Why a police blotter isn’t enough

A police blotter entry documents the incident and timestamps your report—but it is not a case. To pursue accountability and recovery, you must (a) initiate a criminal complaint through the prosecutor, and/or (b) file a civil action (or small-claims case) for your money and damages. Often, victims do both, strategically.

Quick roadmap

Preserve evidence (contracts, chats, receipts, bank/e-wallet records, ads, photos).
Send a calibrated demand letter (often required by law for some crimes and helpful for damages/interest).
Decide the track(s):
- Criminal (e.g., estafa, B.P. 22, cyber-related fraud).
- Civil (rescission, specific performance, or damages; small claims if eligible).
Consider provisional remedies (asset freeze/attachment, injunction).
File with proper venue (see below), track timelines and attend hearings.
Enforcement (collection/execution) if you win or secure a settlement.

Criminal options

1) Estafa (Swindling) under the Revised Penal Code (RPC, Art. 315)

When it fits: The supplier deceitfully induced you to pay (false promises, fake portfolio, misrepresentations) or misappropriated what you gave (e.g., took full payment, disappeared; or diverted funds intended for your wedding).

Elements to build with your evidence:

Deceit or abuse of confidence at the time of contracting/payment.
Reliance by the victim (you paid because of the deceit).
Damage (financial loss; ruined event can support moral/exemplary damages later).

Venue: Where the deceit was committed, the payment was made/received (bank branch, cash hand-off, pick-up), or where damage occurred—any of these may be valid. Prescription: Depends on the penalty bracket tied to the amount defrauded; commonly 10–15 years from discovery/commission (under RPC rules). Sooner is always better.

Proof highlights: Chats/emails making promises; invoices; proof of payment (bank transfer/GCash); ads; testimonies of other couples (pattern of fraud); proof of non-delivery (venue statements, suppliers’ confirmations).

2) Violation of B.P. Blg. 22 (Bouncing Checks Law)

When it fits: You accepted a supplier’s check (e.g., as refund) that later bounced for insufficiency/closure.

Key requirements in practice:

The check was issued to you and dishonored.
You sent a written demand and the issuer failed to make good within five (5) banking days from receipt.
Keep the bank’s return memo and proof of demand service.

Venue: Where the check was issued, delivered, deposited, or dishonored.

Tip: You can simultaneously pursue estafa (if deceit exists) and B.P. 22 (which focuses on the act of issuing a worthless check).

3) Cybercrime-related angles

If the deal and deception happened online (social media pages, messaging apps, marketplace platforms), consider:

Estafa via ICT (deceit executed through online means; penalties may be qualified).
Unfair/Deceptive Online Sales Practices concepts under consumer protection regimes.
Access device fraud or identity-related offenses if payment credentials were compromised.

Evidence: Full-page screenshots with URLs, timestamps, platform handles, page IDs, ads, archived versions if available.

Criminal process essentials

Affidavit-Complaint before the Office of the City/Provincial Prosecutor where venue is proper. Attach evidence and witness affidavits.
Subpoena / Counter-Affidavit: The supplier answers. You may file a Reply if allowed.
Resolution: Prosecutor may file an Information in court or dismiss.
Arraignment & Trial after filing in court. You may testify; the civil action for damages is deemed instituted with the criminal case unless you waive, reserve, or already filed a separate civil case.
Restitution: Full payment/refund and compromise can mitigate criminal liability but does not automatically extinguish it if the state proceeds.

Strategic note: Even the threat of prosecution may prompt refunds or settlements—document any offers and never sign broad waivers without counsel review.

Civil options

1) Rescission or Specific Performance (Civil Code, Art. 1191)

Rescission: Cancel the contract for substantial breach, recover what you paid, plus damages.
Specific performance: Ask the court to compel delivery (often impractical after a ruined date) plus damages.

2) Damages for Fraud/Bad Faith (Civil Code, Arts. 1170, 19–21)

Actual damages: Sums you paid + expenses (replacement suppliers, rush fees, lost deposits). Keep receipts.
Moral damages: Anxiety, humiliation, mental anguish from a sabotaged wedding—supported by testimony.
Exemplary damages: To deter egregious conduct (e.g., serial scamming).
Attorney’s fees and costs (Art. 2208) in proper cases.
Legal interest: Typically 6% per annum from judicial or extra-judicial demand (as jurisprudentially set).

3) Unjust Enrichment (Civil Code, Art. 22)

If the contract is disputed but enrichment at your expense is clear, plead in the alternative.

4) Small Claims (for pure money claims)

Ideal for refunds without complex issues or need for live expert testimony.
No lawyers required; speedy timelines; documentary-driven.
Monetary cap: Up to ₱1,000,000 (as currently expanded by the Supreme Court; confirm latest cap when filing). Claims above the cap go to regular civil courts.

5) Joinder / Consolidation

If multiple couples were victimized, consider permissive joinder or consolidation of cases with common questions of fact/law to save time and avoid conflicting rulings. Class suits are rarer but possible where requisites are met.

Choosing venue (civil)

Where you reside or where the supplier resides (if a personal action); contract stipulations on venue may apply if valid and not oppressive.
For corporations, sue at their principal office address on the SEC records or as stated in the contract (verify authenticity).

Provisional and protective remedies

Preliminary Attachment (Rule 57): If the supplier acted in fraud in contracting the obligation or is disposing of assets to defraud creditors, you can seek a writ to hold property pending judgment. Requires a bond and supporting affidavit.
Preliminary Injunction/TRO (Rule 58): To restrain further fraudulent acts (e.g., taking new deposits using your brand/materials).
Examination of Judgment Debtor / Garnishment: Post-judgment collection tools to actually get paid.
Platform and payment-channel actions: File disputes/chargebacks with banks, credit cards, and e-wallets (GCash/Maya), and report seller pages to platforms for takedowns—useful parallel pressure.

Barangay conciliation—does it apply?

Required only if the parties are natural persons residing in the same city/municipality and the case isn’t otherwise exempt (e.g., criminal offenses, parties are corporations, urgent provisional remedies).
Many wedding suppliers operate as business entities (corporations/sole proprietorship with trade names), which can exempt the dispute. When unsure, consult the Punong Barangay on coverage to avoid dismissal for non-compliance.

Evidence game plan (build this now)

Contracting trail: Proposals, service agreements, booking forms, “lock-in” promos, and any fine-print on refunds, force majeure, rebooking, and substitution of suppliers.
Payment proofs: Official receipts, acknowledgment receipts, bank/e-wallet transfer slips, check images and return memos.
Digital footprints: Full screenshots of pages, ads, testimonials; URLs, page IDs, and dates; chat exports (WhatsApp/Viber/Messenger) with visible timestamps and participant names.
Non-delivery/defect proofs: Venue letters, third-party supplier confirmations, day-of photos/videos, guest affidavits.
Loss computation: Replacement supplier contracts/receipts, price differentials, incidental expenses (rush printing, logistics).
Pattern evidence: Statements from other victims (separate affidavits), prior blotters or news posts (if any).
Demand letter: Date-stamped, with proof of service (registered mail/ courier tracking, or acknowledgment email).

Demand letter—what to include (concise template)

Facts: Booking date, scope, price, schedule, what went wrong (non-delivery, no-show, bait-and-switch).
Breach & legal basis: Cite fraud/estafa indicia and breach of contract clauses.
Amount due: Refund + replacement costs + interest (state 6% p.a. demand) + damages without prejudice.
Cure period: Reasonable deadline (e.g., 5–10 calendar days for refund) and mode of payment.
Notice of action: State you will pursue criminal and civil remedies and platform reports if unmet.
Preserve evidence instruction: Demand they keep records (to deter spoliation).

Parallel tracks: should you file criminal, civil, or both?

File both when:

Clear deceit exists and you want deterrence and leverage; and
You need money back quickly (civil small claims or damages suit may move faster to a collectible judgment).

Criminal only when:

You prioritize punishment, your claim depends on proving deceit beyond reasonable doubt, and you can wait.

Civil only when:

The dispute is mainly breach of contract without strong deceit; or
You want a faster, document-driven small claims refund.

Note on civil claims with criminal cases: By default, civil liability is deemed included in the criminal case. If you want a separate civil action (e.g., small claims now, criminal later), expressly reserve or waive as appropriate to avoid duplication. Coordinate this with counsel at filing stage.

Costs, timelines, and expectations

Small claims: Filing fees scale with the claim; resolution can be within weeks to a few months, with one or two hearings; no lawyers required (but you may consult one off-record).
Regular civil/criminal cases: Can take months to years. Early settlements are common when defendants face real exposure (criminal or asset risk).
Collection is its own battle: Even with a favorable judgment, you may still need garnishment/levy to collect; start scouting defendant assets early (business permits, vehicles, bankable accounts, active pages).

Red flags & risk controls (for future bookings)

Insist on verifiable identities (government ID, business registration/DTI/SEC, official email domain).
Escrow or milestone-based payments; avoid full prepayment.
Cross-check portfolio authenticity (reverse image search, venue references).
Dual-channel confirmations with the venue and other subcontractors.
Use written contracts with clear deliverables, substitution rules, and refund/force majeure clauses.

Practical checklist (action now)

Get certified true copy of your blotter.
Compile an evidence binder (digital + printed).
Send a demand letter with a short deadline.
Prepare an Affidavit-Complaint (criminal) and/or Statement of Claim (small claims) with exhibits.
Assess venue and prescriptive periods (file early).
Consider preliminary attachment if you detect asset flight.
File platform and payment disputes in parallel.

Cautions & final notes

Laws and Supreme Court rules update (e.g., small-claims caps, interest rules, e-commerce protections). Verify the current thresholds and forms at filing.
This guide is for general information. For case-specific strategy (e.g., dual filing, venue selection, attachment, settlement terms), consult a Philippine lawyer with your documents in hand.

If you want, I can draft a tailored demand letter or a prosecutor-ready affidavit-complaint using your documents and facts.