Atty. Jondale Mae Ariola Garcia

Atty. Jondale Mae Ariola Garcia Attorney-at-law & Notary Public

Bridging the gap between the community and legal solutions

Congratulations to all successful passers of the 2025 BAR EXAMS! 💜💜💜To Allah be all the Glory! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
07/01/2026

Congratulations to all successful passers of the 2025 BAR EXAMS! 💜💜💜

To Allah be all the Glory! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

Congratulations, Atty. Hylenne Shane B. Dangca, my havruta, my law school bestfriend, and my sister from another mother...
07/01/2026

Congratulations, Atty. Hylenne Shane B. Dangca, my havruta, my law school bestfriend, and my sister from another mother, for successfully passing the 2025 BAR EXAMINATIONS! ✨

My heart is so full for you and so proud of your success!! It is done. All by the will of the Almighty. To God be all the glory. ✨

06/10/2025

The (SC) has nullified the foreclosure of several properties after ruling that the interest charged on the unpaid bank loan was unfair and imposed without the borrower’s consent.

In a Resolution written by Associate Justice Ricardo R. Rosario, the SC’s Special Third Division granted the Motion for Reconsideration filed by Editha Ang and Violeta Fernandez, whose properties were foreclosed by United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) after they failed to pay a PHP 16-million loan.

Ang and Fernandez obtained a loan from UCPB. Based on the loan documents, however, UCPB was allowed to unilaterally adjust the interest rate every quarter based on market conditions.

When Ang and Fernandez failed to pay the total loan when it fell due, UCPB began to extrajudicially foreclose their properties.

Ang and Fernandez then filed a petition with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) to nullify the foreclosure sale, claiming that because the bank had the sole power to set and increase the interest rate, the rate was unfair and invalid.

The SC initially agreed that the interest rate was invalid but still upheld the foreclosure sale, ruling that the borrowers remained in default.

Upon reconsideration, however, the SC ruled that if the interest rate was unconscionable or imposed unilaterally by the lender, then any foreclosure that follows is also invalid.

The Court emphasized that under the Civil Code, contracts must be fair and mutually agreed upon. A contract that depends only on one party’s will is void.

In this case, the interest rate was solely determined by UCPB. Since the interest rate was invalid, the foreclosure of the properties was void.

The SC held that the borrowers should be given a chance to pay the loan at an interest rate agreed upon by both parties. Otherwise, they would be at the mercy of the lender and risk losing their property without a fair opportunity to settle their debt.

Read the full text of the Press Release at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=152735.

Read the full text of the Decision at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=152719.

Read the Dissenting Opinion of Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=152726.

Copying of this content is subject to the SC PIO’s Credit Attribution Policy: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-attribution-policy/.

October 4, 2025 | The Ethical Backbone: Infrastructure of Ethics in the Public Service and Values SeminarThank you for h...
05/10/2025

October 4, 2025 | The Ethical Backbone: Infrastructure of Ethics in the Public Service and Values Seminar

Thank you for having me as one of the resource speakers for this seminar. It is fulfilling to inspire the future heads of offices in our government agencies. Go forth, Masters in Public Administration Students, and bring positive ripples of change. ✨

September 25, 2025 | 8th Induction of Officers of the Al-Alamin Muslim AssociationAlhamdulillah for this joyous occasion...
05/10/2025

September 25, 2025 | 8th Induction of Officers of the Al-Alamin Muslim Association

Alhamdulillah for this joyous occasion in recognition of the newly elected officers of the local Muslim Association in San Jose, Antique. May this bring positive and progressive change in the Muslim community and the entire province of Antique as a whole. ✨

Glad to be invited as one of the inspirational speakers 😌✨

September 16, 2025 | Antique Provincial Police Office Capacity Building - Seminar on Law and Justice Thank you for havin...
05/10/2025

September 16, 2025 | Antique Provincial Police Office Capacity Building - Seminar on Law and Justice

Thank you for having me as one of the resource speakers for this seminar. It is a delight to serve our police officers specifically on capacity building for English Grammar and Composition.

Helping in nation-building one lecture at a time ✨

September 15, 2025 | Awarding Ceremony of the IBP Golden Pillar of Law Award to one of the distinguished members of the ...
05/10/2025

September 15, 2025 | Awarding Ceremony of the IBP Golden Pillar of Law Award to one of the distinguished members of the IBP who rendered 50 years or more of service in the legal profession, whether in private practice, government service, academe and the judiciary - Judge Leopoldo E. Baraquia (Retired)

It was indeed an honor to host this event. 🤍✨

09/09/2025

The (SC) has ruled that a public institution must vacate the land it occupies if it lacks permission from the rightful owner and the owner has a better right of possession.

In a Decision written by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, the SC’s Second Division ordered the Department of Education (DepEd) to vacate and return a parcel of land to its owner, Princess Joama Marcosa A. Caleda (Caleda).

In 2014, Caleda bought a 10,637 square meter rice land in Cagayan through an Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Waiver of Rights and Sale signed by the heirs of the registered owner, Bueno Gallebo (Gallebo).

However, when Caleda later visited the land for a relocation survey, she discovered that it was being occupied by the Solana Fresh Water Fishery School (the School), a public institution under DepEd Regional Office 2.

Caleda sent several demand letters for DepEd to vacate the land, but received no reply. She then filed a case to recover possession of the land and remove any structures built on it.

DepEd argued that government agencies cannot be evicted from land already used for public purposes. It claimed it had the right to take over the property through its power of eminent domain, and that Caleda’s only remedy was to ask for just compensation.

Ruling in favor of Caleda, the SC found that the latter had clearly proven her better right to the property. Her land title was valid and accurately described the land, unlike the School’s deed of sale, which referred to an adjacent lot.

The SC emphasized that while the government can take private property for public use through its power of eminent domain, this must be done through proper legal proceedings and with payment of just compensation. Because no expropriation process was initiated in this case, the School could not retain the land simply by offering to pay for it.

The SC also clarified that a public institution can only prevent eviction if the property owner fails to assert their rights in time, which is considered an implied acceptance.

In this case, Caleda acted quickly—sending demand letters, talking to DepEd, registering her claims, and filing a case within two years of discovering the School’s occupation of the property.

Read the full text of the Press Release at https://tinyurl.com/y35skjpf.

Read the full text of the Decision at https://tinyurl.com/58ja5trh.

08/09/2025

IBP Aklan
August 20, 2025

IBP Aklan, Antique, & Quezon City Chapters held a Joint Seminar,“Strengthening Legal Practice & Public Service: A Joint Seminar on Legal Aid, Bar Discipline, & Judicial Writing”



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