Requirements for voluntary surrender as mitigating circumstance
Dear PAO, My brother went into hiding for quite some time to evade arrest and was cornered by the police when he paid a visit to my father. He only surrendered when my father informed him that his penalty will be mitigated if he gives up. The complainant is claiming that my brother did not […]
Appropriate course of action to claim for unremitted SSS contributions
Dear PAO, In January 2026, I received the full monetary judgment award arising from the labor case I filed against my former employer for illegal dismissal and money claims. Upon inquiring with the Social Security System (SSS) regarding my contribution records, I discovered that my former employer stopped remitting my SSS contributions on the very […]
Prince Harry, family back in UK – media
LONDON — Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle and their two children landed in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, British media reported, after last week’s shock news that they would be relocating from the United States. The couple, who quit the UK for California six years ago amid a royal feud, landed aboard a private […]
Norway holds breath as king’s health worsens
OSLO — Norway’s royal family gathered on Thursday at King Harald V’s bedside in the hospital after the palace announced that the health condition of the 89-year-old monarch, who is suffering from a blood disease, was “extremely serious.” Queen Sonja and 53-year-old Crown Prince Haakon, who is acting as regent during his father’s illness, have […]
CIA head to Russia: Don’t attack NATO members
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A highly unusual trip by the head of the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to Moscow this week was to warn Russia against any attack on North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members, US media reported on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump sought to downplay the visit. The Wall Street Journal and […]
Lawyer’s ‘illegal advice’ | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, Two years ago, a warrant of arrest was issued against my cousin. His lawyer advised him to hide from the authorities for as long as he could. However, he was arrested last month, and the court did not allow him to post bail because he was considered as a “flight risk,” citing his […]
Concealing one’s homosexuality is a ground for annulment
Dear PAO, I have been married to my husband for three years already. When we were still dating, he would always reluctantly kiss me and avoid premarital sex with me. After two years, we decided to get married. However, he kept on refusing to have sex with me; hence, we never really consummated our marriage. […]
Supreme Court allows remote notarization for OFWs
Dear PAO, My father is a seaman who is currently on board a ship. He is my sponsor for a student visa application. Recently, I was granted a scholarship to study abroad in Germany. I need him to sign an Affidavit of Financial Support as soon as possible for my visa application, but he will […]
Non-recovery of ransom money does not preclude conviction for kidnapping for ransom
Dear PAO, I watched the news and learned that the suspects in a kidnapping-for-ransom case were apprehended by police officers. However, the ransom money was never recovered or confiscated by the authorities. Can the suspects still be held criminally liable for the crime of kidnapping for ransom despite the non-recovery of the ransom money? Inka […]
Using a photocopy of one’s birth certificate to prove filiation and paternity
Dear PAO, I am the child of two hippies who used to live in a remote barrio in a province in Mindanao. They decided to start a family there to live the life of the “working man” since both their parents were extremely rich. Shortly after I was born, my birth certificate was registered with […]