Teri Onor sued over alleged bouncing checks

This time, nobody was laughing. Comedian Teri Onor, a mainstay of the wildly popular Eat Bulaga variety show, was charged Friday for allegedly issuing bouncing checks to a couple demanding about P2.67 million in loan payments. Complainants Honorico and Ma. Luisa Mariano filed three complaints before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office against Onor, whose real name is Dexter Dominguez. Onor, who gained popularity by spoofing superstar Nora Aunor, has been reportedly considering to run for the mayoralty post in Abucay, Bataan during the May polls. Court information listed Onor as a resident of Damayang Lagi village in New Manila, Quezon City. The Marianos sued Onor for violating Batas Pambansa 22 or the Anti-Bouncing Check Law. The charges were in connection with three postdated checks Onor issued as payment for P990,000 he borrowed from the couple including interest. Of the amount, Honorico said in his affidavit that Onor loaned P700,000 in two tranches on March 3 and 6 last year. It was allegedly payable in three months with P70,000 interest. The complainants said Onor issued two United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) checks on June 3 and 6, 2006 to cover his dues. However, UCPB refused to accept the checks when these were deposited upon reaching the maturity dates. The third check, meanwhile, was allegedly issued to Ma. Luisa on March 27 last year as payment for P200,000 with P20,000 interest. It was supposed to be payable in three months. Again, the bank allegedly refused to honor Onor's check. The Marianos again claimed to have had other transactions with Onor that similarly took bad turns. Aside from amount under the three checks, they claimed that Onor also owed them about P1.68 million in other loans. The complainants alleged that they sent Onor a demand letter on November 8 last year, but the comedian allegedly ignored this. GMANews.TV called up Tape Productions Inc., the production outfit of Eat Bulaga, for comment but was unable to immediately contact Onor. Tape staff referred GMANews.TV to its artist and talent handlers, who in turn said they do not give the personal phone numbers of their hosts. - GMANews.TV