Republic Act No 10142
Republic Act No 10142
Republic Act No 10142
10142
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REHABILITATION OR LIQUIDATION OF
FINANCIALLY DISTRESSED ENTERPRISES AND INDIVIDUALS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Financial Rehabilitation
and Insolvency Act (FRIA) of 2010".
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to encourage
debtors, both juridical and natural persons, and their creditors to collectively
and realistically resolve and adjust competing claims and property rights. In
furtherance thereof, the State shall ensure a timely, fair, transparent, effective
and efficient rehabilitation or liquidation of debtors. The rehabilitation or
liquidation shall be made with a view to ensure or maintain certainly and
predictability in commercial affairs, preserve and maximize the value of the
assets of these debtors, recognize creditor rights and respect priority of
claims, and ensure equitable treatment of creditors who are similarly
situated. When rehabilitation is not feasible, it is in the interest of the State to
facilities a speedy and orderly liquidation of these debtor's assets and the
settlement of their obligations.
Section 3. Nature of Proceedings. - The proceedings under this Act shall be
in rem. Jurisdiction over all persons affected by the proceedings shall be
considered as acquired upon publication of the notice of the commencement
of the proceedings in any newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines
in the manner prescribed by the rules of procedure to be promulgated by the
Supreme Court.
The proceedings shall be conducted in a summary and non-adversarial
manner consistent with the declared policies of this Act and in accordance
with the rules of procedure that the Supreme Court may promulgate.
Section 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term:
(a) Administrative expenses shall refer to those reasonable and
necessary expenses:
Section 6. Designation of Courts and Promulgation of Procedural Rules. The Supreme Court shall designate the court or courts that will hear and
resolve cases brought under this Act and shall promulgate the rules of
pleading, practice and procedure to govern the proceedings brought under
this Act.
The court shall determine the extent of the liability of an owner, partner,
director or officer under this section. In this connection, in case of
partnerships and corporations, the court shall consider the amount of the
shareholding or partnership or equity interest of such partner, director or
officer, the degree of control of such partner, director or officer over the
debtor, and the extent of the involvement of such partner, director or debtor in
the actual management of the operations of the debtor.
CHAPTER II
COURT-SUPERVISED REHABILITATION
(a) identification of the debtor its principal activities and its address;
(c) state the relief sought under this Act and any requirement or
procedure particular to the relief sought;
(p) state that any creditor or debtor who is not the petitioner, may
submit the name or nominate any other qualified person to the
position of rehabilitation receiver at least five (5) days before the
initial hearing;
(q) include s Stay or Suspension Order which shall:
(1) suspend all actions or proceedings, in court or otherwise,
for the enforcement of claims against the debtor;
(2) suspend all actions to enforce any judgment, attachment
or other provisional remedies against the debtor;
(3) prohibit the debtor from selling, encumbering, transferring
or disposing in any manner any of its properties except in the
ordinary course of business; and
(4) prohibit the debtor from making any payment of its
liabilities outstanding as of the commencement date except
as may be provided herein.
Section 17. Effects of the Commencement Order. - Unless otherwise
provided for in this Act, the court's issuance of a Commencement Order shall,
in addition to the effects of a Stay or Suspension Order described in Section
16 hereof:
(a) vest the rehabilitation with all the powers and functions provided
for this Act, such as the right to review and obtain records to which
the debtor's management and directors have access, including bank
accounts or whatever nature of the debtor subject to the approval by
the court of the performance bond filed by the rehabilitation receiver;
(b) prohibit or otherwise serve as the legal basis rendering null and
void the results of any extrajudicial activity or process to seize
property, sell encumbered property, or otherwise attempt to collection
or enforce a claim against the debtor after commencement date
unless otherwise allowed in this Act, subject to the provisions of
Section 50 hereof;
(c) serve as the legal basis for rendering null and void any setoff after
the commencement date of any debt owed to the debtor by any of
the debtor's creditors;
(d) serve as the legal basis for rendering null and void the perfection
of any lien against the debtor's property after the commencement
date; and
(e) consolidate the resolution of all legal proceedings by and against
the debtor to the court Provided. However, That the court may allow
the continuation of cases on other courts where the debtor had
initiated the suit.
Attempts to seek legal of other resource against the debtor outside these
proceedings shall be sufficient to support a finding of indirect contempt of
court.
Section 18. Exceptions to the Stay or Suspension Order. - The Stay or
Suspension Order shall not apply:
(a) to cases already pending appeal in the Supreme Court as of
commencement date Provided, That any final and executory
judgment arising from such appeal shall be referred to the court for
appropriate action;
(b) subject to the discretion of the court, to cases pending or filed at
a specialized court or quasi-judicial agency which, upon
determination by the court is capable of resolving the claim more
quickly, fairly and efficiently than the court: Provided, That any final
and executory judgment of such court or agency shall be referred to
the court and shall be treated as a non-disputed claim;
(c) to the enforcement of claims against sureties and other persons
solidarily liable with the debtor, and third party or accommodation
mortgagors as well as issuers of letters of credit, unless the property
subject of the third party or accommodation mortgage is necessary
for the rehabilitation of the debtor as determined by the court upon
recommendation by the rehabilitation receiver;
(d) to any form of action of customers or clients of a securities
market participant to recover or otherwise claim moneys and
securities entrusted to the latter in the ordinary course of the latter's
business as well as any action of such securities market participant
or the appropriate regulatory agency or self-regulatory organization
to pay or settle such claims or liabilities;
(e) to the actions of a licensed broker or dealer to sell pledged
securities of a debtor pursuant to a securities pledge or margin
agreement for the settlement of securities transactions in accordance
(c) The debtor has met with its creditors to the extent reasonably
possible in attempts to reach consensus on the proposed
Rehabilitation Plan;
(d) The rehabilitation receiver submits a report, based on preliminary
evaluation, stating that the underlying assumptions and the goals
stated in the petitioner's Rehabilitation Plan are realistic reasonable
and reasonable or if not, there is, in any case, a substantial likelihood
for the debtor to be successfully rehabilitated because, among
others:
(1) there are sufficient assets with/which to rehabilitate the
debtor;
(2) there is sufficient cash flow to maintain the operations of
the debtor;
(3) the debtor's, partners, stockholders, directors and officers
have been acting in good faith and which due diligence;
(4) the petition is not s sham filing intended only to delay the
enforcement of the rights of the creditor's or of any group of
creditors; and
(5) the debtor would likely be able to pursue a viable
Rehabilitation Plan;
(e) The petition, the Rehabilitation Plan and the attachments thereto
do not contain any materially false or misleading statement;
(f) If the petitioner is the debtor, that the debtor has met with its
creditor/s representing at least three-fourths (3/4) of its total
obligations to the extent reasonably possible and made a good faith
effort to reach a consensus on the proposed Rehabilitation Plan if the
petitioner/s is/are a creditor or group of creditors, that/ the
petitioner/s has/have met with the debtor and made a good faith
effort to reach a consensus on the proposed Rehabilitation Plan; and
(g) The debtor has not committed acts misrepresentation or in fraud
of its creditor/s or a group of creditors.
Section 22. Action at the Initial Hearing. - At the initial hearing, the court
shall:
(a) determine the creditors who have made timely and proper filing of
their notice of claims;
(b) hear and determine any objection to the qualifications of the
appointment of the rehabilitation receiver and, if necessary appoint a
new one in accordance with this Act;
(c) direct the creditors to comment on the petition and the
Rehabilitation Plan, and to submit the same to the court and to the
rehabilitation receiver within a period of not more than twenty (20)
days; and
(d) direct the rehabilitation receiver to evaluate the financial condition
of the debtor and to prepare and submit to the court within forty (40)
days from initial hearing the report provided in Section 24 hereof.
Section 23. Effect of Failure to File Notice of Claim. - A creditor whose claim
is not listed in the schedule of debts and liabilities and who fails to file a
notice of claim in accordance with the Commencement Order but
subsequently files a belated claim shall not be entitled to participate in the
rehabilitation proceedings but shall be entitled to receive distributions arising
therefrom.
Section 24. Report of the Rehabilitation Receiver. - Within forty (40) days
from the initial hearing and with or without the comments of the creditors or
any of them, the rehabilitation receiver shall submit a report to the court
stating his preliminary findings and recommendations on whether:
(a) the debtor is insolvent and if so, the causes thereof and any
unlawful or irregular act or acts committed by the owner/s of a sole
proprietorship partners of a partnership or directors or officers of a
corporation in contemplation of the insolvency of the debtor or which
may have contributed to the insolvency of the debtor;
(b) the underlying assumptions, the financial goals and the
procedures to accomplish such goals as stated in the petitioner's
Rehabilitation Plan are realistic, feasible and reasonable;
(c) there is a substantial likelihood for the debtor to be successfully
rehabilitated;
(d) the petition should be dismissed; and
(e) the debtor should be dissolved and/or liquidated.
mode will resolve the dispute more quickly, fairly and efficiently than the
court.
Section 27.Dismissal of Petition. - If the petition is dismissed pursuant to
paragraph (b) of Section 25 hereof, then the court may, in its discretion, order
the petitioner to pay damages to any creditor or to the debtor, as the case
may be, who may have been injured by the filing of the petition, to the extent
of any such injury.
(C) The Rehabilitation Receiver, Management Committee and Creditors'
Committee.
Section 28.Who May Serve as a Rehabilitation Receiver. - Any qualified
natural or juridical person may serve as a rehabilitation
receiver: Provided, That if the rehabilitation receiver is a juridical entity, it
must designate a natural person/s who possess/es all the qualifications and
none of the disqualifications as its representative, it being understood that
the juridical entity and the representative/s are solidarily liable for all
obligations and responsibilities of the rehabilitation receiver.
Section 29.Qualifications of a Rehabilitation Receiver. - The rehabilitation
receiver shall have the following minimum qualifications:
(a)A citizen of the Philippines or a resident of the Philippines in the
six (6) months immediately preceding his nomination;
(b)Of good moral character and with acknowledged integrity,
impartiality and independence;
(c)Has the requisite knowledge of insolvency and other relevant
commercial laws, rules and procedures, as well as the relevant
training and/or experience that may be necessary to enable him to
properly discharge the duties and obligations of a rehabilitation
receiver; and
(d)Has no conflict of interest: Provided, That such conflict of interest
may be waived, expressly or impliedly, by a party who may be
prejudiced thereby.
Other qualifications and disqualifications of the rehabilitation receiver shall
be set forth in procedural rules, taking into consideration the nature of the
business of the debtor and the need to protect the interest of all stakeholders
concerned.
In case the debtor is a securities market participant, the court shall give
priority to the nominee of the appropriate securities or investor protection
fund.
(i) To monitor the operations and the business of the debtor to ensure
that no payments or transfers of property are made other than in the
ordinary course of business;
(h) To sue and recover, with the. approval of the court, all
property or money of the debtor paid, transferred or disbursed in
fraud of the debtor or its creditors, or which constitute undue
preference of creditor/s;
that will undertake the management of the debtor. upon clear and convincing
evidence of any of the following circumstances:
(a) Actual or imminent danger of dissipation, loss, wastage or
destruction of the debtors assets or other properties;
(b) Paralyzation of the business operations of the debtor; or
(b) upon motion of, or with the consent of the affected secured
creditor or interest owner. order the conveyance of a lien against or
ownership interest in substitute property of the debtor to the secured
creditor:Provided. That other creditors holding liens on such property,
if any, do not object thereto, or, if such property is not available;
(c) order the conveyance to the secured creditor or holder . of an
ownership interest of a lien on the residual funds from the sale of
encumbered property during the proceedings; or
(d) allow the sale or disposition of the property: Provided. That the
sale or disposition will maximize the value of the property for the
benefit of the secured creditor and the debtor, and the proceeds of
the sale will be distributed in accordance with the order prescribed
under the rules of concurrence and preference of credits.
Section 54.Post-commencement Interest. - The rate and term of interest, if
any, on secured and unsecured claims shall be determined and provided for
in the approved Rehabilitation Plan.
Section 55.Post-commencement Loans and Obligations. - With the approval
of the court upon the recommendation of the rehabilitation receiver, the
debtor, in order to enhance its
rehabilitation. may:
(a) enter into credit arrangements; or
securing his/its claim, if the said property is not necessary for the
rehabilitation of the debtor. The secured creditor and/or the other lien holders
shall be admitted to the rehabilitation proceedings only for the balance of his
claim, if any.
Section 61.Lack of Adequate Protection. - The court, on motion or motu
proprio, may terminate, modify or set conditions for the continuance of
suspension of payment, or relieve a claim from the coverage thereof, upon
showing that: (a) a creditor does not have adequate protection over property
securing its claim; or
(b) the value of a claim secured by a lien on property which is not necessary
for rehabilitation of the debtor exceeds the fair market value of the said
property.
For purposes of this section, a creditor shall be deemed to lack adequate
protection if it can be shown that:
(a) the debtor fails or refuses to honor a pre-existing agreement with
the creditor to keep the property insured;
(b) the debtor fails or refuses to take commercially reasonable steps
to maintain the property; or
(c) the property has depreciated to an extent that the creditor is
under secured.
Upon showing of a lack of protection, the court shall order the debtor or the
rehabilitation receiver to make arrangements to provide for the insurance or
maintenance of the property; or to make payments or otherwise provide
additional or replacement security such that the obligation is fully secured. If
such arrangements are not feasible, the court may modify the Stay Order to
allow the secured creditor lacking adequate protection to enforce its security
claim against the debtor: Provided, however, That the court may deny the
creditor the remedies in this paragraph if the property subject of the
enforcement is required for the rehabilitation of the debtor.
(b) The debtor shall comply with the provisions of the Rehabilitation
Plan and shall take all actions necessary to carry out the Plan;
(c) Payments shall be made to the creditors in accordance with the
provisions of the Rehabilitation Plan;
(d) Contracts and other arrangements between the debtor and its
creditors shall be interpreted as continuing to apply to the extent that
they do not conflict with the provisions of the Rehabilitation Plan;
(e) Any compromises on amounts or rescheduling of timing of
payments by the debtor shall be binding on creditors regardless of
whether or not the Plan is successfully implement; and
(f) Claims arising after approval of the Plan that are otherwise not
treated by the Plan are not subject to any Suspension Order.
The Order confirming the Plan shall comply with Rules 36 of the Rules of
Court: Provided, however, That the court may maintain jurisdiction over the
case in order to resolve claims against the debtor that remain contested and
allegations that the debtor has breached the Plan.
For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of other laws to the contrary
notwithstanding, the court shall have the power to approve or implement the
Rehabilitation Plan despite the lack of approval, or objection from the
owners, partners or stockholders of the insolvent debtor: Provided, That the
terms thereof are necessary to restore the financial well-being and viability of
the insolvent debtor.
Section 72. Period for Confirmation of the Rehabilitation Plan. - The court
shall have a maximum period of one (1) year from the date of the filing of the
petition to confirm a Rehabilitation Plan.
If no Rehabilitation Plan is confirmed within the said period, the proceedings
may upon motion or motu propio, be converted into one for the liquidation of
the debtor .
(b) The lifting of the Stay Order and any other court order holding in
abeyance any action for the enforcement of a claim against the
debtor.
CHAPTER III
PRE-NEGOTIATED REHABILITATION
Section 76. Petition by Debtor. - An insolvent debtor, by itself or jointly with
any of its creditors, may file a verified petition with the court for the approval
of a pre-negotiated Rehabilitation Plan which has been endorsed or
approved by creditors holding at least two-thirds (2/3) of the total liabilities of
the debtor, including secured creditors holding more than fifty percent (50%)
of the total secured claims of the debtor and unsecured creditors holding
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total unsecured claims of the debtor. The
petition shall include as a minimum:
(a) a schedule of the debtor's debts and liabilities;
(b) an inventory of the debtor's assets;
CHAPTER IV
OUT-OF-COURT OR INFORMAL RESTRUCTURING AGREEMENTS OR
REHABILITATION PLANS
Section 83. Out-of-Court or Informal Restructuring Agreements and
Rehabilitation Plans. - An out-of-curt or informal restructuring agreement or
Rehabilitation Plan that meets the minimum requirements prescribed in this
chapter is hereby recognized as consistent with the objectives of this Act.
Section 84. Minimum Requirements of Out-of-Court or Informal
Restructuring Agreements and Rehabilitation Plans.- For an out-of-court or
informal restructuring/workout agreement or Rehabilitation Plan to qualify
under this chapter, it must meet the following minimum requirements:
(a) The debtor must agree to the out-of-court or informal
restructuring/workout agreement or Rehabilitation Plan;
(b) It must be approved by creditors representing at least sixty-seven
(67%) of the secured obligations of the debtor;
(c) It must be approved by creditors representing at least seventyfive percent (75%) of the unsecured obligations of the debtor; and
(d) It must be approved by creditors holding at least eighty-five
percent (85%) of the total liabilities, secured and unsecured, of the
debtor.
Section 85. Standstill Period. - A standstill period that may be agreed upon
by the parties pending negotiation and finalization of the out-of-court or
informal restructuring/workout agreement or Rehabilitation Plan
contemplated herein shall be effective and enforceable not only against the
contracting parties but also against the other creditors:Provided, That (a)
such agreement is approved by creditors representing more than fifty percent
(50%) of the total liabilities of the debtor; (b) notice thereof is publishing in a
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for two (2)
consecutive weeks; and (c) the standstill period does not exceed one
hundred twenty (120) days from the date of effectivity. The notice must invite
creditors to participate in the negotiation for out-of-court rehabilitation or
restructuring agreement and notify them that said agreement will be binding
on all creditors if the required majority votes prescribed in Section 84 of this
Act are met.
Section 86. Cram Down Effect. - A restructuring/workout agreement or
Rehabilitation Plan that is approved pursuant to an informal workout
framework referred to in this chapter shall have the same legal effect as
liquidation proceedings. The motion shall be verified, shall contain or set forth
the same matters required in the preceding paragraph, and state that the
debtor is seeking immediate dissolution and termination of its corporate
existence.
If the petition or the motion, as the case may be, is sufficient in form and
substance, the court shall issue a Liquidation Order mentioned in Section
112 hereof.
Section 91. Involuntary Liquidation. - Three (3) or more creditors the
aggregate of whose claims is at least either One million pesos
(Php1,000,000,00) or at least twenty-five percent (25%0 of the subscribed
capital stock or partner's contributions of the debtor, whichever is higher, may
apply for and seek the liquidation of an insolvent debtor by filing a petition for
liquidation of the debtor with the court. The petition shall show that:
(a) there is no genuine issue of fact or law on the claims/s of the
petitioner/s, and that the due and demandable payments thereon
have not been made for at least one hundred eighty (180) days or
that the debtor has failed generally to meet its liabilities as they fall
due; and
(b) there is no substantial likelihood that the debtor may be
rehabilitated.
At any time during the pendency of or after a rehabilitation court-supervised
or pre-negotiated rehabilitation proceedings, three (3) or more creditors
whose claims is at least either One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) or at
least twenty-five percent (25%) of the subscribed capital or partner's
contributions of the debtor, whichever is higher, may also initiate liquidation
proceedings by filing a motion in the same court where the rehabilitation
proceedings are pending to convert the rehabilitation proceedings into
liquidation proceedings. The motion shall be verified, shall contain or set forth
the same matters required in the preceding paragraph, and state that the
movants are seeking the immediate liquidation of the debtor.
If the petition or motion is sufficient in form and substance, the court shall
issue an Order:
(1) directing the publication of the petition or motion in a newspaper
of general circulation once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks;
and
(2) directing the debtor and all creditors who are not the petitioners to
file their comment on the petition or motion within fifteen (15) days
from the date of last publication.
If, after considering the comments filed, the court determines that the petition
or motion is meritorious, it shall issue the Liquidation Order mentioned in
Section 112 hereof.
Section 92. Conversion by the Court into Liquidation Proceedings. - During
the pendency of court-supervised or pre-negotiated rehabilitation
proceedings, the court may order the conversion of rehabilitation
proceedings to liquidation proceedings pursuant to (a) Section 25(c) of this
Act; or (b) Section 72 of this Act; or (c) Section 75 of this Act; or (d) Section
90 of this Act; or at any other time upon the recommendation of the
rehabilitation receiver that the rehabilitation of the debtor is not feasible.
Thereupon, the court shall issue the Liquidation Order mentioned in Section
112 hereof.
Section 93. Powers of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The provisions of this chapter shall not affect the regulatory powers of the
SEC under Section 6 of Presidential Decree No. 902-A, as amended, with
respect to any dissolution and liquidation proceeding initiated and heard
before it.
CHAPTER VI
INSOLVENCY OF INDIVIDUAL DEBTORS
(A) Suspension of Payments.
Section 94. Petition. - An individual debtor who, possessing sufficient
property to cover all his debts but foreseeing the impossibility of meeting
them when they respectively fall due, may file a verified petition that he be
declared in the state of suspension of payments by the court of the province
or city in which he has resides for six (6) months prior to the filing of his
petition. He shall attach to his petition, as a minimum: (a) a schedule of debts
and liabilities; (b) an inventory of assess; and (c) a proposed agreement with
his creditors.
Section 95. Action on the Petition. - If the court finds the petition sufficient in
form and substance, it shall, within five (5) working days from the filing of the
petition, issue an Order:
(a) calling a meeting of all the creditors named in the schedule of
debts and liabilities at such time not less than fifteen (15) days nor
more than forty (40) days from the date of such Order and
designating the date, time and place of the meeting;
(b) directing such creditors to prepare and present written evidence
of their claims before the scheduled creditors' meeting;
(c) directing the publication of the said order in a newspaper of
general circulation published in the province or city in which the
petition is filed once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks, with the
first publication to be made within seven (7) days from the time of the
issuance of the Order;
(d) directing the clerk of court to cause the sending of a copy of the
Order by registered mail, postage prepaid, to all creditors named in
the schedule of debts and liabilities;
(e) forbidding the individual debtor from selling, transferring,
encumbering or disposing in any manner of his property, except
those used in the ordinary operations of commerce or of industry in
which the petitioning individual debtor is engaged so long as the
proceedings relative to the suspension of payments are pending;
(f) prohibiting the individual debtor from making any payment outside
of the necessary or legitimate expenses of his business or industry,
so long as the proceedings relative to the suspension of payments
are pending; and
(g) appointing a commissioner to preside over the creditors' meeting.
Section 96. Actions Suspended. - Upon motion filed by the individual debtor,
the court may issue an order suspending any pending execution against the
individual debtor. Provide, That properties held as security by secured
creditors shall not be the subject of such suspension order. The suspension
order shall lapse when three (3) months shall have passed without the
proposed agreement being accepted by the creditors or as soon as such
agreement is denied.
No creditor shall sue or institute proceedings to collect his claim from the
debtor from the time of the filing of the petition for suspension of payments
and for as long as proceedings remain pending except:
(a) those creditors having claims for personal labor, maintenance,
expense of last illness and funeral of the wife or children of the
debtor incurred in the sixty (60) days immediately prior to the filing of
the petition; and
holding a meeting do not attend thereat, or if the two (2) majorities mentioned
in Section 97 hereof are not in favor thereof. In such instances, the
proceeding shall be terminated without recourse and the parties concerned
shall be at liberty to enforce the rights which may correspond to them.
Section 100. Objections. - If the proposal of the individual debtor, or any
amendment thereof made during the creditors' meeting, is approved by the
majority of creditors in accordance with Section 97 hereof, any creditor who
attended the meeting and who dissented from and protested against the vote
of the majority may file an objection with the court within ten (10) days from
the date of the last creditors' meeting. The causes for which objection may be
made to the decision made by the majority during the meeting shall be: (a)
defects in the call for the meeting, in the holding thereof and in the
deliberations had thereat which prejudice the rights of the creditors; (b)
fraudulent connivance between one or more creditors and the individual
debtor to vote in favor of the proposed agreement; or (c) fraudulent
conveyance of claims for the purpose of obtaining a majority. The court shall
hear and pass upon such objection as soon as possible and in a summary
manner.
In case the decision of the majority of creditors to approve the individual
debtor's proposal or any amendment thereof made during the creditors'
meeting is annulled by the court, the court shall declare the proceedings
terminated and the creditors shall be at liberty to exercise the rights which
may correspond to them.
Section 101. Effects of Approval of Proposed Agreement. - If the decision of
the majority of the creditors to approve the proposed agreement or any
amendment thereof made during the creditors' meeting is uphold by the
court, or when no opposition or objection to said decision has been
presented, the court shall order that the agreement be carried out and all
parties bound thereby to comply with its terms.
The court may also issue all orders which may be necessary or proper to
enforce the agreement on motion of any affected party. The Order confirming
the approval of the proposed agreement or any amendment thereof made
during the creditors' meeting shall be binding upon all creditors whose claims
are included in the schedule of debts and liabilities submitted by the
individual debtor and who were properly summoned, but not upon: (a) those
creditors having claims for personal labor, maintenance, expenses of last
illness and funeral of the wife or children of the debtor incurred in the sixty
(60) days immediately prior to the filing of the petition; and (b) secured
creditors who failed to attend the meeting or refrained from voting therein.
Section 106. Order to Individual Debtor to Show Cause. - Upon the filing of
such creditors' petition, the court shall issue an Order requiring the individual
debtor to show cause, at a time and place to be fixed by the said court, why
he should not be adjudged an insolvent. Upon good cause shown, the court
may issue an Order forbidding the individual debtor from making payments of
any of his debts, and transferring any property belonging to him. However,
nothing contained herein shall affect or impair the rights of a secured creditor
to enforce his lien in accordance with its terms.
Section 107. Default. - If the individual debtor shall default or if, after trial, the
issues are found in favor of the petitioning creditors the court shall issue the
Liquidation Order mentioned in Section 112 hereof.
Section 108. Absent Individual Debtor. - In all cases where the individual
debtor resides out of the Republic of the Philippines; or has departed
therefrom; or cannot, after due diligence, be found therein; or conceals
himself to avoid service of the Order to show cause, or any other preliminary
process or orders in the matter, then the petitioning creditors, upon
submitting the affidavits requisite to procedure an Order of publication, and
presenting a bond in double the amount of the aggregate sum of their claims
against the individual debtor, shall be entitled to an Order of the court
directing the sheriff of the province or city in which the matter is pending to
take into his custody a sufficient amount of property of the individual debtor
to satisfy the demands of the petitioning creditors and the costs of the
proceedings. Upon receiving such Order of the court to take into custody of
the property of the individual debtor, it shall be the duty of the sheriff to take
possession of the property and effects of the individual debtor, not exempt
from execution, to an extent sufficient to cover the amount provided for and
to prepare within three (3) days from the time of taking such possession, a
complete inventory of all the property so taken, and to return it to the court as
soon as completed. The time for taking the inventory and making return
thereof may be extended for good cause shown to the court. The sheriff shall
also prepare a schedule of the names and residences of the creditors, and
the amount due each, from the books of the debtor, or from such other
papers or data of the individual debtor available as may come to his
possession, and shall file such schedule or list of creditors and inventory with
the clerk of court.
Section 109. All Property Taken to be Held for All Creditors; Appeal Bonds;
Exemptions to Sureties. - In all cases where property is taken into custody by
the sheriff, if it does not embrace all the property and effects of the debtor not
exempt from execution, any other creditor or creditors of the individual
debtor, upon giving bond to be approved by the court in double the amount of
their claims, singly or jointly, shall be entitled to similar orders and to like
action, by the sheriff; until all claims be provided for, if there be sufficient
property or effects. All property taken into custody by the sheriff by virtue of
the giving of any such bonds shall be held by him for the benefit of all
creditors of the individual debtor whose claims shall be duly proved as
provided in this Act. The bonds provided for in this section and the preceding
section to procure the order for custody of the property and effects of the
individual debtor shall be conditioned that if, upon final hearing of the petition
in insolvency, the court shall find in favor of the petitioners, such bonds and
all of them shall be void; if the decision be in favor of the individual debtor,
the proceedings shall be dismissed, and the individual debtor, his heirs,
administrators, executors or assigns shall be entitled to recover such sum of
money as shall be sufficient to cover the damages sustained by him, not to
exceed the amount of the respective bonds. Such damages shall be fixed
and allowed by the court. If either the petitioners or the debtor shall appeal
from the decision of the court, upon final hearing of the petition, the appellant
shall be required to give bond to the successful party in a sum double the
amount of the value of the property in controversy, and for the costs of the
proceedings.
Any person interested in the estate may take exception to the sufficiency of
the sureties on such bond or bonds. When excepted to the petitioner's
sureties, upon notice to the person excepting of not less than two (2) nor
more than five (5) days, must justify as to their sufficiency; and upon failure
to justify, or of others in their place fail to justify at the time and place
appointed the judge shall issue an Order vacating the order to take the
property of the individual debtor into the custody of the sheriff, or denying the
appeal, as the case may be.
Section 110. Sale Under Execution. - If, in any case, proper affidavits and
bonds are presented to the court or a judge thereof, asking for and obtaining
an Order of publication and an Order for the custody of the property of the
individual debtor and thereafter the petitioners shall make it appear
satisfactorily to the court or a judge thereof that the interest of the parties to
the proceedings will be subserved by a sale thereof, the court may order
such property to be sold in the same manner as property is sold under
execution, the proceeds to de deposited in the court to abide by the result of
the proceedings.
CHAPTER VII
PROVISIONS COMMON TO LIQUIDATION IN INSOLVENCY OF
INDIVIDUAL AND JURIDICAL DEBTORS
Section 111. Use of Term Debtor. - For purposes of this chapter, the term
debtor shall include both individual debtor as defined in Section 4(o) and
debtor as defined in Section 4(k) of this Act.
(A) The Liquidation Order.
(a) waive his right under the security or lien, prove his claim in the
liquidation proceedings and share in the distribution of the assets of
the debtor; or
(d) a vacancy occurs for any reason whatsoever, In any of the cases
provided herein, the court may instead set another hearing of the
election of the liquidator.
If the secured creditor maintains his rights under the security or lien:
(1) the value of the property may be fixed in a manner agreed upon
by the creditor and the liquidator. When the value of the property is
less than the claim it secures, the liquidator may convey the property
to the secured creditor and the latter will be admitted in the
liquidation proceedings as a creditor for the balance. If its value
exceeds the claim secured, the liquidator may convey the property to
the creditor and waive the debtor's right of redemption upon
receiving the excess from the creditor;
(2) the liquidator may sell the property and satisfy the secured
creditor's entire claim from the proceeds of the sale; or
Section 118. Qualifications of the Liquidator. - The liquidator shall have the
qualifications enumerated in Section 29 hereof. He may be removed at any
time by the court for cause, either motu propio or upon motion of any creditor
entitled to vote for the election of the liquidator.
(3) the secure creditor may enforce the lien or foreclose on the
property pursuant to applicable laws.
Section 117. Oath and Bond of the Liquidator. -Prior to entering upon his
powers, duties and responsibilities, the liquidator shall take an oath and file a
bond, In such amount to be fixed by the court, conditioned upon the proper
and faithful discharge of his powers, duties and responsibilities.
to claim or claims to the court, serving a certified copy on the liquidator and
the creditor holding the challenged claim. Upon the expiration of the (30) day
period, the rehabilitation receiver shall submit to the court the registry of
claims containing the undisputed claims that have not been subject to
challenge. Such claims shall become final upon the filling of the register and
may be subsequently set aside only on grounds or fraud, accident, mistake
or inexcusable neglect.
Section 130. Exempt Property to be Set Apart. - It shall be the duty of the
court, upon petition and after hearing, to exempt and set apart, for the use
and benefit of the said insolvent, such real and personal property as is by law
exempt from execution, and also a homestead; but no such petition shall be
heard as aforesaid until it is first proved that notice of the hearing of the
application therefor has been duly given by the clerk, by causing such notice
to be posted it at least three (3) public places in the province or city at least
ten (10) days prior to the time of such hearing, which notice shall set forth the
name of the said insolvent debtor, and the time and place appointed for the
hearing of such application, and shall briefly indicate the homestead sought
to be exempted or the property sought to be set aside; and the decree must
show that such proof was made to the satisfaction of the court, and shall be
conclusive evidence of that fact.
Section 129. The Liquidation Plan. - Within three (3) months from his
assumption into office, the Liquidator shall submit a Liquidation Plan to the
court. The Liquidation Plan shall, as a minimum enumerate all the assets of
the debtor and a schedule of liquidation of the assets and payment of the
claims.
Section 131. Sale of Assets in Liquidation. - The liquidator may sell the
unencumbered assets of the debtor and convert the same into money. The
sale shall be made at public auction. However, a private sale may be allowed
with the approval of the court if; (a) the goods to be sold are of a perishable
nature, or are liable to quickly deteriorate in value, or are disproportionately
expensive to keep or maintain; or (b) the private sale is for the best interest
of the debtor and his creditors.
With the approval of the court, unencumbered property of the debtor may
also be conveyed to a creditor in satisfaction of his claim or part thereof.
Section 132. manner of Implementing the Liquidation Plan. - The Liquidator
shall implement the Liquidation Plan as approved by the court. Payments
shall be made to the creditors only in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan.
Section 133. Concurrence and Preference of Credits. - The Liquidation Plan
and its Implementation shall ensure that the concurrence and preference of
credits as enumerated in the Civil Code of the Philippines and other relevant
laws shall be observed, unless a preferred creditor voluntarily waives his
preferred right. For purposes of this chapter, credits for services rendered by
employees or laborers to the debtor shall enjoy first preference under Article
2244 of the Civil Code, unless the claims constitute legal liens under Article
2241 and 2242 thereof.
Section 134. Order Removing the Debtor from the List of Registered Entitles
at the Securities and Exchange Commission. - Upon determining that the
liquidation has been completed according to this Act and applicable law, the
court shall issue an Order approving the report and ordering the SEC to
remove the debtor from the registry of legal entities.
CHAPTER IX
FUNDS FOR REHABILITATION OF GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND
CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS
Section 143. Funds for Rehabilitation of Government -owned and Controlled
Corporations. - Public funds for the rehabilitation of government-owned and
controlled corporations shall be released only pursuant to an appropriation by
Congress and shall be supported by funds actually available as certified by
the National Treasurer.
The Department of Finance, in collaboration with the Department of Budget
and Management, shall promulgate the rules for the use and release of said
funds.
CHAPTER X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIOS
Section 144. Applicability of Provisions. - The provisions in Chapter II,
insofar as they are applicable, shall likewise apply to proceedings in
Chapters II and IV.
Section 145. Penalties. - An owner, partner, director, officer or other
employee of the debtor who commits any one of the following acts shall,
upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than One million
pesos (Php 1, 000,000.00) and imprisonment for not less than three(3)
months nor more than five (5) years for each offense;
(a) if he shall, having notice of the commencement of the
proceedings, or having reason to believe that proceedings are about