Atty. Glenn Ian P. Barcebal Law Office

05/11/2025

(CRIMINAL LAW) Bonbon v. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 272844 (2025) [Per J. Gaerlan, Third Division]

While the rule now stands that a void subsequent marriage is a valid defense in a criminal prosecution for Bigamy even without a judicial declaration of nullity, nonetheless, the accused still cannot rely on mere allegations, but must present testimonial or documentary evidence to support the same. This is particularly true when the validity of the marriage alleged to be void is supported by public documents which have in their favor the presumption of regularity.

30/10/2025

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Barcebal Law Office is closed from October 31 to November 2, 2025 to observe the Undas holiday cluster. Operations will resume on Monday, November 3, 2025. Thank you, and may we all have a prayerful time with family as we remember our departed loved ones.

24/09/2025

The (SC) has reiterated that preventing employees from entering company premises and doing their jobs, without a valid reason, is considered illegal dismissal.

In a Decision written by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, the SC’s Second Division upheld the labor arbiters’ ruling that 12 workers from Constant Packaging Corporation (Constant Packaging), a company that prints packaging materials, were illegally dismissed.

Constant Packaging hired the workers as sorters and packers on a 𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘺𝘢𝘸 basis (paid per output).

The workers later raised concerns about their below-minimum wage earnings, 12-hour work day, 7-day work week, non-remittance of their SSS, PhilHealth, and PAG-IBIG contributions, and delay in the release of their salaries. Constant Packaging responded by telling them to leave if they were unhappy with their working conditions.

The workers filed a complaint with the Department of Labor and Employment. Soon after, the company security guard prevented them from entering the company premises, leading the workers to file a complaint for illegal dismissal.

Ruling in favor of the workers, the SC clarified that an employee who is able and willing to work is considered illegally dismissed if they are prevented from entering the workplace without a valid or lawful reason.

In this case, the company’s security guard blocked the workers from entering the company premises without any valid reason. This action amounts to dismissal.

Moreover, as the workers were suddenly dismissed without following the required procedures, their dismissal was unlawful.

The SC thus ordered Constant Packaging to pay the workers separation pay, back wages, service incentive leave, and holiday pay.

However, since the workers were hired on a 𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘺𝘢𝘸 basis, the SC ruled that they are not entitled to 13th month pay.

Read the full text of the Press Release at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-preventing-employees-from-reporting-to-work-without-valid-reason-is-illegal-dismissal/.

Read the full text of the Decision at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph?p=152126.

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

24/09/2025

Prayer in Honor of St. Pacificus of San Severino
St. Pacificus, who bore suffering with patience and turned weakness into strength through your love of Christ, guide us to trust in God’s will even in times of trial. You who taught with wisdom, prayed with fervor, and shone with faith even in blindness and silence, intercede for us, that we too may live with joy in the Lord and become instruments of His peace. Amen.

14/09/2025

READ: Examinations
•Questions in Political and Public International Law
LINK:https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IXBYUDZS3U.pdf
•Questions in Commercial and Taxation Laws
LINK:https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GNFKKY9Z4Z.pdf

14/09/2025

READ: Examinations
•Questions in Civil Law
LINK:https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/JDCHYCLVBS.pdf
•Questions in Labor Law and Social Legislations
LINK:https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/6T6TZN3NY8.pdf

14/09/2025

14/09/2025

Prayer to Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows
Most Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, I thank you for the unending depth of compassion you had for those who sinned against your Son and for loving me with that same love. As you grieve with a holy sorrow over my own sins, please pray for me, that I will more fully understand your compassion. As I do, I pray that I will be able to more fully imitate and participate in that love, flowing from your pure and perfect Sorrowful Heart. Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.

06/08/2025

𝐉𝐔𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐘

When the judiciary mediates to allocate constitutional boundaries, it does not assert any superiority over the other departments; it does not in reality nullify or invalidate an act of the legislature, but only asserts the solemn and sacred obligation assigned to it by the Constitution to determine conflicting claims of authority under the Constitution and to establish for the parties in an actual controversy the rights which that instrument secures and guarantees to them. This is in truth all that is involved in what is termed "judicial supremacy" which properly is the power of judicial review under the Constitution.

(Angara v. Electoral Commission, G.R. No. 45081, July 15, 1936)

06/08/2025

Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando said being a good lawyer is no longer determined by the number of court victories, but by the number of cases that are not filed and settled out of court through mediation or arbitration.