Republic of the Philippines

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress

Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-seventh day of July, two thousand fifteen.

REPUBLIC ACT No. 10846

AN ACT ENHANCING THE RESOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION FRAMEWORK FOR BANKS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3591, AS AMENDED, AND OTHER RELATED LAWS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

THE CREATION OF THE PHILIPPINE

DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

SECTION 1. — There is hereby created a Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation hereinafter referred to as the ‘Corporation’ which shall insure as herein provided, the deposits of all banks which are entitled to the benefits of insurance under this Act, and which shall have the powers hereinafter granted.

The Corporation shall, as a basic policy, promote and safeguard the interests of the depositing public by providing insurance coverage on all insured deposits and helping maintain a sound and stable banking system.

STATE POLICY

SECTION 2. — It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to strengthen the mandatory deposit insurance coverage system to generate, preserve, maintain faith and confidence in the country’s banking system, and protect it from illegal schemes and machinations.

Towards this end, the government must extend all means and mechanisms necessary for the Corporation to effectively fulfill its vital task of promoting and safeguarding the interests of the depositing public by way of providing insurance coverage on bank deposits and in helping develop a sound and stable banking system.

In view of the crucial role and the nature of its functions and responsibilities, the Corporation, while being a government instrumentality with corporate powers, shall enjoy fiscal and administrative autonomy.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: COMPOSITION AND AUTHORITY

SECTION 3. (a) The powers and functions of the Corporation shall be vested in and exercised by a Board of Directors which shall be composed of seven (7) members as follows:

(1) The Secretary of Finance who shall be the ex officio Chairman of the Board without compensation;

(2) The Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas who shall be ex officio member of the Board without compensation;

(3) The President of the Corporation, who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from a shortlist prepared by the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations pursuant to Republic Act No. 10149 to serve on a full-time basis for a term of six (6) years. The President of the Corporation shall also serve as Vice Chairman of the Board;

(4) Four (4) members from the private sector to be appointed by the President of the Philippines from a shortlist prepared by the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations pursuant to Republic Act No. 10149. The appointive directors shall serve for a term of six (6) years unless sooner removed for cause and shall be subject to only one (1) reappointment: Provided, That of those first appointed, the first two (2) appointees shall serve for a period of three (3) years: Provided, however, That the appointive director shall continue to hold office until the successor is appointed. An appointive director may be nominated by the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations for reappointment by the President only if one obtains a performance score of above average or its equivalent or higher in the immediately preceding year of tenure as appointive director based on the performance criteria for appointive directors of the Corporation.

Appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired term of the predecessor pursuant to Republic Act No. 10149.

No person shall be appointed as member of the Board unless he or she be of good moral character, of unquestionable integrity and responsibility, of known probity and patriotism, and who is of recognized competence in economics, banking and finance, law, management administration or insurance, and shall be at least thirty-five (35) years of age. For the duration of their tenure or term of office and for a period of one (1) year thereafter, the appointive members of the Board shall be disqualified from holding any office, position or employment in any insured bank.

The Secretary of Finance and the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may each designate an alternate, who shall be an official with a rank not lower than assistant secretary or its equivalent with written authority from the Secretary of Finance or the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to attend such meetings and to vote on behalf of their respective principals. Whenever the Chairman of the Board is unable to attend a meeting of the Board, or in the event of a vacancy in the office of the Secretary of Finance, and in the absence of the Vice Chairman, the members of the Board shall designate from among themselves who shall act as Chairman.

The President of the Philippines may remove any appointive member of the Board of Directors for any of the following reasons:

(i) If the member is physically or mentally incapacitated that he or she cannot properly discharge his or her duties and responsibilities, and such incapacity has lasted for more than six (6) months; or

(ii) If the member is guilty of acts or operations which are of fraudulent or illegal character or which are manifestly opposed to the aims and interests of the Corporation; or

(iii) If the member no longer possesses the qualifications specified in this Act; or

(iv) If the member does not meet the standards for performance based on the evaluation by the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations under Republic Act No. 10149.

The presence of four (4) members shall constitute a quorum. All decisions of the Board of Directors shall require the concurrence of at least four (4) members.

The compensation, per diems, allowances, incentives, and other benefits for board members shall be determined by the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations.

In addition to the requirements of Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the ‘Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees’, any member of the Board of Directors with personal or pecuniary interest in any matter in the agenda of the Board of Directors shall disclose his or her interest to the Board and shall recuse from the meeting when the matter is taken up. The minutes shall reflect the disclosure made and the recusal of the member concerned.

(b) The Board of Directors shall have the authority:

(1) To approve and issue rules and regulations for banks and the depositing public as it considers necessary for the effective discharge of its responsibilities;

(2) To act as the policy-making body of the Corporation and constitute Board committees to oversee the management, operations and administration of the Corporation;

(3) To establish a human resource management system which shall govern the selection, hiring, appointment, transfer, promotion, or dismissal of personnel. Such system shall aim to establish professionalism and excellence at all levels of the Corporation in accordance with sound principles of management;

(4) To approve a compensation structure as an integral component of the Corporation’s human resource development program based on job evaluation studies and wage surveys, and revise the same as it may deem necessary: Provided, That all positions in the Corporation shall be governed by a compensation package, position classification system and qualification standards approved by the Board based on a comprehensive job analysis and audit of actual duties and responsibilities. The compensation structure shall be comparable to that of other financial institutions based on prevailing market standards, and shall provide for yearly merit reviews or increases based on productivity. The Corporation shall therefore be exempt from existing laws, rules and regulations on compensation package, position classification and qualification standards. It shall however endeavor to make its system conform as closely as possible with the principles under Republic Act No. 6758, as amended;

(5) To appoint, establish the rank, fix the remuneration, benefits, including health care services through a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and medical benefits other than those provided for under Republic Act No. 7875, as amended, and remove any officer or employee of the Corporation, for cause, subject to pertinent civil service laws: Provided, That the Board of Directors may delegate this authority to the President subject to specific guidelines: Provided, further, That in no case shall there be any diminution of existing salaries, benefits and other emoluments;

(6) To approve policy on local and foreign travel, and the corresponding expenses, allowances and per diems, of officers, employees, agents of the Corporation, which shall be comparable with the expenses, allowances and per diems of personnel of other financial institutions based on prevailing market standards, notwithstanding the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1177, Executive Order No. 292, Executive Order No. 248, as amended, Executive Order No. 298, and similar laws;

(7) To adopt an annual budget for, and authorize such expenditures by the Corporation, as are in the interest of the effective administration and operation of the Corporation;

(8) To approve the target level of the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) and the methodology for determining reserves for insurance and financial assistance losses;

(9) To review the organizational set-up of the Corporation and adopt a new or revised organizational structure as it may deem necessary for the Corporation to undertake its mandate and functions;

(10) To design, adopt and revise, as it may deem necessary, an early separation plan for employees of the Corporation to ensure availability of a human resource pool qualified and capable of implementing the Corporation’s authorities under this Charter in a manner responsive and attuned to market developments, and to provide incentives for all those who shall be separated from the service. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, these incentives shall be in addition to all gratuities and benefits the employee is entitled to under existing laws; and

(11) To promote and sponsor the local or foreign training or study of personnel in the fields of banking, finance, management, information technology and law. Towards this end, the Corporation is hereby authorized to defray the costs of such training or study. The Board shall prescribe rules and regulations to govern the training or study programs of the Corporation.”

PRESIDENT OF THE CORPORATION

COMPENSATION, POWERS AND DUTIES

SECTION 4. The President of the Corporation shall be its Chief Executive Officer and the Vice Chairman of its Board of Directors and his or her salary shall be fixed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations, at a sum commensurate to the importance and responsibility attached to the position. The sum total of the salary, allowances, benefits and other emoluments of the President of the Corporation shall be higher than the compensation package of the next highest ranking executive of the Corporation.

The powers and duties of the President of the Corporation are:

(a) To prepare the agenda for the meeting of the Board and to submit for the consideration of the Board the policies and measures which he believes to be necessary to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Act;

(b) To execute and administer the policies and measures approved by the Board;

(c) To direct and supervise the operations and internal administration of the Corporation in accordance with the policies established by the Board. The President may delegate certain of his administrative responsibilities to other officers of the Corporation, subject to the rules and regulations of the Board;

(d) To represent the Corporation in all dealings with other offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the government and with all other persons or entities, public or private, whether domestic, foreign or international;

(e) To authorize, with his signature, upon prior authority of the Board, contracts entered into by the Corporation, notes and securities issued by the Corporation, and the annual reports, balance sheets, profits and loss statements, correspondence and other documents of the Corporation. The signature of the President may be in facsimile wherever appropriate;

(f) To represent the Corporation, either personally or through counsel, including private counsel, as may be authorized by the PDIC Board, in any legal proceeding or action;

(g) To delegate, with the prior approval of the Board of Directors, his power to represent the Corporation, as provided in subsections (d) and (f) of this Section, to other officers of the Corporation; and

(h) To exercise such other powers as may be vested in him by the Board.

The President shall be assisted by a Vice President and other officials whose appointment and removal for cause shall be approved and whose salary shall be fixed by the Board of Directors upon recommendation of the President of the Corporation. During the absence or temporary incapacity of the President, or in case of vacancy or permanent incapacity and pending appointment of a new President of the Corporation by the President of the Philippines, the Board of Directors shall designate the officer-in-charge of the Corporation.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

SECTION 5. As used in this Act –

(a) The term asset refers to movable, immovable, tangible, or intangible resources or properties over which a bank has an established or equitable interest, including the proceeds of the sale of its bank and branch licenses subject to the approval of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

(b) The term asset distribution plan refers to the plan of distribution of the assets of a closed bank to its creditors, based on its estimated realizable value as of a certain cut-off date, prepared in accordance with the Rules on Concurrence and Preference of Credits under the Civil Code or other laws.

An asset distribution plan may be partial when it pertains to the distribution of a portion or some of the assets of the closed bank, or final when it pertains to the distribution of all the assets of the closed bank.

(c) The term Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

(d) The term bank and banking institution shall be synonymous and interchangeable and shall include banks, commercial banks, savings banks, mortgage banks, rural banks, development banks, cooperative banks, stock savings and loan associations and branches and agencies in the Philippines of foreign banks and all other corporations authorized to perform banking functions in the Philippines.

(e) The term closed bank refers to a bank placed under liquidation by the Monetary Board.

(f) The term creditor refers to any individual or entity with a valid claim against the assets of the closed bank.

(g) The term deposit means the unpaid balance of money or its equivalent received by a bank in the usual course of business and for which it has given or is obliged to give credit to a commercial, checking, savings, time or thrift account, evidenced by a passbook, certificate of deposit, or other evidence of deposit issued in accordance with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas rules and regulations and other applicable laws, together with such other obligations of a bank, which, consistent with banking usage and practices, the Board of Directors shall determine and prescribe by regulations to be deposit liabilities of the bank: Provided, That any obligation of a bank which is payable at the office of the bank located outside of the Philippines shall not be a deposit for any of the purposes of this Act or included as part of the total deposits or of insured deposit: Provided, further, That subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, any insured bank which is incorporated under the laws of the Philippines which maintains a branch outside the Philippines may elect to include for insurance its deposit obligations payable only at such branch.

The Corporation shall not pay deposit insurance for the following accounts or transactions:

(1) Investment products such as bonds and securities, trust accounts, and other similar instruments;

(2) Deposit accounts or transactions which are fictitious or fraudulent as determined by the Corporation;

(3) Deposit accounts or transactions constituting, and/or emanating from, unsafe and unsound banking practice/s, as determined by the Corporation, in consultation with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, after due notice and hearing, and publication of a directive to cease and desist issued by the Corporation against such deposit accounts, transactions or practices; and

(4) Deposits that are determined to be the proceeds of an unlawful activity as defined under Republic Act No. 9160, as amended.

The actions of the Corporation taken under Section 5(g) shall be final and executory, and may only be restrained or set aside by the Court of Appeals, upon appropriate petition for certiorari on the ground that the action was taken in excess of jurisdiction or with such grave abuse of discretion as to amount to a lack or excess of jurisdiction. The petition for certiorari may only be filed within thirty (30) days from notice of denial of claim for deposit insurance.

(h) The term disputed claim refers to a claim or suit against the assets of a closed bank, or for specific performance, or breach of contract, or damages, of whatever nature or character, whether for money or otherwise, liquidated or unliquidated, fixed or contingent, matured or current, denied by the receiver.

(i) The term insured bank means any bank the deposits of which are insured in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(j) The term insured deposit means the amount due to any bonafide depositor for legitimate deposits in an insured bank as of the date of closure but not to exceed Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00). Such amount shall be determined according to such regulations as the Board of Directors may prescribe. In determining such amount due to any depositor, there shall be added together all deposits in the bank maintained in the same right and capacity for his or her benefit either in his or her own name or in the name of others. A joint account regardless of whether the conjunction ‘and’, ‘or’, ‘and/or’ is used, shall be insured separately from any individually-owned deposit account: Provided, That (1) if the account is held jointly by two or more natural persons, or by two or more juridical persons or entities, the maximum insured deposit shall be divided into as many equal shares as there are individuals, juridical persons or entities, unless a different sharing is stipulated in the document of deposit, and (2) if the account is held by a juridical person or entity jointly with one or more natural persons, the maximum insured deposit shall be presumed to belong entirely to such juridical person or entity: Provided, further, That the aggregate of the interest of each co-owner over several joint accounts, whether owned by the same or different combinations of individuals, juridical persons or entities, shall likewise be subject to the maximum insured deposit of Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00): Provided, furthermore, That the provisions of any law to the contrary notwithstanding, no owner/holder of any passbook, certificate of deposit, or other evidence of deposit shall be recognized as a depositor entitled to the rights provided in this Act unless the passbook, certificate of deposit, or other evidence of deposit is determined by the Corporation to be an authentic document or record of the issuing bank: Provided, finally, That in case of a condition that threatens the monetary and financial stability of the banking system that may have systemic consequences, as defined in Section 22 hereof, as determined by the Monetary Board, the maximum deposit insurance cover may be adjusted in such amount, for such a period, and/or for such deposit products, as may be determined by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors in a meeting called for the purpose and chaired by the Secretary of Finance, subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines.

(k) The term liquidation refers to the proceedings under Sections 12 to 16 of this Act.

(l) The term liquidation court refers to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of general jurisdiction where the petition for assistance in the liquidation of a closed bank is filed and given due course.

(m) The term payout refers to the payment of insured deposits.

(n) The term petition for assistance in the liquidation of a closed bank refers to the petition filed by the receiver with the RTC in accordance with Section 16 of this Act.

(o) The term purchase of assets and assumption of liabilities refers to a transaction where an insured bank purchases any or all assets and assumes any or all liabilities of another bank under resolution or liquidation, as provided in this Act.

(p) The term receiver refers to the Corporation or any of its duly authorized agents acting as receiver of a closed bank.

(q) The term records include all documents, titles, papers and electronic data of the closed bank, including those pertaining to deposit accounts of and with the closed bank, its assets, transactions and corporate affairs.

(r) The term residual assets refer to assets, in cash or in kind, to be turned over to the closed bank’s stockholders of record, in proportion to their interest in the closed bank as of date of closure, after payment in full of liquidation costs, fees and expenses, and the valid claims and surplus dividends to all the creditors.

(s) The term resolution refers to the actions undertaken by the Corporation under Section 11 of this Act to:

(1) Protect depositors, creditors and the DIF;

(2) Safeguard the continuity of essential banking services or maintain financial stability; and

(3) Prevent deterioration or dissipation of bank assets.

(t) The term risk-based assessment system pertains to a method for calculating an insured bank’s assessment on the probability that the DIF will incur a loss with respect to the bank, and the likely amount of any such loss, based on its risk rating that takes into consideration the following:

(1) Quality and concentration of assets;

(2) Categories and concentration of liabilities, both insured and uninsured, contingent and noncontingent;

(3) Capital position;

(4) Liquidity position;

(5) Management and governance; and

(6) Other factors relevant to assessing such probability, as may be determined by the Corporation:

(u) The term statement of affairs refers to a report of financial condition of the closed bank at a given date, showing the: (1) estimated realizable value of assets; (2) classification of credits; and (3) estimated liabilities to be settled.

(v) The term surplus dividends refers to the remaining assets of the closed bank after satisfaction in full of all the liquidation costs, fees and expenses, and valid claims. The surplus dividends shall be computed at the legal rate of interest from the date of takeover to cut-off date of the distribution plan, and shall be paid, in cash or in kind, to creditors of the closed bank in accordance with the Rules on Concurrence and Preference of Credits under the Civil Code or other laws.

(w) The term takeover refers to the act of physically taking possession and control of the premises, assets and affairs of a closed bank for the purpose of liquidating the bank.

(x) The term transfer deposit means, a deposit in an insured bank made available to a depositor by the Corporation as payment of insured deposit of such depositor in a closed bank and assumed by another insured bank.

(y) The term trust funds means funds held by an insured bank in a fiduciary capacity and includes without being limited to, funds held as trustee, executor, administrator, guardian or agent.

(z) The term valid claim refers to the claim recognized by the receiver or allowed by the liquidation court.

(aa) The term winding up period refers to the period provided in Section 16 of this Act.

DEPOSIT INSURANCE COVERAGE

SECTION 6. The deposit liabilities of any bank which is engaged in the business of receiving deposits as herein defined on the effective date of this Act, or which thereafter may engage in the business of receiving deposits, shall be insured with the Corporation.

Whenever a bank is determined by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to be capital deficient, the Corporation may conduct an insurance risk evaluation on the bank to enable it to assess the risks to the DIF. Such evaluation may include the determination of: (i) the fair market value of the assets and liabilities of a bank; or (ii) the risk classification of a bank; or (iii) possible resolution modes under Section 11 of this Act, subject to such terms and conditions as the PDIC Board may prescribe.

ASSESSMENT OF MEMBER BANKS

SECTION 7. (a) The assessment rate shall be determined by the Board of Directors: Provided, That the assessment rate shall not exceed one-fifth (1/5) of one per centum (1%) per annum. The semi-annual assessment for each insured bank shall be in the amount of the product of one-half (1/2) the assessment rate multiplied by the assessment base but in no case shall it be less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00). The assessment base shall be the amount of the liability of the bank for deposits as defined under subsection (g) of Section 5 without any deduction for indebtedness of depositors.

In addition, the Board of Directors may establish a risk-based assessment system and impose a risk-based assessment rate which shall not exceed two-fifth (2/5) of one per centum (1%) per annum multiplied by the assessment base.

The semi-annual assessment base for one semi-annual period shall be the average of the assessment base of the bank as of the close of business on March thirty-one and June thirty and the semi-annual assessment base for the other semi-annual period shall be the average of the assessment base of the bank as of the close of business on September thirty and December thirty-one: Provided, That when any of said days is a nonbusiness day or legal holiday, either national or provincial, the preceding business day shall be used. The certified statements required to be filed with the Corporation under subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall be in such form and set forth such supporting information as the Board of Directors shall prescribe. The assessment payments required from the insured banks under subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall be made in such manner and at such time or times as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

(b) On or before the 31st of July of each year, each insured bank shall file with the Corporation a certified statement showing for the six months ending on the preceding June thirty the amount of the assessment base and the amount of the semiannual assessment due to the Corporation for the period ending on the following December thirty-one, determined in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, which shall contain or be verified by a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury. Each insured bank shall pay to the Corporation the amount of the semiannual assessment it is required to certify. On or before the 31st day of January of each year, each insured bank shall file with the Corporation a similar certified statement for the six months ending on the preceding December thirty-one and shall pay to the Corporation the amount of the semiannual assessment for the period ending in the following June thirty which it is required to certify. (as amended by PD No 1940)

(c) Each bank which becomes an insured bank shall not be required to file any certified statement or pay any assessment for the semi-annual period in which it becomes an insured bank. On the expiration of such period, each such bank shall comply with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section except that the semi-annual assessment base for its first certified statement shall be the assessment base of the bank as of the close of business on the preceding June thirty or December thirty-one, whichever is applicable, determined in accordance with subsection (a) of this section. If such bank has assumed the liabilities for deposits of another bank or banks, it shall include such liabilities in its assessment base. The first certified statement shall show as the amount of the first semi-annual assessment due to the Corporation, an amount equal to the product of one-half of the annual assessment rate multiplied by such assessment base.

(d) All assessment collections and income from operations after expenses and charges shall be added to the DIF under Section 17 hereof. Such expenses and charges are: (1) the operating costs and expenses of the Corporation for the calendar year; (2) additions to reserve to provide for insurance and financial assistance losses, net of recoverable amounts from applicable assets and collaterals, during the calendar year; and (3) the net insurance and financial assistance losses sustained in said calendar year.

(e) The Corporation (1) may refund to an insured bank any payment of assessment in excess of the amount due to the Corporation or (2) may credit such excess toward the payment of the assessment next becoming due from such bank and upon succeeding assessments until the credit is exhausted.

(f) Any insured bank which fails to file any certified statement required to be filed by it in connection with determining the amount of any assessment payable by the bank to the Corporation may be compelled to file such statement by mandatory injunction or other appropriate remedy in a suit brought for such purpose by the Corporation against the bank and any officer or officers thereof in any court of the Philippines of competent jurisdiction in which such bank is located.

(g) The Corporation, in a suit brought in any court of competent jurisdiction, shall be entitled to recover from any insured bank the amount of any unpaid assessment lawfully payable by such insured bank to the Corporation, whether or not such bank shall have filed any such certified statement and whether or not suit shall have been brought to compel the bank to file any such statement. No action or proceeding shall be brought for recovery of any assessment due to the Corporation or for the recovering of any amount paid to the Corporation in excess of the amount due to it, unless such action or proceeding shall have been brought within five years after the right accrued for which the claim is made, except where the insured bank has made or filed with the Corporation a false or fraudulent certified statement with the intent to evade, in whole or in part, the payment of assessment, in which case the claim shall not have been deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the Corporation that the certified statement is false or fraudulent.

(h) Should any insured bank fail or refuse to pay any assessment required to be paid by such bank under any provision of this Act, and should the bank not correct such failure or refusal within thirty (30) days after written notice has been given by the Corporation to an officer of the bank citing this subsection, and stating that the bank has failed or refused to pay as required by the law, the Corporation may, at its discretion, file a case for collection before the appropriate court without prejudice to the imposition of administrative sanctions allowed under the provisions of this law on the bank officials responsible for the nonpayment of assessment fees.

(i) The Corporation shall have the authority to collect a special assessment from any member bank and prescribe the terms and conditions thereof to maintain the target level of the DIF set by the Board of Directors in accordance with this Act.

SANCTIONS AGAINST UNSAFE AND UNSOUND BANKING PRACTICES

SECTION 8. (a) Whenever upon examination by the Corporation into the condition of any insured bank, it shall be disclosed that an insured bank or its directors or agents have committed, are committing or about to commit unsafe or unsound practices in conducting the business of the bank, or have violated, are violating or about to violate any provisions of any law or regulation to which the insured bank is subject, the Board of Directors shall submit the report of the examination to the Monetary Board to secure corrective action thereon. If no such corrective action is taken by the Monetary Board within forty-five (45) days from the submission of the report, the Board of Directors shall, motu proprio, institute corrective action which it deems necessary. The Board of Directors may thereafter issue a cease and desist order, and require the bank or its directors or agents concerned to correct the practices or violations within forty-five (45) days. However, if the practice or violation is likely to cause insolvency or substantial dissipation of assets or earnings of the bank, or is likely to seriously weaken the condition of the bank or otherwise seriously prejudice the interests of its depositors and the Corporation, the period to take corrective action shall not be more than fifteen (15) days. The order may also include the imposition of fines provided in Section 26(g) hereof. The Board of Directors shall duly inform the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas of action it has taken under this subsection with respect to such practices or violations.

(b) The actions and proceedings provided in the preceding subsections may be undertaken by the Corporation if, in its opinion, an insured bank or its directors or agents have violated, are violating or about to violate any provision of this Act or any order, rule or instruction issued by the Corporation or any written condition imposed by the Corporation in connection with any transaction with or grant by the Corporation.

(c) The Corporation may terminate the insured status of any bank that fails or refuses to comply, within thirty (30) days from notice, with any cease-and-desist order issued by the Corporation, or with any corrective action imposed by the Monetary Board, under this section pertaining to a deposit-related unsafe and/or unsound banking practice.

Such termination shall be final and executory, and shall be effective upon publication of the notice of termination in a newspaper of general circulation.

The deposits of each depositor in the bank on the effective date of the termination of insurance coverage, less all subsequent withdrawals, shall continue to be insured up to the maximum deposit insurance coverage for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days. Additions to, or renewal of, existing deposits and new deposits in such bank after the effective date of termination of insured status of the bank shall not be insured by the Corporation.

The bank shall not advertise or represent that additions to, or renewal of, existing deposits and new deposits made after the effective date of termination aye covered by deposit insurance.

SECTION 9. The Corporation as a corporate body shall have the powers:

First— To adopt and use a corporate seal;

Second— To have succession until dissolved by an Act of Congress;

Third— To make contracts;

Fourth— To sue and be sued, complain and defend, in any court of law in the Philippines. All suits of a civil nature to which the Corporation shall be a part shall be deemed to arise under the laws of the Philippines. No attachment or execution shall be issued against the Corporation or its property before final judgment in any suit, action or proceeding in any court. The Board of Directors shall designate an agent upon whom service of process may be made in any province or city or jurisdiction in which the insured bank is located;

Fifth— To appoint by its Board of Directors such officers and employees as are not otherwise provided for in this Act, to define their duties, fix their compensation, require bonds of them and fix penalty thereof and to dismiss such officers and employees for cause;

Sixth— To prescribe, by its Board of Directors, by-laws not inconsistent with law, regulating the manner in which its general business may be conducted, and the privileges granted to it by law may be exercised and enjoyed;

Seventh— To exercise, by its Board of Directors, or duly authorized officers or agents, all powers specifically granted by the provisions of this Act, and such incidental powers as shall be necessary to carry on the powers so granted;

Eighth — To conduct examination of banks with prior approval of the Monetary Board: Provided, That no examination can be conducted within twelve (12) months from the last examination date: Provided, however, That the Corporation may, in coordination with the Bangko Sentral, conduct a special examination as the Board of Directors, by an affirmative vote of a majority of all of its members, if there is a threatened or impending closure of a bank: Provided, further, That notwithstanding the provisions of Republic Act No. 1405, as amended, Republic Act No. 6426, as amended, Republic Act No. 8791, and other laws, the Corporation and/or Bangko Sentral may inquire into or examine deposit accounts and all information related thereto in case there is a finding of unsafe or unsound banking practice: Provided, finally, That to avoid overlapping of efforts, the examination shall maximize the efficient use of the relevant reports, information, and findings of the Bangko Sentral, which it shall make available to the Corporation. (as amended by RA No 7400, 9302, 9576)

Ninth— To act as receiver; and

Tenth— To prescribe by its Board of Directors such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. (as amended by RA No 6037)

Eleventh. — The Corporation may establish its own provident fund which shall consist of contributions made both by the Corporation and by its officers and employees to a common fund for the payment of benefits to such officers or employees or their heirs. The Board of Directors shall prepare and issue rules and regulations as it may deem necessary to make effective the establishment and operation of the fund. (as added by PD No 1940)

Twelfth — The provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1445, as amended, Executive Order No. 292, and other similar laws notwithstanding, to compromise, condone or release, in whole or in part, any claim or settled liability to the Corporation, regardless of the amount involved, under such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Board of Directors to protect the interest of the Corporation, and to write off the Corporation’s receivables and assets which are no longer recoverable or realizable; (as added by RA No 7400, amended by RA No 10846)

Thirteenth – To determine qualified interested acquirers or investors for any of the modes of resolution or liquidation of banks;

Fourteenth – To determine the appropriate resolution method and to implement the same for a bank subject of resolution; and

Fifteenth – To determine the appropriate mode of liquidation of a closed bank and to implement the same.

SECTION 10. (a) The Board of Directors shall administer the affairs of the Corporation fairly and impartially and without discrimination. The Corporation shall be entitled to the free use of Philippine mail in the same manner as the other offices of the national government.

(b) The Board of Directors shall appoint examiners who shall have power, on behalf of the Corporation to examine any insured bank. Each such examiner shall have the power to make a through examination of all the affairs of the bank and in doing so, he shall have the power to administer oaths, to examine and take and preserve the testimony of any the officers and agents thereof, and, to compel the presentation of books, documents, papers or records necessary in his judgment to ascertain the facts relative to the condition of the bank; and shall make a full and detailed report of the condition of the bank to the Corporation. The Board of Directors in like manner shall appoint claim agents who shall have the power to investigate and examine all claims for insured deposits and transferred deposits. Each claim agent shall have the power to administer oaths and examine under oath and take and preserve testimony of any person relating to such claim. (as amended by EO No 890, s. of 1983, RA No 7400)

(b-1) The investigators appointed by the Board of Directors shall have the power on behalf of the Corporation to conduct investigations on frauds, irregularities and anomalies committed in banks, based on reports of examination conducted by the Corporation and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or complaints from depositors or from other government agency. Each such investigator shall have the power to administer oaths, and to examine and take and preserve the testimony of any person relating to the subject of investigation. For this purpose, the Corporation may appoint or hire persons or entities of recognized competence in forensic and fraud investigations as its agents. (as added by RA No 9302)

(c) Each insured bank shall make to the Corporation reports of condition in such form and at such times as the Board of Directors may require such reports to be published in such manner, not inconsistent with any applicable law, as it may direct. Every such bank which fails to make or publish any such report within such time, as the Board of Directors may require, shall be subject to a penalty of not more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) for each day of such failure recoverable by the Corporation for its use.

(d) The Corporation shall have access to reports of examination made by, and reports of condition made to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or its appropriate supervising departments, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shall also have access to reports of examination made by, and reports of condition made to the Corporation: Provided, That the provisions of any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Corporation shall likewise have access to reports, findings and any other information derived from any special or general examination or inquiry conducted by the Bangko Sentral in respect to bank fraud or serious irregularity in an insured bank: Provided, That, the Corporation shall use such reports and findings under similar terms and conditions prescribed by applicable laws on the Bangko Sentral. (as amended by EO No 890, s. of 1983, RA No 7400)

(d-1) Each insured bank shall keep and maintain a true and accurate record or statement of its daily deposit transactions consistent with the standards set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Corporation. Compliance with such standards shall be duly certified by the president of the bank and the compliance officer: Provided, That refusal or willful failure to issue the required certification shall constitute a violation of this section and shall subject such officers of the bank to the sanctions provided for under Section 26(f) of this Act. (as added by RA No 9302)

(e) Personnel of the Corporation are hereby prohibited from:

(1) being an officer, director, consultant, employee or stockholder, directly or indirectly, of any bank or banking institution except as otherwise provided in this Act;

(2) receiving any gift or thing of value from any officer, director or employee thereof;

(3) revealing in any manner, except as provided in this Act or under order of the court, information relating to the condition or business of any such institution. This prohibition shall not apply to the giving of information to the Board of Directors, the President of the Corporation, Congress, any agency of government authorized by law, or to any person authorized by either of them in writing to receive such information. (as amended by RA No 9302)

(f) The Corporation shall underwrite or advance all legal costs and expenses, including legal fees and other expenses of external counsel, or provide legal assistance to, directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative or any other action or proceeding, to which such director, officer, employee or agent is made a party by reason of, or in connection with, the exercise of authority or performance of functions and duties under this Act: Provided, That such legal protection shall not apply to any civil, criminal, administrative or any action or proceeding that may be initiated by the Corporation, in whatever capacity, against such director, officer, employee or agent: Provided, further, That directors, officers, employees or agents who shall resign, retire, transfer to another agency or be separated from the service, shall continue to be provided with such legal protection in connection with any act done or omitted to be done by them in good faith during their tenure or employment with the Corporation: Provided, finally, That in the event of a settlement or compromise, indemnification shall be provided only in connection with such matters covered by the settlement as to which the Corporation is advised by counsel that the persons to be indemnified did not commit any negligence or misconduct. (as added by RA No 9302)

(g) The costs and expenses incurred in defending the aforementioned action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay the amount advanced should it ultimately be determined by the Board of Directors that he is not entitled to be indemnified as provided in this subsection. (as added by RA No 9302)

(h) Unless the actions of the Corporation or any of its officers and employees are found to be in willful violation of this Act, performed in bad faith, with malice and/or gross negligence, the Corporation, its directors, officers, employees and agents are held free and harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law from any liability, and they shall be indemnified for any and all liabilities, losses, claims, demands, damages, deficiencies, costs and expenses of whatsoever kind and nature that may arise in connection with the performance of their functions, without prejudice to any criminal liability under existing laws. (as added by RA No 9576)

(i) Legal assistance shall include the grant or advance of reasonable legal fees as determined by the Board of Directors to enable the concerned director, officer, employee or agent to engage counsel of his choice, subject to approval by the Board of Directors. (as added by RA No 9302, renumbered by RA No 9576)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and Section 3 of this Act, members of the Board of Directors and personnel of the Corporation may become directors and officers of any bank and banking institution and of any entity related to such institution in connection with financial assistance extended by the Corporation to such institution and when, in the opinion of the Board, it is appropriate to make such designation to protect the interest of the Corporation.

Borrowing from any bank or banking institution by examiners and other personnel of the examination departments of the Corporation shall be prohibited only with respect to the particular institution in which they are assigned, or are conducting an examination. Personnel of other departments, offices or units of the Corporation shall likewise be prohibited from borrowing from any bank or banking institution during the period of time that a transaction of such institution with the Corporation is being evaluated, processed or acted upon by such personnel: Provided, however, That the Board may, at its discretion, indicate the position levels or functional groups to which the prohibition is applicable.

Borrowing by all full-time personnel of the Corporation from any bank or banking institution shall be secured and disclosed to the Board, and shall be subject to such further rules and regulations as the Board may prescribe.

(as amended RA No 7400, 9302)

BANK RESOLUTION

SECTION 11. (a) The Corporation, in coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, may commence the resolution of a bank under this section upon:

(1) Failure of prompt corrective action as declared by the Monetary Board; or

(2) Request by a bank to be placed under resolution.

The Corporation shall inform the hank of its eligibility for entry into resolution.

(b) The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shall inform the Corporation of the initiation of prompt corrective action on any bank and shall be authorized to share with the Corporation all information, agreements or documents, including any order of the Monetary Board, in relation to the prompt corrective action. The Corporation shall have the authority to inquire and monitor the status of banks under prompt corrective action.

(c) When there is a failure of prompt corrective action as declared by the Monetary Board due to capital deficiency, the Corporation, its duly authorized officers or employees, may examine, inquire or look into the deposit records of a bank: Provided, That such authority may not be exercised when the failure of prompt corrective action is due to grounds other than capital deficiency. For this purpose, banks, their officers and employees are hereby mandated to disclose and report to the Corporation or its duly authorized officers and employees, deposit account information in said bank.

The Corporation, its duly authorized officers or employees are prohibited from disclosing information obtained under this section to any person, government official, bureau or office. Any act done pursuant to this section shall not be deemed as a violation of Republic Act No. 1405, as amended, Republic Act No. 6426, as amended, Republic Act No. 8791, and other similar laws protecting or safeguarding the secrecy or confidentiality of bank deposits: Provided, That any unauthorized disclosure of the information under this section shall be subject to the same penalty under the foregoing laws protecting the secrecy or confidentiality of bank deposits.

(d) The stockholders, directors, officers or employees of the bank shall have the following obligations:

(1) Ensure bank compliance with the terms and conditions prescribed by the Corporation for the resolution of the bank;

(2) Cause the engagement, with the consent of the Corporation, of an independent appraiser or auditor for the purpose of determining the valuation of the bank consistent with generally accepted valuation standards;

(3) Ensure prudent management and administration of the bank’s assets, liabilities and records; and

(4) Cooperate with the Corporation in the conduct or exercise of any or all of its authorities under this Act and honor in good faith its commitment or undertaking with the Corporation on the resolution of the bank.

(e) Within a period of one hundred eighty (180) days from a bank’s entry into resolution, the Corporation, through the affirmative vote of at least five (5) members of the PDIC Board, shall determine whether the bank may be resolved through the purchase of all its assets and assumption of all its liabilities, or merger or consolidation with, or its acquisition, by a qualified investor.

For this purpose, the Corporation may:

(1) Determine a resolution package for the bank;

(2) Identify and, with the approval of the Monetary Board, pre-qualify possible acquirers or investors;

(3) Authorize pre-qualified acquirers or investors to conduct due diligence on the bank, for purposes of determining the valuation of a bank through an objective and thorough review and appraisal of its assets and liabilities, and assessment of risks or events that may affect its valuation; and

(4) Conduct a bidding to determine the acquirer of the bank.

(f) In determining the appropriate resolution method for a bank, the Corporation shall consider the:

(1) Fair market value of the assets of the bank, its franchise, as well as the amount of its liabilities;

(2) Availability of a qualified investor;

(3) Least cost to the DIF; and

(4) Interest of the depositing public.

(g) The Corporation may appoint or hire persons or entities of recognized competence in banking, finance, asset management or remedial management, as its agents, to perform such powers and functions of the Corporation in the resolution of a bank, or assist in the performance thereof.

(h) The PDIC Board shall prescribe the guidelines or criteria for a bank to be placed under resolution.

(i) Upon a determination by the Corporation that the bank may not be resolved, the Monetary Board may act in accordance with Section 30 of Republic Act No. 7653 or the New Central Bank Act.

(j) Bank resolution involving the purchase of all assets and assumption of all liabilities of a bank shall be exempt from the provisions of Act No. 3952, otherwise known as ‘The Bulk Sales Law’.

(k) The provisions of this section are without prejudice to any action that the Monetary Board may take under existing laws.

LIQUIDATION OF A CLOSED BANK

SECTION 12. (a) Whenever a bank is ordered closed by the Monetary Board, the Corporation shall be designated as receiver and it shall proceed with the takeover and liquidation of the closed bank in accordance with this Act. For this purpose, banks closed by the Monetary Board shall no longer be rehabilitated.

AUTHORITIES OF A RECEIVER AND EFFECTS OF PLACEMENT OF A BANK UNDER LIQUIDATION

SECTION 13. (a) The receiver is authorized to adopt and implement, without need of consent of the stockholders, board of directors, creditors or depositors of the closed bank, any or a combination of the following modes of liquidation:

(1) Conventional liquidation; and

(2) Purchase of assets and/or assumption of liabilities.

(b) In addition to the powers of a receiver provided under existing laws, the Corporation, as receiver of a closed bank, is empowered to:

(1) Represent and act for and on behalf of the closed bank;

(2) Gather and take charge of all the assets, records and affairs of the closed bank, and administer the same for the benefit of its creditors;

(3) Convert the assets of the closed bank to cash or other forms of liquid assets, as far as practicable;

(4) Bring suits to enforce liabilities of the directors, officers, employees, agents of the closed bank and other entities related or connected to the closed bank or to collect, recover, and preserve all assets, including assets over which the bank has equitable interest;

(5) Appoint or hire persons or entities of recognized competence in banking, finance, asset management or remedial management, as its deputies, assistants or agents, to perform such powers and functions of the Corporation as receiver of the closed bank, or assist in the performance thereof;

(6) Appoint or hire persons or entities of recognized competence in forensic and fraud investigations;

(7) Pay accrued utilities, rentals and salaries of personnel of the closed bank for a period not exceeding three (3) months, from available funds of the closed bank;

(8) Collect loans and other claims of the closed bank and for this purpose, modify, compromise or restructure the terms and conditions of such loans or claims as may be deemed advantageous to the interests of the creditors of the closed bank;

(9) Hire or retain private counsel as may be necessary;

(10) Borrow or obtain a loan, or mortgage, pledge or encumber any asset of the closed bank, when necessary to preserve or prevent dissipation of the assets, or to redeem foreclosed assets of the closed bank, or to minimize losses to its depositors and creditors;

(11) If the stipulated interest rate on deposits is unusually high compared with prevailing applicable interest rates, the Corporation as receiver, may exercise such powers which may include a reduction of the interest rate to a reasonable rate: Provided, That any modifications or reductions shall apply only to earned and unpaid interest;

(12) Utilize available funds of the bank, including funds generated by the receiver from the conversion of assets to pay for reasonable costs and expenses incurred for the preservation of the assets, and liquidation of, the closed bank, without need for approval of the liquidation court;

For banks with insufficient funds, the Corporation is authorized to advance the foregoing costs and expenses, and collect payment, as and when funds become available.

(13) Charge reasonable fees for the liquidation of the bank from the assets of the bank: Provided, That payment of these fees, including any unpaid advances under the immediately preceding paragraph, shall be subject to approval by the liquidation court;

(14) Distribute the available assets of the closed bank, in cash or in kind, to its creditors in accordance with the Rules on Concurrence and Preference of Credits under the Civil Code or other laws;

(15) Dispose records of the closed bank that are no longer needed in the liquidation in accordance with guidelines set by the PDIC Board of Directors, notwithstanding the laws on archival period and disposal of records; and

(16) Exercise such other powers as are inherent and necessary for the effective discharge of the duties of the Corporation as receiver.

The Board of Directors shall adopt such policies and guidelines as may be necessary for the performance of the above powers by personnel, deputies, assistants and agents of the Corporation.

(c) After the payment of all liabilities and claims against the closed bank, the Corporation shall pay surplus, if any, dividends at the legal rate of interest from date of takeover to date of distribution to creditors and claimants of the closed bank in accordance with the Rules on Concurrence and Preference of Credits under the Civil Code or other laws before distribution to the shareholders of the closed bank.

(d) The officers, employees, deputies, assistants and agents of the receiver shall have no liability and shall not be subject to any action, claim or demand in connection with any act done or omitted to be done by them in good faith in connection with the exercise of their powers and functions under this Act and other applicable laws, or other actions duly approved by the court.

(e) The placement of a bank under liquidation shall have the following effects:

(1) On the corporate franchise or existence

Upon placement by the Monetary Board of a bank under liquidation, it shall continue as a body corporate until the termination of the winding-up period under Section 16 of this Act. Such continuation as a body corporate shall only be for the purpose of liquidating, settling and closing its affairs and for the disposal, conveyance or distribution of its assets pursuant to this Act. The receiver shall represent the closed bank in all cases by or against the closed bank and prosecute and defend suits by or against it. In no case shall the bank be reopened and permitted to resume banking business after being placed under liquidation.

(2) On the powers and functions of its directors, officers and stockholders

The powers, voting rights, functions and duties, as well as the allowances, remuneration and perquisites of the directors, officers, and stockholders of such bank are terminated upon its closure. Accordingly, the directors, officers, and stockholders shall be barred from interfering in any way with the assets, records, and affairs of the bank.

The receiver shall exercise all authorities as may be required to facilitate the liquidation of the closed bank for the benefit of all its creditors.

(3) On the assets

Upon service of notice of closure as provided in Section 14 of this Act, all the assets of the closed bank shall he deemed in custodia legis in the hands of the receiver, and as such, these assets may not be subject to attachment, garnishment, execution, levy or any other court processes. A’ judge, officer of the court or any person who shall issue, order, process or cause the issuance or implementation of the garnishment order, levy, attachment or execution, shall be liable under Section 27 of this Act: Provided, however, That collaterals securing the loans and advances granted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shall not be included in the assets of the closed bank for distribution to other creditors: Provided, further, That the proceeds in excess of the amount secured shall be returned by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to the receiver.

Any preliminary attachment or garnishment on any of the assets of the closed bank existing at the time of closure shall not give any preference to the attaching or garnishing party. Upon motion of the receiver, the preliminary attachment or garnishment shall be lifted and/or discharged.

(4) On labor relations

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Labor Code, the employer-employee relationship between the closed bank and its employees shall be deemed terminated upon service of the notice of closure of the bank in accordance with this Act. Payment of separation pay or benefits provided for by law shall be made from available assets of the bank in accordance with the Rules on Concurrence and Preference of Credits under the Civil Code or other laws.

(5) Contractual obligations

The receiver may cancel, terminate, rescind or repudiate any contract of the closed bank that is not necessary for the orderly liquidation of the bank, or is grossly disadvantageous to the closed bank, or for any ground provided by law.

(6) On interest payments

The liability of a bank to pay interest on deposits and all other obligations as of closure shall cease upon its closure by the Monetary Board without prejudice to the first paragraph of Section 85 of Republic Act No. 7653 (the New Central Bank Act): Provided, That the receiver shall have the authority, without need for approval of the liquidation court, to assign, as payment to secured creditors, the bank assets serving as collaterals to their respective loans up to the extent of the outstanding obligations, including interest as of date of closure of the hank, as validated by the receiver. The valuation of the asset shall be based on the prevailing market value of the collaterals as appraised by an independent appraiser on an ‘as is where is’ basis.

(7) Liability for penalties and surcharges for late payment and nonpayment of taxes

From the time of closure, the closed bank shall not be liable for the payment of penalties and surcharges arising from the late payment or nonpayment of real property tax, capital gains tax, transfer tax and similar charges.

(8) Bank charges and fees on services

The receiver may impose, on behalf of the closed bank, charges and fees for services rendered after bank closure, such as, but not limited to, the execution of pertinent deeds and certifications.

(9) Actions pending for or against the closed bank

Except for actions pending before the Supreme Court, actions pending for or against the closed bank in any court or quasi-judicial body shall, upon motion of the receiver, be suspended for a period not exceeding one hundred eighty (180) days and referred to mandatory mediation. Upon termination of the mediation, the case shall be referred back to the court or quasi-judicial body for further proceedings.

(10) Final decisions against the closed bank

The execution and enforcement of a final decision of a court other than the liquidation court against the assets of a closed bank shall be stayed. The prevailing parly shall file the final decision as a claim with the liquidation court and settled in accordance with the Rules on Concurrence and Preference of Credits under the Civil Code or other laws.

(11) Docket and other court fees

Payment of docket and other court fees relating to all cases or actions filed by the receiver with any judicial or quasi-judicial bodies shall be deferred until the action is terminated with finality. Any such fees shall constitute as a first Hen on any judgment in favor of the closed bank or in case of unfavorable judgment, such fees shall be paid as liquidation costs and expenses during the distribution of the assets of the closed bank.

(12) All assets, records, and documents in the possession of the closed bank at the time of its closure are presumed held by the bank in the concept of an owner.

(13) The exercise of authority, functions, and duties by the receiver under this Act shall be presumed to have been performed in the regular course of business.

(14) Assets and documents of the closed bank shall retain their private nature even if administered by the receiver. Matters relating to the exercise by the receiver of the functions under this Act shall be subject to visitorial audit only by the Commission on Audit.

NOTICE OF CLOSURE AND TAKEOVER ACTIVITIES

SECTION 14. (a) Upon the designation of the Corporation as receiver of a closed bank, it shall serve a notice of closure to the highest-ranking officer of the bank present in the bank premises, or in the absence of such officer, post the notice of closure in the bank premises or on its main entrance. The closure of the bank shall be deemed effective upon the service of the notice of closure. Thereafter, the receiver shall takeover the bank and exercise the powers of the receiver as provided in this Act.

(b) The receiver shall have authority to use reasonable force, including the authority to force open the premises of the bank, and exercise such acts necessary to take actual physical possession and custody of the bank and all its assets, records, documents, and take charge of its affairs upon the service of the notice of closure.

(c) Directors, officers, employees or agents of a bank hold money and other assets of the bank in trust or under administration or management by them for the bank in their fiduciary capacity.

Upon service of the notice of closure to the bank, all directors, officers, employees or agents of the closed bank shall have the duty to immediately account for, surrender and turn over to the receiver, and provide information relative to, the assets, records, and affairs of the closed bank in their possession, custody, administration or management.

(d) When the circumstances so warrant, the local government unit and law enforcement agencies concerned shall, upon request, immediately provide assistance to the receiver during the service of notice of closure and actual takeover operations to ensure the orderly conduct thereof and the security and safety of the personnel of the receiver and the employees of the closed bank.

PURCHASE OF ASSETS AND ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES

SECTION 15. (a) The receiver shall have the authority to facilitate and implement the purchase of the assets of the closed bank and the assumption of its liabilities by another insured bank, without need for approval of the liquidation court. The exercise of this authority shall be in accordance with the Rules on Concurrence and Preference of Credits under the Civil Code or other laws, subject to such terms and conditions as the Corporation may prescribe. The disposition of the branch licenses and other bank licenses of the closed bank shall be subject to the approval of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

(b) Such action of the receiver to determine whether a bank may be the subject of a purchase of assets and assumption of liabilities transaction shall be final and executory, and may not be set aside by any court.

CONVENTIONAL LIQUIDATION

A. ASSET MANAGEMENT AND CONVERSION

SECTION 16. (a) The assets gathered by the receiver shall be evaluated and verified as to their existence, ownership, condition, and other factors to determine their realizable value. In the management, preservation and disposition of assets, the receiver shall be guided by cost-benefit considerations, resources of the closed bank, and potential asset recovery.

(b) The conversion of the assets of the closed bank shall be carried out in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with the rules and procedures as may be determined by the receiver.

(c) In the management and/or conversion of the assets of the closed bank, the receiver shall have the authority to:

(1) Represent the closed bank before the Land Registration Authority (LRA), the Bureau of Lands, the Register of Deeds, the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Assessor’s Office or other appropriate office of the local government unit, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or such other similar government agencies or private entities in:

(i) Verifying the authenticity of ownership documents;

(ii) Registering the interest of the closed bank on a specific property;

(iii) Consolidating ownership over an asset of the closed bank;

(iv) Securing certified true copies of documents held by the foregoing agencies/entities in relation to an asset of the closed bank;

(v) Securing the appropriate certification from the foregoing agencies/entities in relation to an asset of the closed bank; and

(vi) Performing other related activities;

(2) Conduct a physical or ocular inspection of the properties owned by, or mortgaged to, the closed bank, to determine their existence and present condition;

(3) Determine the disposal price of assets in accordance with generally accepted valuation principles, standards and practices, subject to such guidelines as the receiver may determine;

(4) Dispose real or personal properties of the closed bank through bidding, negotiated sale or any other mode including lease with option to purchase, whether by piece or by lot, as may be reasonably determined by the receiver based on cost-benefit considerations and to allow efficient distribution of assets to creditors; and

(5) Engage third parties to assist in the liquidation, manage and/or dispose the assets, handle cases filed against or by the closed bank, subject to such guidelines as determined by the receiver.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the following rules shall apply to the management and/or conversion by the receiver of the assets of the closed bank:

(1) Upon notification of the closure of a bank, the LRA, the Bureau of Lands, the Register of Deeds, the LTO, the assessor’s office or other appropriate office of the local government unit, or such other similar government agencies shall not allow any transaction affecting the assets of the closed bank without the consent of the receiver.

(2) Upon issuance by the Monetary Board of the resolution ordering the closure of a bank, any person or entity in custody or possession of assets or records of the closed bank, including, but not limited to, the closed bank’s deposit accounts, titles to real property, collaterals, promissory notes, evidence of indebtedness or investments shall immediately turn over custody of said assets and records to the receiver. Such obligation shall cover evidences of deposit such as passbooks or certificates of deposit issued by the bank to its depositors. Pending turnover, all persons or entities in custody or possession of any asset or record of the closed bank shall hold the said assets or records in trust for the receiver.

(3) The persons or entities in custody or possession of such asset shall not allow, authorize or cause the withdrawal, transfer, disposition, removal, conversion, concealment, or other transaction involving or relating to the subject asset, unless otherwise directed by the receiver.

(e) The receiver shall have the authority to invest funds received from the conversion of the assets of the closed bank in government securities, other government-guaranteed marketable securities or investment-grade debt instruments.

(f) The proceeds of the sale of the bank and branch licenses shall be for the benefit of the creditors of the closed bank which shall be distributed in accordance with this Act and the Rules on Concurrence and Preference of Credits under the Civil Code or other laws.

B. PETITION FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE LIQUIDATION OF A CLOSED BANK

(g) A petition for assistance in the liquidation is a special proceeding for the liquidation of a closed bank, and includes the declaration of the concomitant right of its creditors and the order of payment of their valid claims in the disposition of its assets.

Any proceeding initiated under this section shall be considered in rem. Jurisdiction over all persons affected by the proceeding shall be considered as acquired upon publication of the order setting the case for initial hearing in any newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

(h) The liquidation court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate disputed claims against the closed banks, assist in the enforcement of individual liabilities of the stockholders, directors and officers and decide on all other issues as may be material to implement the distribution plan adopted by the Corporation for general application to all closed banks.

(i) The provisions of Republic Act No. 8799, otherwise known as ‘The Securities Regulation Code’, and Supreme Court Administrative Matter No. 00-8-10-SC, entitled, ‘The Rules of Procedure on Corporate Rehabilitation’, shall not be applicable to the petition for assistance in the liquidation of the closed bank.

(j) The petition shall be filed in the RTC which has jurisdiction over the principal office of the closed bank or the principal office of the receiver, at the option of the latter.

(k) The petition shall be filed ex parte within a reasonable period from receipt of the Monetary Board Resolution placing the bank under liquidation.

(1) All persons or entities with claims against the assets of the closed bank shall file their claims with the receiver within sixty (60) days from the date of publication of the notice of closure. Claims filed outside the foregoing prescribed period shall be disallowed.

Claims denied by the receiver shall be filed with the liquidation court within sixty (60) days from receipt of the final notice of denial of claim.

(m) A claim whose validity has not yet been determined with finality at the time of the submission of the final asset distribution plan, either by reason of a pending suit or for whatever reason, shall be considered as contingent claim and shall not be paid under the proposed final asset distribution plan.

(n) Upon finality of the order approving the final asset distribution plan, the petition for assistance in the liquidation of a closed bank shall henceforth be, for all intents and purposes, considered closed and terminated and the receiver, its officers, employees or agents, are forever discharged from any and all claims and/or liability arising from or in connection with the liquidation of the closed bank.

(o) The receiver shall submit a final report on the implementation of the approved final asset distribution plan to the Monetary Board and the SEC after the expiration of the winding-up period provided in this Act.

(p) The Supreme Court shall promulgate the appropriate procedural rules to implement this section.

C. WINDING-UP

(q) The creditors shall have a period of six (6) months from the date of publication of notice of the approval by the court of the final asset distribution plan of the closed bank within which to claim payment of the principal obligations and surplus dividends. During this six-month period, the receiver shall hold as trustee the assets allocated in the final asset distribution plan for said creditors.

Failure by the creditor to comply with the documentary requirements within the prescribed period and/or refusal to accept the asset as payment shall be deemed as abandonment or waiver of his or her right to payment.

(r) The individual stockholders of record or their duly-authorized representative or the court-appointed stockholders’ representative shall have a period of six (6) months from publication of notice of the approval by the court of the final asset distribution plan of the closed bank within which to claim the residual assets. During this six-month period, the receiver shall hold as trustee the assets allocated in the final asset distribution plan for said stockholders of record.

Failure by the individual stockholders of record or their duly-authorized representative or the court-appointed stockholders’ representative to comply with the documentary requirements within the prescribed period and/or refusal to accept the residual assets in kind shall be deemed as abandonment or waiver of right to receive the residual assets.

(s) After the lapse of the six-month period provided in paragraphs (q) and (r) of this section, all assets which remain unclaimed by the creditors and/or stockholders of record shall be turned over to the Bureau of Treasury.

(t) The receiver shall continue to keep all the pertinent records of the closed bank for a period of six (6) months from the date of publication of the approval of the final asset distribution plan.

After the lapse of this period, the receiver is authorized to dispose of the same in accordance with the rules and regulations to be prescribed by the receiver.

SECTION 17. To carry out the purposes of this Act, the permanent insurance fund shall be Three billion pesos (P3,000,000,000.00).

The Deposit Insurance Fund shall be the capital account of the Corporation and shall principally consist of the following: (i) the Permanent Insurance Fund; (ii) assessment collections, subject to the charges enumerated in Section 6 (d); (iii) reserves for insurance and financial assistance losses; and (iv) retained earnings: Provided: That the reserves for insurance and financial assistance losses and retained earnings shall be maintained at a reasonable level to ensure capital adequacy: Provided, further, That the Corporation may, within two (2) years from the passage of this Act, and every five (5) years thereafter, conduct a study on the need to adjust the amount of the Permanent Insurance Fund, insurance cover, assessment rate and assessment base, and thereafter make the necessary recommendation to Congress. For this purpose, the Corporation may hire the services of actuarial consultants to determine, among others, the affordability of assessment rates, analysis and evaluation of insurance risk, and advisability of imposing varying assessment rates or insurance cover of different bank categories.

DIVIDEND DECLARATION

SECTION 18. Consistent with the policy of the State to generate, preserve, maintain faith and confidence in the country’s banking system, the Corporation shall build up and maintain the DIF at the target level set by the PDIC Board of Directors. Such target level shall be subject to periodic review and may be adjusted as necessary.

The Corporation is exempt from Republic Act No. 7656; instead, the Corporation shall remit dividends to the national government only if the target DIF level for the applicable year has been reached. For purposes of computing the amount of dividends to be declared and remitted to the national government, all assessment collections shall not be considered as income. The dividend rate shall be at least fifty percent (50%) of the income from other sources only.

PAYMENT OF INSURED DEPOSITS

SECTION 19. Whenever an insured bank shall have been closed by the Monetary Board pursuant to Section 30 of Republic Act No. 7653, or upon expiration or revocation of a bank’s corporate term, payment of the insured deposits on such closed bank shall be made by the Corporation as soon as possible either (1) by cash or (2) by making available to each depositor a transferred deposit in another insured bank in an amount equal to insured deposit of such depositor: Provided, however, That the Corporation, in its discretion, may require proof of claims to be filed before paying the insured deposits, and that in any case where the Corporation is not satisfied as to the validity of a claim for an insured deposit, it may require final determination of a court of competent jurisdiction before paying such claim: Provided, further, That failure to settle the claim, within six (6) months from the date of filing of claim for insured deposit, where such failure was due to grave abuse of discretion, gross negligence, bad faith, or malice, shall, upon conviction, subject the directors, officers or employees of the Corporation responsible for the delay, to imprisonment from six (6) months to one (1) year: Provided, furthermore, That the period shall not apply if the validity of the claim requires the resolution of issues of facts and or law by another office, body or agency including the case mentioned in the first proviso or by the Corporation together with such other office, body or agency.

SECTION 20. The Corporation, upon payment of any depositor as provided for in Section 19 of this Act, shall be subrogated to all rights of the depositor against the closed bank to the extent of such payment. Such subrogation shall include the right on the part of the Corporation to receive the same dividends and payments from the proceeds of the assets of such closed bank and recoveries on account of stockholders’ liability as would have been payable to the depositor on a claim for the insured deposits: Provided, That such depositor shall retain his or her claim for any uninsured portion of his or her deposit, which legal preference shall be the same as that of the subrogated claim of the Corporation for its payment of insured deposits. All payments by the Corporation of insured deposits in closed banks partake of the nature of public funds, and as such, must be considered a preferred credit in the order of preference under Article 2244 (9) of the New Civil Code.

SECTION 21. (a) The Corporation shall commence the determination of insured deposits due the depositors of a closed bank upon its actual takeover of the closed bank. The Corporation shall give notice to the depositors of the closed bank of the insured deposits due them by whatever means deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors: Provided, That the Corporation shall publish the notice once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation or, when appropriate, in a newspaper circulated in the community or communities where the closed bank or its branches are located.

(b) Payment of an insured deposit to any person by the Corporation shall discharge the Corporation, and payment of a transferred deposit to any person by the new bank or by an insured bank in which a transferred deposit has been made available shall discharge the Corporation and such new bank or other insured bank, to the same extent that payment to such person by the closed bank would have discharged it from liability for the insured deposit.

(c) Except as otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, neither the Corporation nor such other insured bank shall be required to recognize as the owner of any portion of a deposit evidenced by a passbook, certificate of deposit or other evidence of deposit determined by the Corporation to be an authentic document or record of the closed bank under a name other than that of the claimant, any person whose name or interest as such owner is not disclosed on the passbook, certificate of deposit or other evidence of deposit of such closed bank as part owner of said deposit, if such recognition would increase the aggregate amount of the insured deposits in such closed bank.

(d) The Corporation may withhold payment of such portion of the insured deposit of any depositor in a closed bank as may be required to provide for the payment of any liability of such depositor as a stockholder of the closed bank, or of any liability of such depositor to the closed bank or its receiver, which is not offset against a claim due from such bank, pending the determination and payment of such liability by such depositor or any other liable therefor.

(e) Unless otherwise waived by the Corporation, if the depositor in the closed bank shall fail to claim his insured deposits with the Corporation within two (2) years from actual takeover of the closed bank by the receiver, or does not enforce his claim filed with the corporation within two (2) years after the two-year period to file a claim as mentioned hereinabove, all rights of the depositor against the Corporation with respect to the insured deposit shall be barred; however, all rights of the depositor against the closed bank and its shareholders or the receivership estate to which the Corporation may have become subrogated, shall thereupon revert to the depositor. Thereafter, the Corporation shall be discharged from any liability on the insured deposit.

CORPORATE FUNDS AND ASSETS

SECTION 22. (a) Subject to guidelines and limits as approved by the Board of Directors, money of the Corporation denominated in the local currency, not otherwise employed, shall be invested in obligations of the Republic of the Philippines or in obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the Republic of the Philippines.

The Corporation may also invest in debt instruments denominated in foreign currencies issued or guaranteed by the Republic of the Philippines, or debt instruments denominated in freely convertible foreign currencies issued by supranationals, multilateral agencies, or foreign governments with at least an investment grade credit rating.

The Corporation shall likewise be authorized to buy and/or sell debt instruments and foreign currencies from any government securities eligible dealers or any counterparties or brokers, accredited by the PDIC Board.

For this purpose, the Corporation shall be authorized to open securities custodianship and settlement accounts.

(b) The banking or checking accounts of the Corporation shall be kept with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, or with any other bank designated as depository or fiscal agent of the Philippine government.

(c) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State that the Deposit Insurance Fund of the Corporation shall be preserved and maintained at all times. Accordingly, all tax obligations of the Corporation for a period of five (5) years reckoned from the date of effectivity of this Act shall be chargeable to the Tax Expenditure Fund (TEF) in the annual General Appropriation Act pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 93, series of 1986: Provided, That, on the 6th year and thereafter, the Corporation shall be exempt from income tax, final withholding tax, value-added tax on assessments collected from member banks and local taxes. (as added by RA No 9576)

(d) Assets of the Corporation shall be exempt from attachment, garnishment or any other order or process of any court, agency or any other administrative body.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

(e) In the exercise of its authorities under Section 11 of this Act, the Corporation is authorized to make loans to, or purchase the assets of, or assume liabilities of, or make deposits in:

(1) A bank in danger of closing, upon its acquisition by a qualified investor; or

(2) A qualified investor, upon its purchase of all assets and assumption of all liabilities of a bank in danger of closing; or

(3) A surviving or consolidated institution that has merged or consolidated with a bank in danger of closing; upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may prescribe, when in the opinion of the Board of Directors, such acquisition, purchase of assets, assumption of liabilities, merger or consolidation, is essential to provide adequate banking service in the community or maintain financial stability in the economy.

The Corporation, prior to the exercise of the powers under this section, shall determine that actual payoff and liquidation thereof will be more expensive than the exercise of this power: Provided, That when the Monetary Board has determined that there are systemic consequences of a probable failure or closure of an insured bank, the Corporation may grant financial assistance to such insured bank in such amount as may be necessary to prevent its failure or closure and/or restore the insured bank to viable operations, under such terms and conditions as may be deemed necessary by the Board of Directors, subject to concurrence by the Monetary Board and without additional cost to the DIF.

A systemic risk refers to the possibility that failure of one bank to settle net transactions with other banks will trigger a chain reaction, depriving other banks of funds leading to a general shutdown of normal clearing and settlement activity. Systemic risk also means the likelihood of a sudden, unexpected collapse of confidence in a significant portion of the banking or financial system with potentially large real economic effects. Finally, the Corporation may not use its authority under this subsection to purchase the voting or common stock of an insured bank but it can enter into and enforce agreements that it determines to be necessary to protect its financial interests: Provided, That the financial assistance may take the form of equity or quasi-equity of the insured bank as may be deemed necessary by the Board of Directors with concurrence by the Monetary Board: Provided, further, That the Corporation shall dispose of such equity as soon as practicable.

AUTHORITY TO BORROW

SECTION 23. The Corporation is authorized to borrow from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is authorized to lend to the Corporation on such terms as may be agreed upon by the Corporation and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, such funds as in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Corporation are from time to time required for insurance purposes and financial assistance provided for in Section 22(e) of this Act: Provided, That any such loan as may be granted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shall be consistent with monetary policy: Provided, further, That the rate of interest thereon shall be fixed by the Monetary Board.

When in the judgment of the Board of Directors the funds of the Corporation are not sufficient to provide for an emergency or urgent need to attain the purposes of this Act, the Corporation is likewise authorized to borrow money, obtain loans or arrange credit lines or other credit accommodations from any bank: Provided, That such loan shall be of short-term duration: Provided, further, That no prior Monetary Board opinion shall be required for the Corporation and its counterparties on individual drawdowns or borrowings within an approved borrowing program where prior Monetary Board opinion has already been obtained, pursuant to Section 123 of Republic Act No. 7653.

ISSUANCE OF BONDS, DEBENTURES AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

SECTION 24. With the approval of the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Department of Finance, the Corporation is authorized to issue bonds, debentures, and other obligations, both local or foreign, as may be necessary for purposes of providing liquidity for settlement of insured deposits in closed banks, to facilitate the implementation of bank resolution under Section 11 of this Act, as well as for financial assistance as provided herein: Provided, That the Board of Directors shall determine the interest rates, maturity and other requirements of said obligations: Provided, further, That the Corporation may provide for appropriate reserves for the redemption or retirement of said obligation.

All notes, debentures, bonds, or such obligations issued by the Corporation shall be exempt from taxation both as to principal and interest, and shall be fully guaranteed by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. Such guarantee, which in no case shall exceed two times the DIF as of date of the debt issuance, shall be expressed on the face thereof.

The Corporation may issue notes, debentures, bonds, or other debt instruments without the approval of the President of the Philippines, as long as these shall not be guaranteed by the national government.

The Board of Directors shall have the power to prescribe the terms and conditions, rules and regulations for the issuance, reissuance, servicing, placement and redemption of the bonds herein authorized to be issued as well as the registration of such bonds at the request of the holders thereof.

SECTION 25. (a) The Corporation shall annually make a report of its operations to the Congress as soon as practicable after the 1st day of January in each year.

(b) The financial transactions of the Corporation shall be audited by the Commission on Audit in accordance with the principles and procedures applicable to commercial corporate transactions and under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Commission on Audit. The audit shall be conducted at the place or places where accounts of the Corporation are normally kept. Except as to matters relating to the function of the Corporation as receiver which shall be subject to visitorial audit only, the representatives of the Commission on Audit shall have access to all books, accounts, records, reports, files and all other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the Corporation pertaining to its financial transactions and necessary to facilitate the audit, and they shall be afforded full facilities for verifying transactions with the balances or securities held by depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians. All such books, accounts, records, reports, files, papers, and property of the Corporation shall remain in possession and custody of the Corporation.

SECTION 26. (a) Every insured bank shall display at each place of business maintained by it a sign or signs, and shall include a statement in all its advertisements to the effect that its deposits are insured by the Corporation: Provided, That the Board of Directors may exempt from this requirement advertisements which do not relate to deposits or when it is impractical to include such statement therein. The Board of Directors shall prescribe by regulations the forms of such signs and the manner of use.

(b) No insured bank shall pay any dividend on its capital stock or interest on its capital notes or debentures (if such interest is required to be paid only out of net profits) or distribute any of its capital assets while it remains in default in the payment of any assessment due to the Corporation: Provided, That if such default is due to a dispute between the insured bank and the Corporation over the amount of such assessment, this subsection shall not apply if such bank shall deposit security satisfactory to the Corporation for payment upon final determination of the issue.

(c) Without prior written consent by the Corporation, no insured bank shall (1) merge or consolidate with any bank or institution or (2) assume liability to pay any deposits made in, or similar liabilities of, any bank or institution or (3) transfer assets to any bank or institution in consideration of the assumption of liabilities for any portion of the deposits made in such insured bank.

(d) The Corporation may require an insured bank to provide protection and indemnity against burglary, defalcation, losses arising from discharge of duties by, or particular acts of defaults of its directors, officers, or employees, and other similar insurable losses. The Board of Directors in consultation with the Bangko Sentral, shall determine the bonding requirement as it refers to directors, officers and employers of the insured bank as well as the form and amount of the bond. Whenever any insured bank refuses to comply with any such requirement the Corporation may contract for such protection and add the cost thereof to the assessment otherwise payable by such bank.

(e) Any assessment payable by an insured bank under this Act shall be subject to payment of interest computed from the date such assessment became due and payable and at the legal rate for loans as prescribed by law or appropriate authority and in case of willful failure or refusal to pay such assessment and interest thereon, there shall be added a penalty equivalent to twice the amount of interest payable as computed herein for each day such violations continue, which the interest and penalty the Corporation may recover for its use: Provided, That the penalty shall not be applicable under the circumstances stated in the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section.

(f) The penalty of imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than twelve (12) years or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than Ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon:

(1) Any director, officer, employee or agent of a bank for:

(a) Any willful refusal to submit reports as required by law, rules and regulations;

(b) Any unjustified refusal to permit examination and audit of the deposit records or the affairs of the institution;

(c) Any willful making of a false statement or entry in any bank report or document required by the Corporation;

(d) Submission of false material information in connection with or in relation to any financial assistance of the Corporation extended to the bank;

(e) Splitting of deposits or creation of fictitious or fraudulent loans or deposit accounts.

Splitting of deposits occurs whenever a deposit account with an outstanding balance of more than the statutory maximum amount of insured deposit maintained under the name of natural or juridical persons is broken down and transferred into two (2) or more accounts in the name/s of natural or juridical persons or entities who have no beneficial ownership on transferred deposits in their names within one hundred twenty (120) days immediately preceding or during a bank-declared bank holiday, or immediately preceding a closure order issued by the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the purpose of availing of the maximum deposit insurance coverage;

(f) Refusal to receive the notice of closure as provided under Section 14 of this Act;

(g) Refusal to allow the Corporation to take over a closed bank or obstructing such action of the Corporation;

(h) Refusal to turn over or destroying or tampering bank records;

(i) Fraudulent disposal, transfer or concealment of any asset, property or liability of the closed bank;

(j) Violation of, or causing any person to violate, the exemption from garnishment, levy, attachment or execution provided under this Act and the New Central Bank Act;

(k) Any willful failure or refusal to comply with, or violation of any provision of this Act, or commission of any other irregularities, and/or conducting business in an unsafe or unsound manner as may be determined by the Board of Directors in relation to Section 56 of Republic Act No. 8791, or ‘The General Banking Law of 2000’.

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the foregoing acts of directors, officers, employees or agents of the bank shall be considered as additional grounds for disqualification under the fit and proper rules of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

(1) Other acts inimical to the interest of the bank or the Corporation, such as, but not limited to, conflict of interest, disloyalty, authorizing related party transactions with terms detrimental to the bank and its stakeholders, and unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, as may be determined by the Corporation.

(2) Any person for:

(a) Refusal to disclose information, records or data pertaining to the bank accounts of a closed bank to the receiver;

(b) Refusal to turn over possession or custody of the asset and record of the closed bank to the receiver, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary;

(c) Refusal or delaying the:

(i) Verification of authenticity of the ownership documents;

(ii) Registration of interest of the closed bank on a specific property;

(iii) Consolidation of ownership over an asset of the closed bank;

(iv) Act of securing certified true copies of documents in relation to an asset of the closed bank;

(v) Act of securing the appropriate certification from the agencies or entities stated in Section 16 of this Act in relation to an asset of the closed bank;

(vi) Conduct of a physical or ocular inspection of the properties owned by, or mortgaged to, the closed bank, to determine their existence and present condition; or

(vii) Other related activities of the receiver; or

(d) Allowing the withdrawal from deposits or disposition of any asset of the closed bank other than by the receiver;

(e) Willfully violating any provision of this Act;

(f) Conspiring or willfully participating in any of the offenses enumerated in Paragraph 1 of this section;

(3) Any law enforcement officer or local government official who refuses or fails to assist the receiver in the service of the notice of closure, as provided under Section 14 of this Act.

(g) The Board of Directors is hereby authorized to impose administrative fines for any act or omission enumerated in the preceding subsection, and for violation of any order, instruction, rule or regulation issued by the Corporation, against a bank and/or any of its directors, officers or agents responsible for such act, omission, or violation, in amounts as it may be determined to be appropriate, but in no case to exceed three times the amount of the damages or costs caused by the transaction for each day that the violation subsists, taking into consideration the attendant circumstances, such as the nature and gravity of the violation or irregularity and the size of the bank.

(h) The penalty of imprisonment of not less than ten (10) years but not more than twelve (12) years, or a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) but not more than Ten million pesos (P 10,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon:

(1) Any depositor who files a fictitious and/or fraudulent claim for deposit insurance; and

(2) Any bank officer who certifies to the validity of the deposit liabilities which is subsequently verified to be fictitious and/or fraudulent.

(i) The penalty of imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years but not more than fourteen (14) years shall be imposed upon any person who participates, or attempts to participate, in a scheme to defraud a bank.

If the offense shall have been committed by a director or officer of the bank, the penalty of imprisonment of not less than fifteen (15) years, but not more than seventeen (17) years shall be imposed.

If the offense shall have resulted in systemic consequences, as determined by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the penalty of imprisonment of not less than eighteen (18) years but not more than twenty (20) years shall be imposed.

SECTION 27. No court, except the Court of Appeals, shall issue any temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction or preliminary mandatory injunction against the Corporation for any action under this Act.

This prohibition shall apply in all cases, disputes or controversies instituted by a private party, the insured bank, or any shareholder of the insured bank.

The Supreme Court may issue a restraining order or injunction when the matter is of extreme urgency involving a constitutional issue, such that unless a temporary restraining order is issued, grave injustice and irreparable injury will arise. The party applying for the issuance of a restraining order or injunction shall file a bond in an amount to be fixed by the Supreme Court, which bond shall accrue in favor of the Corporation if the court should finally decide that the applicant was not entitled to the relief sought.

Any restraining order or injunction issued in violation of this Section is void and of no force and effect and any judge who has issued the same shall suffer the penalty of suspension of at least sixty (60) days without pay.

SECTION 28. Exempting Clause. – The Corporation shall be exempt from Presidential Decree No. 985, Presidential Decree No. 1597, Republic Act No. 6758, as amended, Joint Resolution No. 4 (2009) and other laws on salary standardization, Presidential Decree No. 1177, Executive Order No. 248, as amended, Executive Order No. 298 and the provisions of Republic Act No. 10149 with regard to position classification, qualification standards, and the compensation package of the employees of the Corporation: Provided, That the PDIC shall be subject to all other policies under Republic Act No. 10149, including, but not limited to, performance evaluation by the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations, selection and nomination of appointive directors, and limitations on the creation of subsidiaries and the acquisition of affiliates except in the case of acquisition of shares in the grant of financial assistance under this Act.

SECTION 29. Transitory Provisions. — (a) The incumbent President of the Corporation and private sector members of the Board of Directors shall continue to exercise their respective duties and functions until replaced by the President of the Philippines: Provided, That such new appointees shall be subject to the term of office provided under Section 3 of this Act, as amended.

(b) Payment of surplus dividends under Section 13(c) of this Act, as amended, shall be applicable to banks without a court-approved final asset distribution plan at the time of the effectivity of this Act.

(c) The preference indicated under Section 15 of this Act, as amended, shall be likewise effective upon liquidation proceedings already commenced and pending as of the effectivity of this Act, where no distribution of assets has been made.

(d) The provisions in Section 10 of this Act, as amended, on legal assistance, protection and indemnification shall apply to all cases pending before the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 30. The words "Central Bank" and the "Central Bank of the Philippines" wherever they appear in Republic Act No. 3591, as amended, is hereby replaced with Bangko Sentral and/or Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, respectively.

SECTION 50. The Corporation may be reorganized by its Board of Directors by adopting if it so desires, an entirely new staffing pattern or organizational structure to suit the operations of the Corporation under this Act. No preferential or priority right shall be given to or enjoyed by any personnel for appointment to any position in the new staffing pattern nor shah any personnel be considered as having prior or vested rights with respect to retention in the Corporation or in any position which may be created in the new staffing pattern, even if he or she should be the incumbent of a similar position prior to reorganization. The reorganization shall be completed within six (6) months after the effectivity of this Act. Personnel who are not retained are deemed separated horn the service.

SECTION 51. The Board of Directors is hereby authorized to provide separation incentives, and all those who shall retire or be separated from the service on account of reorganization under the preceding section shall be entitled to such incentives which may be in addition to all gratuities and benefits to which they may be entitled under existing laws.

SECTION 31 [52]. Separability Clause. – If any provision or section of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the other provisions or sections of this Act, in the application of such provision or section to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 32 [53]. Repealing Clause. – All acts or parts of acts and executive orders, administrative orders, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

SECTION 33 [54]. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.