PUP College of Law Research Corps

Look: The admission for the First Term of Academic Year 2024-2025 of the PUP Master of Laws Program is now OPEN!

Kindly fill out the following Google Form to register:
https://forms.gle/9oFAHKNEC5jZEopn9

A copy of the PDF version of the Admission Form and Health Information Form can be found at the following link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15EYCCiplciskTDNGLf0X19U4oLjqOVQe?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0HLPDZOUQV3uGXf9djE7bfFOe667D9thznypWsCSms1eOOCgtxeYyJ3JI_aem_VDtEZMfs7lFFgWy_tFrdcA
Note that 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 while 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦.

ATTENTION: LL.M. APPLICANTS

The pioneer run of the PUP Master of Laws Program is a huge success, and we intend to cater to even more legal professionals!

Hence, the Admission process for the First Term of Academic Year 2024-2025 shall begin on July 3, 2024 (Wednesday) and shall end on July 31, 2024 (Wednesday).

We have also resumed the operation of our chat function. Please message us for queries.

Note: You may access the University-approved Curriculum for both Tracks, as authorized by the Legal Education Board, as well as the relevant forms through the following Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15EYCCiplciskTDNGLf0X19U4oLjqOVQe?usp=drive_link

Starting July 3, 2024, kindly accomplish this Google Form Link to initiate the evaluation process for your admission into the Program: https://forms.gle/9oFAHKNEC5jZEopn9

Please take note of the following procedure and calendar of important events.

We hope to see you!

📣 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗭 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦

We are excited to announce that the 2024 Lopez Doctrinal Notes are now available for pick-up at PBRC or can be scheduled for delivery. Shipping fees are payable upon receipt.

We thank you for your patience in the release of these reviewers. We hope the Lopez Notes will serve as a valuable resource in your preparations for the Bar!

This is in partnership with PUP College of Law Research Corps.

For queries, you may contact Ms. Cielo Anne Pabella at 09279107115, or message us at our Official page.

📣 𝗨𝗣𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗕𝗔𝗥 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦

As we enter the latter half of 2024, the excitement is just beginning. Check out the upcoming activities that the PUP Bar Operations Committee has lined up for you!

1. Release of Doctrinal Notes
2. Bar Buddy System
3. Bar Lecture Series
4. Tanglaw Notes

𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥! 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘜𝘗 𝘓𝘢𝘸 𝘉𝘢𝘳 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴' 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥.

For more queries, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗩. 𝗟𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘇. 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿!⚖️🎉

Justice Mario Villamor Lopez became Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on December 5, 2019. His illustrious career began when he pursued Bachelor of Laws in San Beda College where he graduated with Cum Laude Honors. Throughout his study, Justice Lopez was noted for his remarkable proficiency and was one of the celebrated Top Thirty in the 1980 Bar Examinations.

Justice Lopez is a State Party Governmental Expert in Criminal Law of the UN Convention Against Corruption, a member of the Society for Judicial Excellence, ASEAN Law Association, an alumnus of the Harvard Law School, Massachusetts, USA, and a fellow of the Academy of American and International Law, Plano, Texas, USA. He is also a member of the 2014 Code of Crimes Committee and the Bar Exams Expert Committee at the University of the Philippines. He was the examiner in Criminal Law for the 2009 Bar Examination, and Legal Ethics for the 2017 Bar Examination.

Today, we celebrate the significance and greatness of all Mothers!💐

The PUP College of Law would like to extend its warmest appreciation to all the mothers and to all those who stand as mothers in the best way they know how.

The organization would also like to make a special greeting to all the mothers in the PUP College of Law community. Your dedication and commitment to both your students and families is indeed inspiring. Thank you for honing our minds and hearts with your unending compassion and nurturing spirit.

Happy Mother’s Day!💐

Everyone is invited to Dean Festin’s book launching of BARista’s Planner Journal on April 26, 2024, Friday, 6pm at the World Trade Center Manila.

📢 The Philippine Book Festival just got even more exciting! Meet author Dean Gemy Lito Festin, BS PSY, LL.M. at the Centralbooks booth (we'll be the ones in white!) for a book signing 📚✍🏻 of 'BARista's Planner Journal' on April 26, 2024 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the World Trade Center Manila.

Don't miss this chance to get your copy signed and celebrate Filipino literature! See you!

Coming soon. Very soon.

The PUP College of Law Research Research Corps would like to greet its Director for Finance, Ms. Jezza Mae Dajac, a happy birthday!🎉

May your birthday be sprinkled with fun, love, and blessings. Have a special day today!

PUP College of Law Research Corps’ Officers Meeting with Dean Gemy Lito Festin and Atty. Kim Ranielle Abis, one of the advisers of the organization. ⚖️

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗕𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Link: bit.ly/PBRCReg2024

Ready to conquer the bar exam? Secure your spot with us and be strategic on your bar review journey. Pre-register today!

𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗦

𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭: 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗕𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
Rate: 13,500.00

𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮: 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗕𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝘀
Rate: 15,000.00

𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯: 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗕𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀
Rate: 17,000.00

For more details, message us through this page or contact us at:
☎ 5355-1782; 5335-1787 or 5335-1777 loc. 621
📩[email protected]

IT’S YOUR TIME TO MAKE A MOVE.

Advance your legal career with us!

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines will now be offering the 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌, open for those holding a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws degree!

We'll keep you posted on the details. See you there!

Details will be posted soon in the PUP Master of Laws Program's page, stay tuned!

Advance your legal career with us!

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines will now be offering the 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌, open for those holding a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws degree!

We'll keep you posted on the details. See you there!

Announcing the PUP law graduates who successfully passed the 2023 bar exams.
It brings me immense pride as their dean to witness their achievement. Congratulations once again to all.

Gagamitin ang karunungan, mula sa iyo, para sa bayan. PUP, pinagpala!🙏❤️🙏

Congratulations, ReCAP Bar Passers!

𝗣𝗨𝗣 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗟𝗔𝗪 𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝟭𝗦𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝟱𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗔𝗪 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗜𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗚𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦

In “𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀; 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟱𝟭-𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀” category, the PUP College of Law has garnered 75.86% passing rate placing it as the 1st Best Performing Law School.

In “𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀; 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟭𝟭-𝟱𝟬 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀" category, the PUP College of Law has reached 86.67% passing rate placing it as the 5th Best Performing Law School.

Thus, the PUP College of Law Research Corps would like to extend its warmest greetings to our new roster of “𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗚𝗔𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗡!”

Today is a testament of all the hard work, grit, and sacrifices required to obtain the most coveted dot (.), and, indeed, you #𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗗𝗶𝗱𝗜𝘁𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹.

Congratulations, 𝗣𝗨𝗣𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀!
𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝘀𝗮’𝘆𝗼, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻!⚖️

The PUP College of Law Research Corps would like to greet one of its advisers, Atty. Kim Ranielle Abis, a happy birthday!🎉

Thank you for always being there to guide and support the organization.

We wish you great days ahead, Atty.! 🎉

The PUP College of Law Research Corps would like to congratulate 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘆. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗮 𝗜. 𝗡𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗼as the 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝟭𝟭𝟱, 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲. ⚖

Judge Nolasco is a professor in the PUP College of Law who shares her expertise and mastery of the law in different subject areas.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿.👩‍⚖

“𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝙈𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.”

The PUP College of Law Research Corps would like to greet its Director for Correspondence and Communications, Mr. Mertin Cristel Santos, a happy birthday!

May you only have wonderful days ahead!

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗: 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗫𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗔 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗟 𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗨𝗡𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗗 𝗧𝗔𝗫𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗔𝗫 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗦

The Supreme Court En Banc clarified in 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘷. 𝘑𝘰𝘦𝘭 𝘊. 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘻; 𝘑𝘰𝘦𝘭 𝘊. 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘻 𝘷. 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 (G.R. No. 208310-11 and 208662), a Decision penned by Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, that an assessment for deficiency taxes is not a prerequisite for the collection of civil liabilities in criminal tax cases.

The petition for review on certiorari was filed by Joel C. Mendez challenging the ruling of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) finding him guilty of violating the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended (NIRC), while the OSG assailed the CTA’s non-imposition of civil liability on Mendez.

Mendez is a single proprietor doing business under several trade names and businesses. In 2006, he was criminally charged for violation of Section 255 of the NIRC for (1) not filing his 2002 Income Tax Return (ITR) in the estimated amount of PhP1,522,152.14 and (2) willfully failing to supply correct and accurate information in his 2003 ITR, to the government’s prejudice, in the estimated amount of PhP2,107, 023.65.

The CTA Division found Mendez guilty of both criminal charges. However, as to his civil liability, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗧𝗔 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 (𝗖𝗜𝗥) 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗲𝘀. Mendez’s conviction and the non-imposition of deficiency taxes were affirmed by the CTA En Banc, prompting both Mendez and the OSG to file separate petitions before the Supreme Court.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱, 𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘇, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝘀, 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗜𝗥 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗲𝘀.

Source: Supreme Court of the Philippines

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗: 𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜-𝗩𝗔𝗪𝗖 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗩𝗜𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗡’𝗦 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗨𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦

The urgency of issuing a protection order is central to its purpose of protecting the aggrieved party from heightened acts of violence and harm. Nevertheless, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 in a protection order 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻.

The petition challenged the validity of Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Act of 2003 (Anti-VAWC Act), in relation to the grant of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of a Permanent Protection Order (PPO) in favor of # # #’s former partner, AAA, and their children, BBB and CCC.

The case originated in 2007 when AAA and her children sought a Temporary Protection Order (TPO) and PPO against # # #, alleging threats and potential harm. The RTC issued a TPO, later making it permanent in 2009.

The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Anti-VAWC Act, asserting that 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿. Citing 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘢 𝘷. 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘯, the Supreme Court explained that 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗔𝗪𝗖 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼 𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵, 𝗶𝗳 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱. The Court highlighted the importance of due process, ensuring that 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲.

Source: Supreme Court of the Philippines

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗: 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗠𝗨𝗦 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗦; 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗕𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜-𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗥𝗨𝗚 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝘂𝘀 is a remedy available only in environmental cases and thus 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

The petition sought a writ of continuing mandamus to compel then Philippine National Police Director-General (now Senator) Ronald M. Dela Rosa, then Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon (now deceased), and then Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to investigate and prosecute extrajudicial killings related to the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

The petitioners alleged that the respondents failed to adequately perform their duty to prevent violations of the right to life and investigate and prosecute such violations. However, the Court held that the petitioners did not establish that the respondents neglected their duties. The Court emphasized that 𝗮 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝘆, 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝘆, 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Furthermore, the Court clarified that 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝘂𝘀, 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁. It emphasized that such a writ is only available in environmental cases, as outlined in the Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases. The Court also rejected the idea of requiring respondents to submit periodic reports, citing a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.

Souce: Supreme Court of the Philippines

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗: 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦

With the enactment of the Architecture Act, only registered and licensed architects may prepare, sign, and seal architectural documents as listed under Section 302(4)(a), (c), (d), (e), and (f) of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the National Building Code.

The Supreme Court’s Second Division, through Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, resolved the conflicting provisions in RA 544, or the Civil Engineering Law, and in the Architecture Act.

The Civil Engineering Law provides for the authority of civil engineers to prepare, sign, and seal various plans, including architectural documents.

The Architecture Act, on the other hand, states that “[a]ll architectural plans, designs, specifications, drawings, and architectural documents relative to the construction of a building shall bear the seal and signature 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗳” 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁. [Emphasis added]

The Court, finding the foregoing provisions “irreconcilable,” ruled that the 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

Furthermore, the Court ruled that the 𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝘇𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆, consistent with the publication requirement under Article 2 of the Civil Code. The provisions of the published version of the law, the Court held, “cannot be supplanted by the contents of the other copy of the law which do not appear to have complied with the publication requirement.”

“Accordingly, we rule that since the phrase ‘licensed architect or civil engineer in case of architectural and structural plans’ was not included in the published version of the National Building Code, this proviso cannot be considered to have any legal effect nor part of the National Building Code,” the Court held.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟬𝟮(𝟰)(𝗮), (𝗰), (𝗱), (𝗲), 𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗳) 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿/𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟬𝟮(𝟰)(𝗯) 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀.

[Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office]

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗: 𝗦𝗖 𝗨𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗦 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗙𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗝𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟

The Supreme Court has ordered a ship management company and its corporate officers to pay US$90,000 as total and permanent disability benefits to its seafarer employee who suffered an injury while playing basketball on board a ship during his free time.

In a 21-page Decision penned by Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, the Supreme Court noted that the POEA SEC defines a 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸-𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆 as an “𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁,” 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

The Court added that Section 2(A) of the POEA SEC likewise provides that a seafarer’s contract of employment shall be effective until his or her date of arrival at the point of hire, upon termination of his or her employment.

Furthermore, the Court said that an employer is duty-bound to provide a seaworthy ship for the seafarer and take all reasonable precautions to prevent accident and injury to the crew, under Section 1(A)(4) of the POEA SEC.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁, 𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, as employers were never intended to be insurers against all accidental injuries their employees might incur while in the course of employment, “but only for such injuries arising from or growing out of the risks peculiar to the nature of work in the scope of the workmen’s employment or incidental to such employment, and accidents in which it is possible to trace the injury to some risk or hazard to which the employee is exposed in a special degree by reason of such employment.”

Citing Section 20(D) of the POEA-SEC, which states that a seafarer shall be disqualified from receiving disability benefits of the employer is able to prove that:
(𝟭) 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿;
(𝟮) 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀; 𝗮𝗻𝗱
(𝟯) 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

In the case of Arguilles, he was “𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙚𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙧-𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙡. 𝙄𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙣𝙚’𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮,” remarked the Court. “The records are bereft of any evidence, much less the slightest indication, that the injury suffered by [Arguilles] was intentionally or negligently incurred. Thus, his injury is worthy of compensation.”

The Court likewise declared the corporate officers of Wilhelmsen Manning jointly and severally liable with Wilhelmsen Manning and WSML for the total judgment award, following the provision of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended, which states that if the recruitment or placement agency is a juridical being, its corporate officers, directors, and partners shall themselves be jointly and severally liable with the corporation or partnership for money claims.

(Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗚. 𝗚𝗲𝘀𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼. 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿! 🎉

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo was appointed to the Supreme Court as Associate Justice on August 14, 2017, and later as the 27th Chief Justice of the Philippines on April 5, 2021. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, he served as Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan, later becoming Chairperson of its 7th Division.

Chief Justice Gesmundo obtained his law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1984 and passed the Bar in April 1985. He entered government service in August 1985 as Trial Attorney in the Office of the Solicitor General. He was awarded as Most Outstanding Solicitor in 1998. He was on Seconded Appointment as Commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government from July 17, 1998 to February 15, 2001. In August 2002, he was promoted to Assistant Solicitor General. He continued to serve in the Office of the Solicitor General until his appointment to the Sandiganbayan on October 15, 2005.

Apart from his official duties, Chief Justice Gesmundo also participated as Co-Chairperson of the Final Board of Judges in Metrobank Foundation’s annual Search for Outstanding Filipinos in August 2019.

Prior to joining the government, Chief Justice Gesmundo worked as Research Analyst from 1977 to 1979 with Business Day Corporation, publisher of the business newspaper Business Day and Top 1000 Corporations of the Philippines wherein a few of his articles were published. In 1979-1980, he worked as Market Research Officer at the Office of the Australian Trade Commissioner, Australian Embassy, Manila, and continued as its Marketing Officer from 1980 to 1985. Chief Justice Gesmundo is the son of Juan A. Gesmundo, a farmer, and Zenaida B. Gahon, a public school teacher. He is married to Lynn Magpantay-Gesmundo, with whom he has a son, Alastair, and twin daughters, Ashley Nicole and Allison Arden.

The PUP College of Law Research Corps would like to greet one of its advisers, Atty. Mark Julius Dosil, CPA, a happy birthday!🎉

Thank you for always guiding and supporting the organization.

We wish you nothing but your heart desires.

Enjoy your day, Atty.!🎉