Sendad & Sendad LAW Office

04/12/2025

FROM CLASSROOM TO COURTROOM..

During law school days, dalawa lang usually ang concern ko. First, to survive recit; and 2nd, di ma emphasize yung kahihiyan ko sa klase kung sakaling mabokya sa recit. Then, common prayer naming magkaklase, ay sana wala munang recit hehe.

The pressure is real, and sometimes, question arises on why law professors are so terror at parang ang lakas makapag trip sa mga students?

Now, the classroom setting has transformed into a courtroom setting. And it finally dawned on us why we were shoved, and not just pushed, during law school…

Sa court room, the pressure now comes from the honorable judge. Yung mga classmate mo na nagiging audience mo when discussing inside classroom, sa courtroom, mas malaking audience at random people na, plus the presence of some lawyers na gustong mang intimidate ng kapwa lawyers.

Sa classroom, pag nagkamali ka, sarili mo lang yung haharap sa consequences. If you commit the worse, may next sem panaman para makabawi.

Sa courtroom, any oversight could severely compromise the client’s interests and trust.
Before, akala ko, once I pass the bar exam eh tapos na ang paghihirap. But then, I realised na now, in an actual practice, mas maraming jurisprudence and law books pa pala ang kelangang pasadahan.

Kaya, may this be a warning to those aspiring lawyers out there. Embrace the intensity of law school, forge your discipline now to master the real pressures and demands of the courtroom.

To borrow the words of one of our judges, “continue nyo lang pagpractice para mahasa. Wag susuko, as this profession requires you to practice for life.”

PS. Goodluck to the 2025 bar exam takers.. May your next month bring you the 4 letters and a dot.

23/11/2025

Why did the Philippine National Police attempt to serve the warrant of arrest against Zaldy Co, despite reports from various news outlets and social media indicating his absence from the country?

The act of the PNP is part of the due process, based on the Philippine Rules of Criminal Procedure, which states that:

“### the head of the office to whom the warrant of arrest was delivered for ex*****on, shall cause the warrant to be executed within ten (10) days from its receipt. Within ten (10) days after the expiration of the period, the officer to whom it was assigned for ex*****on shall make a report to the judge who issued the warrant. In case of his failure to execute the warrant, he shall state the reasons therefor. ###

The assigned officers who shall execute the warrant are bound to explain the reason for their failure to arrest the person subject of such warrant.

The justification must be based on the actual facts. Hence, law enforcement officers cannot rely on social media, as it is not a reliable and verified source of information.

The general rule is that the PNP shall execute the warrant. The submission of justification due to non-ex*****on of the warrant must only be done after the law enforcers has exhausted all possible means to execute the same.

Therefore, the act of the PNP, which was to attempt to execute the warrant in the last known address of Zaldy Co, is within the ambit of the rule.

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only. Pictures used belong to the rigthful owner.

09/11/2025

In relation to the earlier post on Muslims who will perform Umrah but encountered challenges in getting the required vaccination certification from the Bureau of Quarantine.

This office has communicated with the office of the Bureau of Quarantine-Davao Station, and further conducted research related thereto that resulted in the following determination of facts:

1. As per health requirements and recommendations issued by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health, health authorities at the country of origin should ensure that the traveler receives the approved vaccine within the validity period and clearly indicate the name, type, and date of administration on the traveler’s vaccination certificate;

2. The BOQ does not provide clients with the Flu and meningococcal immunization vaccine. Those pilgrims who apply for a vaccination certificate must provide their own vaccines. BOQ strictly requires that the administration of such vaccines must be performed in their offices, either in BOQ Manila, Zamboanga, Gen. Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Palawan (Memorandum Circular 2024-04); and

3. Office of Health Services of Cotabato City provides free Meningococcal Vaccines and Flu Vaccines, and correspondingly issues certification of administered vaccines. Accordingly, the total amount of these vaccines ranges from Php 4,000.00 to Php 10,000.00.

It is submitted that the authority to issue a certificate of vaccination compliance is not exclusively vested in the BOQ. The LGU Health Offices are recognized health authorities within the national framework and are fully empowered to issue valid certifications. Nonetheless, the KSA government retains the sole and ultimate discretion to determine whether a certification issued by an LGU Health Office constitutes sufficient and acceptable proof for entry or compliance purposes.

On the other hand, we give kudos to the Office of Health Services of Cotabato City for providing free immunization vaccines for its constituents. Big salute to the BARMM Government for saving the Bangsamoro people from paying a huge amount of money for the vaccination.

P.S. The foregoing discussion is confined to specific facts presented. Any change or addition to these facts or circumstances could lead to a materially different conclusion.

06/11/2025

A GOVERNMENT-ISSUED DOCUMENT ISN’T RECOGNIZED BY ANOTHER GOVERNMENT BUREAU OPERATING UNDER THE SAME NATIONAL AGENCY?

Recently, a group of Muslim persons were confronted with a situation where they were compromised and would possibly incur damages due to the unreasonable government issuances or policies.

These individuals have prepared for a long time and saved their hard-earned money to perform the Holy Umrah in the Holy Land of Makkah. They already purchased airplane tickets, booked hotels, and settled everything to ensure the smooth performance of their Umrah.

However, their efforts may be put to waste. Accordingly, one of the documentary requirements to perform Umrah is the Certificate issued by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ). This certification is proof that a person who holds it has already received shots of immunization vaccines, such as the Flu and Meningococcal Vaccines.

The excitement to perform a possibly once-in-a-lifetime religious act is turning into anxiety. The thousands of money earned from hard work might go to waste because of the refusal of the BOQ to issue WHO certification on the grounds that they do not recognize any immunization vaccines given by any entity, notwithstanding that such certification was issued by a government entity.

The situation left the applicants in a difficult position, i.e., risk their health by getting another vaccine dose to obtain the certificates, or abandon their efforts to avoid potential health risk associated with repeated vaccinations?

Government officials, in the performance of their official duties, enjoy the “presumption of Regularity". In one decided case, the Supreme Court held that “The presumption of regularity in the performance of official duties is an aid to the effective and unhampered administration of government functions”.

Moreover, Public Documents enjoy a presumption of regularity as to their due ex*****on and genuineness. These documents, under the law, are presumed to be valid and genuine until the contrary is shown by clear and convincing proof. The documents are presumed to be authenticated by the official signature and seals that they bear.

In this particular case, the BOC outrightly denied the presumption of regularity in the performance of the official duty of the Cotabato City Health Office. The former also denied the presumption of authenticity of the public document issued by the latter office, even if the said document bears the authorized official's signature and the seal of office.

In this case, the BOQ and the Cotabato City Health are both under the office of the Department of Health.

Nevertheless, non-recognition of the BOQ of the acts made by the Cotabato City Health Office will prejudice not only the persons who came to their office, but also future clients.

27/10/2025

"The mere filing of an information/complaint does not raise the presumption of guilt or destroy the presumption of the defendant's innocence."

-- SC

17/10/2025

Motion for Reconsideration must be done based on what the rules require. Otherwise, it will be treated as a mere PRO FORMA that produces no legal effect.

Alhamdulillah. This hard-won victory proves that effort was worth it. We successfully protected and upheld our client's rights in this latest legal battle.

24/09/2025

Rule of Law...

27/03/2024

Beware of fake lawyers.

Attorneys at Law

19/09/2023

ALAM NYO bang maliban sa GUN BAN ay meron din tayong tinatawag na MONEY BAN tuwing panahon ng eleksyon?