Authority of solemnizing officer | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, Three years ago, we availed of a full package civil wedding which includes a wedding officiant provided by the coordinator. The coordinator informed us that our wedding officiant is a certain judge whom she personally knows. However, I have recently discovered that a different person officiated our marriage despite the fact that the […]
Elements of harassment that alarms or causes emotional or psychological distress to a woman
Dear PAO, My former girlfriend told me that she will file a complaint against me for allegedly harassing her and causing her emotional distress. She added that she will present as evidence a text message I sent to her out of anger during a quarrel we had before we broke up. I must admit that […]
Purpose of presenting the owner’s duplicate of title in the registration of conveyance
Dear PAO, I bought a certain land and paid the full purchase price after three months. The seller refused to surrender the owner’s duplicate of title despite my repeated demands. I tried to register the deed of sale but the registrar of deeds declined since I cannot present the owner’s duplicate of title. May I […]
A laundry worker’s status | The Manila Times
Dear PAO, Since 2010, I have been providing laundry services at a mining firm’s executive staff house, which accommodates company guests, officers, and employees. In late 2024, I slipped and injured my back while carrying laundry baskets. After taking a medical leave, the management refused to let me return to work. Instead, they offered me a lump-sum payment […]
Unsigned birth certificate is not a proof of filiation
Dear PAO, I would like to obtain financial support for my non-marital child, but the putative father refused to heed my demand and denied fathering our child. Someone advised me to file a petition for support and simply submit the birth certificate of my child as proof of paternity. However, the father of my son […]
When the husband becomes the victim of any form of abuse
Dear PAO, I have been married to my spouse for four years. During the first year of living together, our relationship was good. But in the following years, we frequently argued because of jealousy, which eventually escalated into physical violence. Whenever my spouse gets angry, she often throws things at me, scratches my face, or even physically assaults me. One night, simply because I came home late from […]
Applying for survivorship pension at the Social Security System
Dear PAO, A month after my husband died, I went to the Social Security System (SSS) to apply for a survivorship pension. To my surprise, my application was denied. The SSS reasoned that I became my husband’s legitimate wife only after the date of his permanent total disability; hence, I could not be considered his […]
Suspension is a disciplinary measure, not a labor-saving device
Dear PAO, My boss suspended me for seven days without pay, just because we had excessive workers in the shop. He explained that suspension due to redundancy is legal under the Labor Code. However, I was the only person to suffer such suspension, while all of my co-workers regularly reported to work and got paid […]
When is the last day of paying the last pay of employees?
Dear PAO, I resigned from my employment last year, but my former employer has not yet released my final pay. The company informed me that it is still in the process of computing the charges allegedly attributable to me during my tenure. In this regard, may I inquire as to when my final pay should […]
Lying: Perjury or False Testimony?
Under the law, Perjury and False Testimony are distinct offenses categorized under different articles of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). Consequently, a determination of where the false statements were made is essential to ensure that the elements of the correct offense are fully satisfied. The distinction between Perjury and False Testimony lies in where and […]