Perhaps once of the most archaic and least useful law in the Philippines (followed only by the Negotiable Instruments Law of 1911) is the anti-duel law under the Revised Penal Code (RPC). In law school, it is the usual butt of a joke by Criminal Law Professors asking the relevancy of such law in modern …
Continue reading The Anti-Duel Law in the Philippines is still in effect
A schedule is good. A routine is an improvement. A system is a whole new level. Majority of bar examinees will design a schedule for their review. Some will develop a routine. Few will create a system. If you think about it, that is somehow representative of the 80% failure and 20% passing rate. (Those …
"I'm not a cat." This legal humor will go down in legal history as one of the funniest. With a new found fame, what to do with it? Well, do a Reddit Ask me Anything (AMA). Hilarity ensues, particularly due to witty remarks, with a few coming from fellow lawyers. See: Reddit AMA by the …
Continue reading Real cat lawyer did an AMA at Reddit, comments are purrfect and hilarious
Months before the start of the 2020 pandemic, I was consulting on a peculiar case involving a handwritten last will and testament written on a yellow pad paper. While it was written by the testator, no signature appeared on the document. It was an interesting case. Philippine law via the Civil Code allows for two …
Continue reading Last will on a yellow pad paper, no signature, valid?
On the basis of Constitutional provisions on equality of women and men under the law, the Philippine Supreme Court in a recent landmark case expressly allowed a petitioner to use the surname of his mother even if he is born as a legitimate child. The petitioner initiated the case for change of first name from …
Continue reading Mother’s surname may be used by legitimate children, says Supreme Court
On Valentines Day this 14 February 2021, words from the Supreme Court on that little thing called love, to ponder on: “The heart has reasons of its own which reason does not know.” —Chua-Qua vs. Clave, G.R. No. L-49549, Aug. 30, 1990 “There can be no love where respect is gone.” —People vs. Rivera Nov. …
Continue reading The Legal Side of Love: Quotes from the Supreme Court
When almost everything is forced online due to the pandemic, the age-old tradition of celebrating marriage is facing an update - i.e. a virtual marriage ceremony in the Philippines. Will it fly or is it dead on its track? What are the concerns? 1. That it is not aligned with religious practices of certain churches, …
Continue reading Online wedding? Virtual marriage ceremony in the Philippines
Lawyers are taught and trained to stop or keep their clients from speaking if they are involved in a criminal case, particularly if they are considered suspects and more so if they are the respondents or the accused. "Invoke your right against self-crimination" or "talk to my lawyer" is what would usually be advised of …
PH Internet is lit with discussions on rape, homicide, and murder, following a tragic event involving a flight attendant who was found dead at a hotel in Makati after what is reported to be a New Year's party celebration. The following article will not discuss the incident. Instead, it will focus on the legal aspects …
Continue reading No rape with murder, instead rape with homicide
"The second most precious thing in life is the right to express yourself freely. The most precious thing in life, I think, is food in your mouth, and the third most precious is a roof over your head." https://youtu.be/BiqDZlAZygU
