The Doctrine of Res Ipsa Loquitur
Dear PAO, My uncle was hospitalized and underwent an operation. Unfortunately, he was paralyzed after the procedure. My aunt is unsure if there was negligence on the part of the surgeon. She is contemplating filing a complaint, but she is worried that she may not have any evidence to prove such negligence. Someone told her […]
Seeking assistance of PAO for nullification of marriage
Dear PAO, My friend, who used to work as an OFW, no longer has any income and is now back in the Philippines. He wants to seek assistance from your office for the filing of a petition for nullification of his marriage because he cannot afford the services of a private lawyer. How would he […]
What is parental and filial privilege in giving testimonies?
Dear PAO, My aunt recently received a subpoena to testify in a petition filed against her stepdaughter for the deletion of the surname “Perez” from her certificate of live birth. However, my aunt does not want to testify. From my research, I learned that the court cannot compel my aunt to testify because she is […]
Demurrer to evidence in criminal cases
Dear PAO, I filed a criminal case for estafa against a former handler of an “investment scheme” who promised that my investment would generate certain earnings in a short period of time. However, after we presented our witnesses and evidence, I received an order from the court dismissing my case due to the demurrer to […]
Assessed value of realty involved that ordains which court shall acquire exclusive jurisdiction over real action
Dear PAO, May I know the rule on jurisdiction for civil cases involving real property or land? I was told that the value of the land determines which court has jurisdiction. If that is the case, how should we determine the value of the land for purposes of jurisdiction if the property is covered by […]
Is one absolutely excused from liability if there is a fortuitous event?
Dear PAO, I saw the problem of Z, a passenger of a public utility bus involved in a road accident, in an online video. Z claims that he suffered bodily injuries, among others, due to the accident and wants to file a case against the bus owner. Allegedly, the representative of the bus company told […]
Money muling activities penalized under RA 12010
Dear PAO, A few months ago, a former college classmate asked me if he could borrow my bank account. Since I had just returned from working abroad and wasn’t using my account with XXX bank, I declined his request. He approached me again a few weeks later, offering a significant amount of money. He even […]
Banks must disclose pre-payment costs
Dear PAO, Do banks have an obligation to disclose not only the terms of a loan but also other aspects, such as the costs of pre-paying a loan? My brother, a fisherman, obtained a loan from a bank in our province. He only has a few months of amortizations left until he pays off his […]
Lesbians not exempted from liability under RA 9262
Dear PAO, I have a sister who is a lesbian. She has been in a relationship with her partner for almost a year. My sister would beat her partner whenever she was drunk. Now, her partner is saying that she had enough and threatened to file a criminal case for the abuses she suffered. I […]
Mandatory waiting period before filing a petition for Philippine citizenship through naturalization
Dear PAO, I am a refugee from a Middle East country constantly ravaged by war. I have been living in the Philippines for 12 years, and it is my intention to acquire Philippine citizenship. I have been inquiring about the naturalization process, and I was told that I need to submit a declaration under oath […]