GOOD NEWS! PWEDE NA KASUHAN ANG MAY MGA UTANG SA INYO O SA SARI-SARI STORE NIYO!

Do you always find yourself a victim of loan borrowers who are just nice to you when they need money but will soon be out of reach when it is time to pay their debt already? In the Philippines, casual loan or the so called “utang” is very common especially for those who are always having a hard time trying to make their ends meet and sometimes, not all loan creditors are getting back what was borrowed from them.

This is the reason why the Supreme Court is pushing for a fast and simple procedure of collecting debt payment instead of filing a criminal case for offenders; this will be possible under the revised small claims procedure. Under this new system, it will be easier to file a civil case within metropolitan and municipal trial court and the decision will be released only in 30 days upon filing the claim.

This is Supreme Court’s solution to the increasing number of cases filed in the court against money claim. The new system will also have an affordable filing fee and less fortunate complainants could also have a exemption if they are indigent or not financially capable to pay the fee.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno explained:

“Ito po ay abot-kayang hustisya. ‘Pagkat sa pananaw namin, wala pong maliit na halaga na hindi dapat solusyunan ng hustisya. Sa small claims, pananatilihin natin na ang batas ay maging simple, mabilis, abot-kaya.” Lawyer’s assistance will longer need if the money claim is not more than P200,000, the complainants will just need to fill out the small claims for and pass necessary supporting document. 

The revised small claims will cover money claims from loan, debt, rent, services, and mortgages. As soon as the complainant files the case, the court will inform the defendant and require them to answer the said complaint and will schedule a hearing within 30 days. Should both parties didn’t agree to fix their money claim issue; the judge will immediately release a decision of the case within 24 hours.