Sidewalks and movable obstructions | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, My neighbor is using the sidewalk for his fish ball cart, which is attached to a motorcycle. On multiple occasions, it has indirectly led to accidents because the pedestrians were forced to walk in the middle of the road to avoid the cart. My neighbor asserts that what he is doing is legal […]
May a public employee be dismissed outright for being found positive with illegal drugs?
Dear PAO, Last December 2025, my husband and his friends were apprehended for alleged use of prohibited drugs. He was, then, charged with the violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, but the same was dismissed. As he is a government employee, he was also administratively charged with grave […]
Legal remedies for an aggrieved party in case a party-in-default fails to comply with the terms of a compromise agreement
Dear PAO, Out of pity, I extended a loan to my neighbor amounting to one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00). She promised to pay me back after six (6) months. However, a year has passed, and she never paid a cent. Thus, I brought a complaint before our barangay, and we executed a compromise agreement wherein […]
My brother and I cannot inherit from the woman who raised us?
Dear PAO, My brother, Xolo, and I were adopted and raised by a rich woman who ran several businesses. Unfortunately, our adoption did not go through the legal process. Apparently, two of our “mother’s” housemaids had gotten pregnant a year apart and then left their babies, namely us, in her care. Our “mother” died a […]
Application for probation | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, My friend is on trial for a criminal case filed against him, and his lawyer informed him that he will likely lose the case. He said that he wasn’t too concerned because he could apply for probation to avoid serving jail time. Is it true that he can avoid jail time by applying […]
When blood is thicker than water
Dear PAO, My mother stole P500,000 from me. I want to file a criminal case against her. However, a private lawyer told me that it is impossible for me to indict my mother for the crime of theft. I want a second opinion. Jodar Dear Jodar, Yes, it is true that you cannot indict your […]
Person with mental disability can be a witness
Dear PAO, I am worried that the criminal case I intend to file against a certain individual who molested my kid could be dismissed because the only witness we can present is an adult who has the mental capacity of a child and is considered a person with disability. The accused even claims that our […]
Premature marriages are no longer punishable by law
Dear PAO, My husband died ten months ago. Fortunately, my first love helped me get through the grieving process. Yesterday, he proposed to me. I know my deceased husband would want me to be happy, so I said, “Yes.” However, a friend of mine told me that a widow cannot remarry within 301 days from […]
An employee has the right to be issued a certificate of employment
Dear PAO, I need your advice urgently. My Korean employer refuses to give me a certificate of employment (COE). I need it for my government teaching job application. I was supposed to submit the COE last Friday. I have followed up many times, but they just ignored my messages. Until now, they still have not […]
Self-employed professionals are not required to submit appointment books for proper tax assessment
Dear PAO, I am a dentist with a small clinic in Manila. My CPA-friend told me that for the purposes of proper tax assessment, I need to submit my appointment books, along with the list of my professional fees, to the BIR. However, I think that this is a potential violation of physician-patient confidentiality. Am […]