Battered Woman Syndrome as a defense
Dear PAO, My friend has endured abuse at the hands of her husband. He has been abusing and mistreating her physically, mentally, and verbally for the past five years. She only tolerated this behavior because she wanted their only son to have a complete family. One day, he came home drunk and beat her so […]
Use of weapons out of proportion to victim’s defense can constitute abuse of superior strength
Dear PAO, Someone from our neighborhood was murdered. According to a witness, a fistfight ensued between the victim and X, the assailant. Startlingly, out of nowhere, X pulled out a long knife and struck the victim several times. Seemingly unsatisfied, X then drew a gun and fired a shot at the victim. The latter was […]
Are earnings of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) subject to tax?
Dear PAO, My mother is currently an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), who works as a nurse in Vietnam. Because of her work, she was able to send us to school. She was also able to purchase two (2) condominium units which she rents out for additional income. In this regard, I would like to inquire […]
Concealment of homosexuality is ground for annulment
Dear PAO, My husband and I met through social media and became a couple after a year. Our relationship was long-distance, as he worked in the United States while I remained in the Philippines. Throughout our time together, he was emotionally distant and avoided physical intimacy, which he attributed to being from a conservative family. […]
Salaries and wages of anyone may be garnished
Dear PAO, I am a construction worker and my brother is a public official. Tino is collecting a certain amount of money from us. He said that he will initiate the appropriate civil case against us and will ask for the garnishment of our salaries to satisfy the amount due. My brother told me not […]
Territoriality principle of criminal laws of the Philippines
Dear PAO, My husband and I were happily married in the Philippines before he left for Japan to work in January 2024. While working there, he met a fellow employee, fell in love with her, and they began living together under the same roof. Concerned employees would take photos and send them to me through […]
Legality of unauthorized salary deductions
Dear PAO, As a punishment, my employer deducts a significant amount from my salary whenever I unintentionally violate the cleanliness policy in the workplace. When I argued that there is a prohibition against unauthorized salary deduction, the HR department reasoned that such punishment is authorized by our company policy. Can our company policy legalize an […]
Penalty for non-registration of motorcycle
Dear PAO, I recently bought a motorcycle from my friend. I read that there is a need to register the sale of a motorcycle within 20 working days from the acquisition of ownership. In case I am not able to comply with this requirement, is there a penalty? Andrei Dear Andrei, According to Republic Act […]
Private complainant cannot question the grant of bail
Dear PAO, I am the private complainant in a criminal complaint filed against Jojo. After several hearings in the trial court, the presiding judge convicted Jojo. However, he appealed before the Court of Appeals and also filed a “Petition for Bail” pending appeal, which was granted by the Court. I want to question the grant […]
Requirements for employing apprentices in the company
Dear PAO, I applied as a pharmacy assistant in a drugstore in Quezon City last October 2024. I was told that I would be receiving a daily salary of P450.00 for the first two (2) months of my training; after which, I would receive the benefits of a regular employee. However, after two months of […]