Clarus Galia-Clarus Law

28/02/2026

Atty. Jonathan Clarus facilitating the orientation on the 2025 Rules on Administrarive Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS) with the LGU Hilongos Employees.

Reposted from Angat Ka Hilongosnon Page.

“📌 Pebrero 27, 2026 | 2025 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS) Orientation

Padayon nga gipalig-on sa Lokal nga Pangagamhanan sa Hilongos ang kultura sa integridad, responsibilidad, ug maayong pag-alagad sa katawhan pinaagi sa malampusong pagpahigayon sa 2025 RACCS Orientation, nga gipangunahan sa Human Resources Management Unit (HRMU) didto sa 3rd Floor Function Room.

Gipasiugda sa atong pinalanggang resource speaker, Atty. Jonathan L. Clarus, Litigation Lawyer ug Partner sa Clarus Galia-Clarus Law Office, Hilongos, Leyte, ang lawom ug makapukaw-huna nga paghisgot sa updated RACCS provisions. Iyang gihimong mas sayon sabton ang mga legal nga konsepto pinaagi sa paghatag og praktikal nga pananglitan ug tinuod nga mga sitwasyon nga kasagarang mahitabo sa opisina sa gobyerno. Gipasiugda usab niya nga ang disiplina sa civil service dili lang tumong sa pagsilot, kundili aron masiguro ang patas nga pagtratar, proteksyon sa katungod sa empleyado, ug pagmintinar sa propesyonalismo sa serbisyo publiko.

Pinaagi sa iyang klaro, organisado nga paagi sa pagpresentar, mas napalawom ang pagsabot sa mga partisipante sa ilang papel sa pagsunod sa balaod, pagpanubag sa ilang mga lihok, ug pagpalig-on sa kultura sa integridad ug responsableng pag-alagad sa katawhan.

Gitambungan usab ang kalihokan ni Municipal Administrator Atty. Lemuel Jan M. Nerves, isip representante ni Mayor Manuel “Linlin” R. Villahermosa, inubanan ni Ms. Jane Francis V. Lobedica, SAO (HRMO IV), nga nagpakita sa lig-on nga panaghiusa sa pagpasiugda sa propesyonalismo ug maayong pagdumala sa lokal nga pangagamhanan.

Hilongos nagpadayon sa pagbarug alang sa matinud-anon, patas, ug responsable nga serbisyo publiko.”

10/02/2026

A welcome development, and a helpful guide for our friends in the LGBTQIA+ community! 🏳️‍🌈

24/12/2025

MALIPAYONG PASKO TANAN!

Please be guided by our office’s Holiday Season schedule!

Thank you! Wishing you all a blissful and peaceful days ahead! 💕🎄

09/12/2025

09/12/2025

Atty. Jonathan L. Clarus as resource speaker at the Seminar-Forum in Legal Issues and Problems in Education at Southern Leyte State University Tomas Oppus Southern Leyte attended by school principals, head teachers, supervisors, and administrative officers

16/12/2024

The Supreme Court (SC) reiterated that premarital sexual relations leading to pregnancy are not immoral and do not justify suspending an employee.

The SC ruled that Bohol Wisdom School (BWS), a Christian school, illegally suspended a grade school teacher for becoming pregnant outside marriage.

It held that sexual relations between two unmarried, consenting adults are not immoral. No law prohibits this, nor does it go against any fundamental state policy found in the Constitution.

The SC clarified that under the law, the standard of morality applicable to all is public and secular, not religious.

Public and secular morality refers to conduct that is prohibited due to its harmful effects on human society rather than being based on religious beliefs.

The SC held that if the government were to otherwise base public policies and morals on religious beliefs, this would require everyone to conform to a religious program or agenda.

As the teacher’s pregnancy cannot be considered immoral, it was not a valid ground for her suspension.

The SC ordered BWS to pay the teacher backwages and benefits due her during the period she was suspended.

The Decision was from the Supreme Court’s First Division, written by Associate Justice Ricardo R. Rosario.

Read the full text of the press release: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-school-cannot-suspend-unmarried-teacher-for-being-pregnant/

Read the full text of the Decision: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/252124-bohol-wisdom-school-dr-simplicio-yap-jr-and-raul-h-deloso-vs-miraflor-mabao/



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

30/11/2024

The Supreme Court reiterated that child abuse cases can still be tried even when child victims are unable to testify in court, in accordance with the doctrine of unavailable child under the Rule on Examination of a Child Witness.

A father challenged his conviction of qualified r**e against his minor daughter since she was not able to testify in court. Instead, her sworn statement given out of court, together with the medico-legal report and testimonies from relatives, were presented by the prosecution.

The Supreme Court, however, ruled that the child victim’s out-of-court statements are allowed under the doctrine of unavailable child.

Section 28 of the Rule on Examination of a Child Witness allows the admission of hearsay testimony of a child describing child abuse when: (1) the child is unavailable due to death, physical disability, lack of memory, or mental illness; possible exposure to psychological injury; or lack of reasonable means; and (2) their hearsay testimony is supported by other evidence.

Section 28 aims to prevent miscarriages of justice by allowing child abuse cases to proceed even if the child victim is unavailable. The Court recognized that vulnerable children may be pressured to avoid attending hearings to prevent them from testifying. Additionally, some child victims may be too traumatized to give their testimony.

To assess the reliability of an unavailable child's testimony, the Court evaluates several factors, including the child's character, the number of people who heard the statement, whether the statement was spontaneous and if there was any motive to lie, as well as the timing of the statement.

The Decision was from the Supreme Court’s Second Division, written by Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez.

Read the full text of the Press Release: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-child-abuse-case-can-still-be-tried-even-if-victim-cannot-testify-in-court/

Read the full text of the Decision: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/258054-people-of-the-philippines-vs-###258054/



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

30/11/2024

Rooting for our Hilongosnon and Leyteño Friends! Aja! 💚

The Office of the Chairperson has issued a Notice announcing that the results of the 2024 Bar Examinations will be released on December 13, 2024 at the courtyard of the Supreme Court (SC) Main Building.

The results will be displayed on LED walls inside the SC courtyard and uploaded to the SC website and official social media pages (X/Twitter, Threads, Facebook, and Instagram). The YouTube and Facebook livestream links and QR codes of the results will also be shared through the SC's official communication channels.

READ the Notice in full at: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/2024-bar-examinations-result/

30/11/2024

The full implementation of the eFiling Guidelines in trial courts for civil cases takes effect on December 1, 2024.

Under the Guidelines and Rule 13-A of the Rules of Civil Procedure, filing and service of non-initiatory pleadings shall only be made by transmitting them in digital file format through email.

Complaints and initiatory pleadings may be filed personally, by registered mail, or accredited courier but will not be acted upon by the court unless digital copies are emailed within 24 hours from filing.

Full text of the eFiling Guidelines: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/10-3-7-sc-11-9-4-sc-re-guidelines-on-submission-of-electronic-copies-of-pleadings-and-other-court-submissions-being-filed-before-the-lower-courts-pursuant-to-the-efficient-use-of-paper-rule-moving-tow/

Full text of Rule 13-A of the Rules of Civil Procedure:https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/19-10-20-SC.pdf

Frequently asked questions:https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CCL-E-Filing-FAQ-for-Litigants-and-Counsels-Version-3.pdf

Checklist for litigants and counsels:https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CCL-E-Filing-Checklist-for-Litigants-and-Counsel-final.pdf