Recent Articles

Happy Holidays to All!

December 24, 2008 13:41

Just dropping by to wish everyone a Merry Christmas (despite the economic crisis) and a prosperous New Year (again, despite the economic crisis).  If it’s any consolation, Malacanang issued Proclamation No. 1695 , declaring January 2, 2009 as an additional non-working holiday for 2009 . That ...

How to Change a Constitution

December 15, 2008 09:26

Amending the Constitution, which is the highest law of the land, is an issue that comes alive in every term of recent Presidents. Terms such as “Cha-Cha” (charter change), “con-ass” and “concon” are thrown around with regularity. Some sectors argue that...

Primer on the Continuing Registration of Voters

December 11, 2008 10:06

Regardless of one’s opinion on Philippine elections, the act of voting remains a sacred duty of every qualified Filipino voter. Registration is a prerequisite to vote. Here is a basic primer on the continuing registration of voters. What is the date, time and place of filing of application...

Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG): A Primer

November 20, 2008 02:35

On 17 November 2008, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 758 (full text), providing for a Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG) that would allow foreign investors to stay indefinitely in the Philippines under certain requirements. Here’s a primer on the SVEG: What i...

Legal Status of Parcels of Land in Boracay

November 07, 2008 01:56

If you’re planning to purchase or deal with land located in Boracay, you may want to check on two things: (1) whether the parcel of land belongs to the portion already declared as agricultural, as this is the only portion which may be alienated or disposed of; and (2) if it is classified as a...

Cooperatives in the Philippines: An Introduction

October 16, 2008 09:20

A cooperative is a duly registered association of persons with a common bond of interest, who have voluntarily joined together to achieve a lawful common social or economic end, making equitable to contribution to the capital required and accepting a fair share of the risks and benefits of the...

Primer on the President’s power to grant Pardon

October 08, 2008 02:29

What is pardon? Pardon is “an act of grace, proceeding from the power entrusted with the execution of the laws, which exempts the individual, on whom it is bestowed, from the punishment the law inflicts for a crime he has committed. It is the private, though official act of the executive...

Basic Q&A on the Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases

October 02, 2008 10:52

The Supreme Court approved, through A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC dated 9 September 2008, the proposed “The Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases” (see full text). Here’s the basic primer or discussion on the new procedure. What is the scope and applicabilty of the Rule? It covers cases at the MTC wh...

2008 Bar Exam Questions and Proposed Answers

October 02, 2008 10:34

For those interested, the questions and proposed answers for the 2008 bar exams (Political Law, Labor Law, Civil Law, Taxation, Mercantile Law, Criminal Law, Remedial Law and Legal Ethics) are posted at phBar.org. Thank you. Copyright © 2008 Philippine e-Legal Forum. This Feed is for personal...

Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases (A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC; full text)

October 02, 2008 06:30

Note: In A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC dated 9 September 2008, the Supreme Court en banc approved “The Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases,” scheduled to take effect on 1 October 2008 for the pilot courts designated to apply the procedure for small claims cases following its publication in...