Restrictions imposed by the homeowners’ association are legally binding
Dear PAO, I am an owner of a piece of land inside a subdivision. The property has been up for sale for more than ten years. There were interested buyers at first, but when they visited the property, they questioned the limitation on the number of floors allowed for construction and the ban on vehicles […]
Buyer in good faith only applies to registered land
Dear PAO,I am not familiar with the history of the land which my parents are claiming from Kumags. The latter allegedly said that he owns the land because he bought the same from Mark. Kumags presented a deed of sale of unregistered land to prove the transaction. My father told Kumags that Mark cannot sell […]
The Ridjo Doctrine, a legal principle formulated for the protection of the consuming public
Dear PAO, I have been renting out my condominium unit since 2018. Since then, I have not been in the possession of the said unit, and my lessee has been using it as a 24/7 fitness center. To my surprise, I received a letter from the electric company demanding a total amount of P800,000 representing […]
Service Recognition Incentive and Productivity Enhancement Incentive of govt employees
Dear PAO, I have been a public school teacher since 2011. I was on sick leave starting August 1, 2024 until January 30, 2025. From August to November 2024, I was receiving my salary but after I used up all my leaves, I did not receive my salary starting December 2024. Aside from that, I […]
Aggravating circumstance of superior strength does not mean numerical superiority
Dear PAO, My brother and Mark quarreled. The two exchanged punches until my brother fell to the ground. Mark seized the opportunity. He retrieved a bolo from his motorcycle and hacked my brother three times, even if the latter was no longer fighting back. Fortunately, my brother survived. Some of my relatives are encouraging us […]
Access to personal information of public officers and employees in government office
Dear PAO, Sometime last month, I visited a public hospital for a health consultation, to which I was prescribed and given free medicines. I asked the hospital staff for the name of the public doctor who attended to me. However, the staff said that she cannot divulge the name of the doctor as it is […]
Operation of backhoes is included in anti-distracted driving law
Dear PAO, There is an ongoing construction project in a private compound near the main intersection of our town. This project has been ongoing for more than a year now and has caused severe traffic congestion on the highway, as backhoes are placed on the public road. Some residents have already raised complaints due to […]
Doctrine of processual presumption in relation to support
Dear PAO, I married a foreigner and we have an 18-month-old son. However, our marriage bond ended when we obtained a divorce decree in Holland. My foreigner husband agreed to provide monthly support to our son. But when my son and I arrived in the Philippines, my husband never gave support. My ex-husband returned to […]
Prior demand is a jurisdictional requirement in ejectment suit
Dear PAO, I was a lessee of a two-bedroom apartment, as evidenced by a contract of lease duly signed by me and my landlord. When our contract expired sometime in 2021, my landlord allowed me to continue living in the apartment even without a signed contract as long as I religiously pay the same amount […]
Presumption of legitimacy for children born into valid, subsisting marriages
Dear PAO, My mother used to be married to another man. Shortly after they wed, they decided to separate but they never bothered to have their marriage declared null and void. They have been estranged ever since. Eventually, my mother met my father and although they could not tie the knot because of my mother’s […]