Liability of hotel management due to negligence
Dear PAO, Last weekend, my family and I stayed in a hotel. While we were sleeping, somebody entered our room, pointed a gun at me, took my laptop and wallet, and hurriedly left the room. I immediately called hotel security and was informed that they issued a keycard to someone who claimed to be my […]
Failure to appeal does not always result in violation of due process
Dear PAO, A private counsel represented me in a civil case involving a certain land. Unfortunately, we lost the case, and my counsel failed to inform me. Hence, no appeal was filed from the adverse decision rendered by the court, and the decision attained its finality. I have already terminated my lawyer’s services and am […]
Reason why qualified theft will fail if agrarian dispute or tenancy is established between the parties
Dear PAO, I had an arrangement with Lino that I will till his land and the harvest will be divided between us. This has been our setup for a decade until we had a dispute pertaining to the division of the harvest, which eventually led to his demand for me to vacate the property. When […]
Arbitrary Detention | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, I was driving along Alabang-Zapote Road when police officers flagged me for a defective headlight. I admitted my mistake and apologized to the apprehending police officers. However, the police officers accosted me and required me to go to the police station near the area. Upon arrival at the police station, I quickly offered […]
Retrenchment and closure of business
Dear PAO, Can a company decide to unilaterally close? If the company claims that it is experiencing business losses, may it skip the requirement of notice and avoid the payment of separation pay? Emong Dear Emong, Please be informed of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of Keng Hua Paper Products Co., Inc. and […]
When sickness is a ground for valid termination
Dear PAO, Last year, I was diagnosed with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. My doctor told me to slow down and get some rest because my body is quite weak. When I informed my employer about my current condition, he told me I would be terminated from work. Can I be legally terminated right away because of my […]
When the lessor refuses to make necessary repairs
Dear PAO, I have been leasing a house for almost a year now. I informed the owner that the drainage in the kitchen sink is not working. The clogged drainage causes puddles of water to form whenever we use it. We also need to put a large pail below the sink to catch the leaking […]
Safe haven provider
Dear PAO, I am still not ready to be a mother to my newborn, and no one in my family knew that I gave birth. This is the reason I was constrained to give away my then 10-day-old baby to a licensed child-caring agency that is near my residence. It was never my intention to […]
Conservation breeding | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, I have been an animal lover for so long, and I have found a new love for watching documentaries regarding wildlife. I am just curious if we have a law regarding the breeding of threatened species of animals. Soka Dear Soka, Please be informed of Section 26 of Republic Act (RA) 9147, otherwise […]
Immutability rule inapplicable to void judgments
Dear PAO, My husband and I filed a petition for adoption in favor of a child whom we have treated as our real child since birth. The court granted our petition. Unfortunately, after the decision became final, my husband’s children from his first marriage filed a motion for reconsideration, arguing that the decision was void […]