance of the act is an obligation directly imposed by law on
the Corporation, and consequently, since a corporation can only act through its
officers, then the responsible office must necessarily be the ones criminally liable
(Sia vs. Court of Appeals, 121 SCRA 655)
D. Remedies Available
- Entruster has the discretion to cancel the trust and take possession of the goods or
seeks any third party action/claim or a separate civil action which it deems best to
protect its rights, at any time upon default or failure of the entrustee to comply with
any of the terms and conditions of the trust agreement
(South City Homes, Inc. vs. BA Finance Corp., 371 SCRA 603)
1. Entrustee always bound to pay loan
since trust receipts agreements are merely security for the loan agreement,
the full-turnover of the goods subject of the trust receipts does not suffice to
divest debtors of their obligations to pay the principal amount of the loan.
Sec. 7, PD 115 expressly provides for it.
2.
Entruster may file estafa charges against entrustee
under the act, all deposits of whatever nature with banks or banking
institutions, including investments in bonds issued by the Government, and
its political subdivisions and instrumentalities
FCDUs
4. Garnishment of Deposits
1) FCDUs FCDU accounts are exempt from attachment, garnishment, or any other
order or process of any court, legislative body, government agency, or any
administrative body whatsoever.
Plunder
Rubbery and Extortion
Jueteng and Masiao
Piracy on the High Seas
Qualified Theft
9. Swindling
10. Smuggling
11. Violations of E-Commerce Act
12. Hijacking, destructive arson and murder, including acts of terrorism against
non-combatant persons and similar targets
13. Fraudulent practices under the Sec. Reg. Code 2000
14. Felonies or offenses of similar nature punishable under the penal laws of
other countries
* There can be separate convictions for the money laundering offense and unlawful
activity constituting it
* But unlawful activity shall be given precedence over money laundering charge
without prejudice to freezing and other remedies provided by the act.
8. Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC)
- Composition BSP Governor, as AMLC Chairman
- Insurance Commission Chairman
- SEC Chairman
9. Freezing of Money Instrument or Property
- The original power of the AMLC to freeze accounts has been deleted under RA 9194.
Under the current version, the Court of Appeals may issue a Freeze Order only:
a) upon ex-parte application of AMLC;
b) after determination that probable cause exists that any way related to an
unlawful activity
* It shall be effective immediately, and for a period of 20 days unless extended by the
Court
10. Authority to Inquire into Bank Deposits
- AMLC may seek court order: to inquire into or examinee a particular deposit or
investment with a banking or non-bank financial institution
- AMLC on its own: and no account is required, in cases involving: (a) kidnapping for
ransom; (b) drug trafficking or (c) terrorism
* BASIS OF ORDER: UPON PROBABLE CAUSE THAT THE DEPOSITS OR INVESTMENTS
ARE IN ANY WAY RELATED TO AN UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY OR MONEY-LAUNDERING
OFFENSE
THERE CAN BE NO EXAMINATION OF DEPOSITS OR INVESTMENTS MADE PRIOR THE
ACTS EFFECTIVITY
242-243
52
08
138-144
100
Insurance Code
- Sec. 2
10 14 93 77 60-61
64 32
3
11 19 20 82 52
26 94
10 relate this to Art. 739 of the Civil Code
93 double insurance
* Elements of Insurance
3,132.54
37,590.46
MONICA HSBC
General Powers of the Corporation Sec. 36
1) Sue and be sued in its Corporate name
2) Succession
3)
4)
5)
6)
RA 7653
The New Central Bank Act
Sec. 15 powers
RA 8791
General Banking Act of 2000
Kinds of Banks:
1) Universal Bank are bans which can exercise the powers of an investment
house and invest in non-allied enterprises. Has the highest capitalization
requirement.
2) Commercial Bank banks that cannot exercise the powers of an investment
house nor invest in non-allied enterprises. It has a lower capitalization
requirement than universal universal banks.
3) Thrift Bank composed of: a) Savings and mortgage banks; b) Stock savings;
c) Private development banks governed by the Thrift Banks Act
4) Rural Banks are banks for rural development. They are mandated to
ensure that credit is available and readily accessible in the rural areas on
reasonable terms. Governed by the Rural Banks Act of 1992. These bans
must be wholly owned by Filipinos
5) Cooperative Banks are banks whose majority shares are owned by
cooperatives primarily to provide financial and credit services to
cooperatives
6) Islamic Banks are banks whose business dealings are subject to the basic
rules of Islamic Sharia
PART III
MERCANTILE LAW
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS
Functions of Negotiable Instruments:
Negotiable instruments are meant to be substitutes for money and
thereby increase the purchasing media in circulation.
Principal Features of Negotiable Instruments:
1. Negotiability
-
*The holder in
primarily
Warehouse receipts
Symbolic or constructive delivery
It is a substitute for goods
1, 23, 52 warranties of an
endorser
MEMORIZE
Promissory Note
- An unconditional promise in writing made by one person to another,
signed by the maker, engaging to pay on demand, or at a fixed or
determinable future time, a sum certain in money to order or to
bearer.
Bill of Exchange
- An unconditional order in writing addressed by one person to
another, signed by the person giving it, requiring the person to whom
it is addressed to pay on demand or at a fixed determinable future
time a sum certain in money to order or to bearer.
*A negotiable instrument is a real contract; it is deliverable as it is
perfected only upon delivery. (delivery is required)
Complete but undelivered
- is a defense available only against parties to the fraud but cannot be
used against a holder in due course.
Incomplete but undelivered
- is a personal defense which cannot be used against a holder in due
course.
Incomplete and undelivered
- a real defense that can be availed of against a holder on due course.
Research:
-
a) In its acquisition
- The tile of a person is defective if he acquired the instrument by
fraud, duress or force and fear, or other unlawful means, or for an illegal
consideration.
b) In its negotiation
Personal Defenses
-
those that arise in the course of the life of the instrument emanating
from the conduct of circumstances surrounding its acquisition by a
party thereto.
INSURANCE
-
Definition
Characteristics
Rules on Premiums
Insurable interest in life/property
Designation of beneficiary
Constructive total loss
Administrative provisions
Fire insurance
Third party liability
No-fault insurance
i.
ii.
iii.
Every person has an insurable interest in the life and health of:
a. Himself, or his spouse and of his children;
b. Any person:
b. Valued Policy parties agree in advance how much is the value of the
property at the time of loss. Insured only prove that loss was due to peril
insured against.
c. Running Policy also known as successive insurance, it is used to
cover the contents of a store which periodically change, so that the
policy continues to cover the replacements of the stock in store as the
same are sold.
CORPORATION LAW
A corporation is an artificial being created by operation of law having
the right of succession, and the powers, attributes and properties
expressly authorized by law or incidental to its existence.
Four Attributes of a Corporation:
1. An artificial being. (Capacity to contract and transact business)
2. Created by operation of law (Creature of the Law)
3. With right of succession (Strong juridical personality)
4. Has powers, attributes and properties expressly authorized by law or
incident to its existence (A creature of limited powers)
Theories on Corporate Existence and Powers:
a) Theory of Concession
- A corporation will have no rights and privileges of a higher priority
than that of its creator and cannot legitimately refuse to yield
obedience to acts of its state organs (Tayag vs. Benguet
Consolidated Inc.).
b) Theory of Corporate Business Enterprise or Economic Unit
- Under this theory the Supreme Court has upon a corporation not
merely as an artificial being, but more as an aggregation of persons
doing business, or an underlying economic unit called the business
enterprise.
*This is the underlying theory of many of the cases where the Supreme
Court applies the doctrine of piercing the veil of corporate fiction, the de
Exceptions:
Grounds:
There is estoppel
If there is ratification
(Acceptance of benefits)
Pre-emptive Rights
common shares.
[Gamboa Case]
Pre-emptive Right
- Increase in capital stock
- Opening for subscription the unissued portion of existing capital
stock
-
Corporate Officers
Immediately after their election, the directors of a corporation must
formally organize by the lection of:
a) President who shall be a director.
b) Treasurer who may or may not be a director.
c) Secretary must be a resident and Filipino citizen.
d) Such other officers as may be provided for in the By-Laws.
*Any two or more positions may be held concurrently by the same person
except that no one shall act as President and Secretary or as President
and
Treasurer at the same time
Corporate officers are elected by a
majority
of all members of the board.
5. Appraisal Right
No appraisal rights are available for the acts or acts complained of;
and
Proxies
Are grants of authority by a stockholder to another stockholder to
allowa the latter to vote in all meetings of stockholders. It is generally
good only for one meeting but by express stipulation it is possible to
extend it for several meetings provided it not longer than 5 years.
Warehouse Lien:
General Rule: By issuing the receipt the warehouseman is estopped from
setting up any title or right to the possesion of the goods except when it
pertains to the enforcement of his lien.
However: the warehouseman has a lien on goods deposited on the
proceeds thereof in his hands for all lawful changes and fees.
Obligation of Warehouseman
- Under Sec. 8 of the Warehouse Receipts Act the warehouseman is
obliged to: deliver the goods upon demand by either the holder of
the receipt or by the depositor; when demand accompanied by:
a) An offer to satisfy warehousemans lien;
b) An offer to surrender the duly endorsed negotiable receipt
c) A readiness to sign an acknowledgment of delivery, when such is
requested by the warehouseman.
TRANSPORTATION LAW
Common Carriers
-
Arrastre
- It is the handling of cargo departed on the wharf or between the
establishment of the consignee or shipper and the ships tackle. It
has technical meaning and mainly refers to overseas trade.
Common Carrier
-
Contract of Carriage
- Fiduciary duty of diligence for the safety of the passenger or cargo
- In case of injury or damage there is presumptive proof of negligence
which can be overturned by proof of the exercise of extraordinary
diligence by the common carrier.
-
A commercial contract
Liability of Carriers
- Extraordinary diligence
- If baggage is entrusted to passenger or the agent of the passenger
then liability shall be that of an innkeeper.
The pasenger has been landed at the port of destination and has left
the owners dock or premises, the reasonable time is to be
determined from the circumstances. (Aboitiz Shipping vs. Court of
Appeals)
Maritime Transportation
cannot proper
Vessel of shipowner
Voyage shall not ndeviate except on conditions allowed by law
Warranty of neutrality
Possession of necessary documents
Presence of insurable interest
Charter Party
Contract of Affreightment
-
Charterer is considered as owner pro hac vice and can be held liable
for negligence
*Leading Case
188 SCRA 387 (1990) [Aboitiz Case]
GR 156798 May 2, 2006 [Aboitiz vs. Gen. India]
Limited liability cannot be applied where shipowner is presumed
negligent.
Insurable Interest in Non-Life Insurance
Marine Insurance
Main Warranty: Seaworthiness fit to perform service, properly laden,
properly equipped and
properly manned.
Warranties in Marine Insurance
-
fails to do so.
Representation a statement incidental to the contract of insurance
relative
to some fact having reference thereto and upon the faith of which
the
contract is entered into.
Similarities of concealment and representation:
Universal Banks
Commercial Banks
Thrift Banks
Banks
An entity engaged in the lending of funds obtained in the form of
deposit.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Transactions covered:
1. Any sale, transfer, mortgage or assignments of:
a) A stock of goods, wares, merchandise, provisions or
materials otherwise than in the normal or ordinary course of
trade and regular prosecution of business of seller, mortgagor,
transferor or assignor;
b) All or substantially all of business or trade therefor conducted
by the seller, mortgagor, transferor or assignor;
c) All or substantially or of fixtures and equipment used in and
about business of seller, mortgagor, transferor or assignor.