V&A LAW

23/05/2024

Microsoft 365 Global Admin Portals were down for 30-50mins this morning…. scary…

23/02/2024

BROADCOM strategy for VMware acquisition will kill medium to small customer access with new subscription pricing scheme -

We discuss how some VMware customers are being faced with 10x or more price increases in the wake of the Broadcom acquisition changes. STH Main Site Article:...

07/01/2019

Partners of The Firm attended the 70th Birthday and Retirement Party of SC Justice Noel Gimenez Tijam, at the Grand Ballroom, Solaire Hotel.

Happy birthday and job well done, Justice Tijam.

The event also turned into a mini-reunion of sorts as they ran into former partners who are now with the judiciary.

22/10/2018

Maria Concepcion Simundac, V&A Law Partner, is recognized in Asian Legal Business' 40 Under 40 List

The Asian Legal Business recognized Maria Concepcion Simundac, a Partner of Villaraza & Angangco’s Corporate and Special Projects Department, as among the top 40 outstanding lawyers across Asia which are under the age of 40 for the year 2018. The list, prepared by the Asian Legal Business, recognizes lawyers “who have worked on some of the most significant deals and disputes in the past year and who have earned accolades from their peers, superiors and clients”. Based on the list, Ms. Simundac was commended by a client for “allowing [them] to successfully navigate the challenges of business”.

Ms. Simundac is the only lawyer from the Philippines who was included in the list.

The full list can be accessed in this link:

22/10/2018

Villaraza & Angangco discusses the Law on Data Privacy as it applies to the medical profession.

On 10 October 2018, Pauline Marie R. Gairanod, an associate of Villaraza and Angangco Law’s Corporate and Commercial Law Department, delivered a lecture on the relevance of the Data Privacy Act of 2012 to the medical profession before 400 College of Medicine students and staff at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center (UERMMC).

In the lecture, titled “The Data Privacy Act and the Medical Profession: Concerns and Compliance”, Ms. Gairanod introduced key concepts and nuances in the Data Privacy Act of 2012, its implementing rules and regulations and issuances of the National Privacy Commission, discussed the specific application of the law to medical and healthcare professionals, and examined some of the best practices in ensuring compliance in clinics and hospitals. An open forum followed, in which Ms. Gairanod responded to questions from the audience on the non-retroactivity of the law, penalties for specific violations and current events relating to data privacy.

The lecture was part of the UERMMC’s Med Week, a week-long celebration of the College of Medicine, with the theme “MD: Modern Doctors”. The Firm’s Corporate and Commercial Law Department handles the data privacy compliance concerns of corporate entities, including public and publicly-listed corporations, across various industries, such as insurance and reinsurance, financing, logistics, asset management and software development.

22/10/2018

The Firm's Litigation Group is on a Roll

The Firm scored a major victory last September 14, 2018, when the Sandiganbayan (the Philippines’ anti-graft court) handed down a verdict of NOT GUILTY in the case involving North Cotabato Governor Emmylou T. Mendoza. She was cleared of all charges under Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).

The case stemmed from allegations that Governor Mendoza approved the purchase of fuel from the Shell Station allegedly without the conduct of public bidding. The Court, in acquitting Governor Mendoza ruled that the prosecution was not able to prove the crucial elements of manifest partiality or evident bad faith. Nor could preference, unwarranted benefit and advantage be derived from the evidence of the prosecution which was rebutted by evidence of the defense.

The Court said that Governor Mendoza, when she approved the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Resolution recommending direct contracting as the mode of procurement for fuel, could rely on the BAC’s recommendation especially when the BAC resolution appears regular on its face. There was no mention to whom fuel would be awarded to, nor did she participate in the request for quotes, canvassing and negotiations with the fuel suppliers. It was also noted that the prosecution was unable to sufficiently show the fact of the registered owner of the fuel supplier.

Governor Mendoza was represented in the trial by our Atty. Thea T. Daep, Senior Partner. The Firm’s Managing Partner, Atty. Alejandro Alfonso E. Navarro also formulated the defense legal strategy. Other members of the Firm who handled the trial are Senior Associates Dianne Marie V. Roa-Oarde and Via Monina G. Valdepenas and Associates Carlo Augustine A. Roman, Joseph Thomas R. Ricalde and Antonio Rafael B. Ongkeko, Jr.

Just two months before, or in July 2018, Atty. Daep, representing former Camarines Sur Governor Luis Villafuerte, Sr. also successfully argued for the dismissal against him citing inordinate delay and the violation of the constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases. The Motion for Reconsideration that was subsequently filed by the prosecution has since been denied. Senior Associate Rashel Ann C. Pomoy and Associates Elaine A. Atienza and Ronald K. San Juan complete the team that handled this matter.

Atty. Daep recently formed the Firm’s Anti-Money Laundering, Fraud and Other Investigations Department. This practice group handles this type of cases and in the very short time since its inception, has already won several dismissals before the Office of the Ombudsman. The practice group also handles appeals before the Commission on Audit.

SOURCE:
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/17/18/n-cotabato-governor-acquitted-of-graft-over-p24-m-fuel-purchase
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/782145/court-defers-arrest-of-north-cotabato-gov-mendoza
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/19/18/sandiganbayan-dismisses-case-vs-ex-camsur-gov-3-others-over-inordinate-delay

The Sandiganbayan 1st Division acquitted North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza after finding her not guilty of 3 counts of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the alleged purchase of P2.4 million worth of diesel by the provincial government from the gas station owne...

22/10/2018

Sandiganbayan dismisses graft raps vs Villafuerte Sr.

The Sandiganbayan dismissed graft charges against former Governor Luis Villafuerte, Sr., along with three other former officials of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur by granting the Motion to Dismiss borne by the joint efforts of Villafuerte, Sr. himself and the Firm. The Sandiganbayan found that Villafuerte, Sr.’s right to speedy disposition of his case was violated and that the case should be dismissed accordingly.

Source:

Citing delays in the prosecution of the case, the Sandiganbayan 5th Division has dismissed graft charges against former Camarines Sur Governor Luis Villafuerte Sr. in connection with an allegedly anomalous fertilizer purchase in 2004.   

11/10/2018

V&A Law “The Firm Debates”

14/07/2018

A Phillippine Full Service Law Office founded in 1980. URL = www.thefirmva.com