Prenuptial agreement: When to execute, when changes can be made
Dear PAO, My sister just got engaged. She has yet to discuss this with her fiancé, but she is considering having a prenuptial agreement. They both have their own small online businesses, so she thinks it will be easier and less messy if they will just agree to have a complete separation of property. Assuming […]
Retaliation is different from self-defense
Dear PAO, My brother killed his friend. It started when my brother failed to pay his debt to his friend despite several demands. Due to frustration, his friend went to my brother’s house and ran amuck. He challenged my brother to a fight. After my brother went downstairs, his friend punched and stabbed him to […]
Conviction of accused must rest, not on weakness of defense, but on strength of prosecution
Dear PAO, My cousin filed a criminal case, which was heard in court but was eventually dismissed. My cousin said that the assailant only presented one witness, while he had several witnesses who testified for him, and he submitted a good number of evidence. So, we really could not understand why or how the case […]
Data of credit card holders are considered confidential
Dear PAO, As a credit card holder for a few years now, I get to receive several spam messages asking for personal information regarding my credit card. That is why I would like to know what the instances are where my credit card issuer may disclose information regarding my credit card account. Thank you. Source […]
Consignment of loan payment in court
Dear PAO, I incurred a loan from my friend with a monthly interest rate of 2 percent. I have been paying my monthly installment from January 2020 until February 2024. Per our agreement, I am supposed to pay the installment in cash at her residence. However, in March 2024, when I went to her house […]
No permit, no exam is now illegal
Dear PAO, My husband got involved in a motor vehicle accident, and he was unable to go to work for a prolonged period of time. Thus, we were unable to pay our daughter’s tuition on time. I’m afraid that she won’t be able to take her scheduled periodic and final exams since she won’t be […]
Defaulting buyer’s rights under the Maceda Law
Dear PAO, I agreed to buy an apartment unit, payable monthly for 10 years. I already paid one-and-a-half years’ worth of installments. However, recently, I was unable to pay due to financial constraints. The developer threatened to cancel our contract immediately. Are they correct? I would like to know what my rights are under the […]
Can a foreigner inherit private land in the Philippines?
Dear PAO, I am an American citizen, and I have a friend who is a Filipino citizen and included me as one of his heirs in his will. In the will, my Filipino friend gave me a parcel of private land in the Philippines. I would like to know if such a disposition is valid. […]
Refusal to undergo random drug testing
Dear PAO, We have a family business engaged in transporting passengers/commuters. Can refusal to undergo random drug testing be a valid ground for the dismissal of an employee? Lydia Dear Lydia, In the case of Kakampi and its Members, Victor Panuelos et al. v. Kingspoint Express and Logistic and/or Mary Ann Co, GR 194813, April […]
Issue of reasonableness of new rental may be resolved in ejectment, not in consignation
Dear PAO, My lease agreement with Lina is about to expire. She told me the lease may be renewed if the rent is increased to 200 percent. I offered a reasonable 50 percent increase, but Lina declined, and she demanded that I vacate the property after the expiration of our lease, or she would file […]