Are taxi drivers regular employees or independent contractors?
Dear PAO, I hope you can give guidance on my concern. My father has been a taxi driver for a taxi company for the past 30 years. He is set to retire next month on his 60th birthday. However, the taxi company said that he is not entitled to retirement since he is just an […]
Criminal case no hindrance to taking of Bar exam
Dear PAO, I am now in my senior year as a law student and plan to take the Philippine Bar Examinations as soon as I graduate. However, my ex-girlfriend, upon learning of my plan to take the Bar, recently filed a VAWC case against me under Republic Act 9262. May I know whether the case […]
Self-help eviction illegal in the Philippines
Dear PAO, A tenant in my apartment complex has not paid over three months’ worth of rent. Whenever I try to knock on his door to demand payment, he pretends that he is not at home, even though I can clearly hear his television from the outside. Our lease contract clearly states that a default […]
When mental illness negates criminal liability
Dear PAO, I saw in the news a case involving a mother who was suffering from schizophrenia. She jumped off a bridge with her daughter. The mother survived, but the daughter drowned and died. My question is, can a parent who is suffering from a mental illness be absolved from criminal liability if he or […]
The Anti-Bomb Joke Law | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, I often hear news of passengers getting offloaded from flights for making bomb-related remarks, either on-board the aircraft or while undergoing routine security inspection. Beyond getting offloaded from their flights, however, I wonder if the passengers who are caught making bomb jokes actually face arrest and if so, for what crime? Bam Dear […]
Prohibition on workplace discrimination | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, I am seeking your legal advice about my friend’s predicament. Sometime in January 2026, he underwent a routine company health check-up and was diagnosed as HIV positive. Upon learning of the medical findings, his employer sent him a notice informing him of his termination due to possible adverse effects to his fellow employees. […]
A father’s right to custody
Dear PAO, I am a father separated from my ex for five years. We have a child living with her parents. I give 30 percent of my earnings for support — food, school, everything. I never missed a payment. But my ex controls all contact. I can only message or see my child on birthdays, […]
Intrinsic validity of a will
Dear PAO, My father, who recently died, was an American citizen who had been living in the Philippines for the past 15 years. When he died, he named both me and my mother, in his will, as the sole heirs to his properties in the Philippines. The problem is, my dad had a wife and […]
Employee not enrolled by employer with the SSS
Dear PAO, I have been employed with a private company for six years. Last February 2026, I had an accident that required a major surgery. I notified my employer that I would like to claim from the SSS, but they did not entertain my request. Therefore, I instructed my wife to file my claim directly […]
Filing a cyberlibel case against an OFW
Dear PAO, I currently have a relationship with a married man, who I met at the nightclub that I dance at. I know that this is wrong, but I truly do love him, especially since he takes care of my kids from my previous relationships and former club regulars. Unfortunately, the wife of my current […]