Iñosa Law

24/08/2026

A free phone. Cash prizes. Shopping vouchers.

Before you click an online giveaway link, watch out for scams.

Scammers often use fake giveaways to trick people into revealing personal information, sending money, or clicking malicious links. A post that looks convincing isn't always legitimate.

Before you click, ask yourself:
• Is the giveaway posted by an official and verified account?
• Does the link lead to the company's official website?
• Are you being asked to pay a "processing fee" or "shipping fee" to claim a prize?
• Are you being asked for passwords, OTPs, or sensitive personal information?
• Does the offer seem too good to be true?

A few minutes of checking can save you from financial loss and identity theft.

If you have been a victim of an online scam or need legal guidance on your rights and possible remedies, talk to a lawyer.

23/08/2026

Conviction means little unless you have the courage to stand by it.

21/08/2026

The Supreme Court ordered the return of PHP 60 billion in PhilHealth funds transferred to the National Treasury and permanently prohibited the transfer of the remaining PHP 29.9 billion, ruling that the funds are dedicated exclusively to public health insurance.

In a Decision penned by Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, the Supreme Court En Banc declared unconstitutional a provision in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and a Department of Finance (DOF) circular that authorized the transfer of PhilHealth's excess reserve funds to the National Treasury.

The DOF had directed PhilHealth to remit PHP 89.9 billion to fund unprogrammed appropriations under the 2024 GAA. PhilHealth transferred PHP 60 billion before the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order stopping the release of the remaining balance.

The Supreme Court ruled that the challenged GAA provision was unconstitutional because it effectively amended the Universal Health Care Act through the annual budget law. It stressed that PhilHealth funds are pooled social insurance funds that must be used solely for the National Health Insurance Program and cannot be diverted to other government purposes.

Accordingly, the Court ordered the return of the PHP 60 billion to PhilHealth through the 2026 GAA and permanently prohibited the transfer of the remaining funds.

Read the full text of the Decision: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/274778-275405-276233-aquilino-pimentel-iii-et-al-vs-house-of-representatives-represented-by-the-speaker-ferdinand-martin-romualdez-et-al-bayan-muna-chairman-neri-colmenares-et-al-vs-president/

18/08/2026

SUPREME COURT: BREACH OF PROMISE TO MARRY MAY CONSTITUTE PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE UNDER VAWC

FIRST ON BATAS PH: The Supreme Court (SC) has sentenced a man to suffer up to 9 years imprisonment for committing psychological violence under R.A. 9262 or the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act against his pregnant girlfriend after he breached his promise to marry her, which caused serious emotional and psychological suffering.

In a 10-page ruling penned by Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, the SC's First Division affirmed the rulings of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) and Court of Appeals (CA) penalizing the man after finding that his "willful" withdrawal of the marriage license, knowing that his girlfriend was pregnant and had already announced the union-constitutes a form of emotional manipulation and public humiliation that fits the definition of psychological violence.

17/08/2026

17/08/2026

The has acquitted a woman of bigamy, ruling that a prior marriage that was void from the beginning (𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘣 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰) may be raised as a defense even without a prior judicial declaration of nullity.

The has acquitted a woman of bigamy, ruling that a prior marriage that was void from the beginning (𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘣 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰) may be raised as a defense even without a prior judicial declaration of nullity.

In a Decision penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, the SC’s Third Division reversed the ruling of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Pampanga and the Court of Appeals (CA), which had found Ma. Fe Imelda Lapira guilty of bigamy.

Lapira faced a bigamy charge under Article 349 of the 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘥𝘦 for marrying Jimmy Fariscal while still married to Takahiko Sato as evidenced by a marriage certificate from the Office of the Civil Registrar General.

During trial, Lapira argued that her marriage to Sato was void because no ceremony took place and no marriage license had been issued, both of which were required for validity. The Local Civil Registrar confirmed that there was no record of the application for a marriage license for Lapira and Sato.

In acquitting Lapira, the SC applied its ruling in the 2021 case of 𝘗𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘰 𝘷. 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦, which held that an accused in a bigamy case may directly argue that a previous marriage is void as a defense, even without a prior court declaration.

The SC explained that one of the essential elements of bigamy is the existence of a valid prior marriage. If the first marriage was void from the beginning, that element is absent.

In this case, the certification from the Local Civil Registrar sufficiently proved that no marriage license was issued to Lapira and Sato. This certification was enough to counter the presumption of the marriage certificate’s validity.

Read the full text of the Press Release at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=171178.

Read the full text of the Decision at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=165698.

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

17/08/2026

Before you lend money to relatives, put the agreement in writing.

A written agreement doesn't mean you distrust your family. It simply helps avoid misunderstandings by making the terms clear from the beginning.

Before handing over the money, make sure you agree on:
• the amount being borrowed
• when and how it will be repaid
• whether interest will be charged, if any
• what happens if payment is delayed
• any other terms both parties have agreed upon

Having these details in writing protects both the lender and the borrower and can help preserve family relationships by setting clear expectations.

If you need guidance in preparing a loan agreement or protecting your legal rights, reach out to a lawyer.

16/08/2026

Doing what is right often begins with refusing to stay silent.

15/08/2026

FREE LEGAL AID SERVICE in celebration of the Rule of Law Month (September 2026)

14/08/2026

The Supreme Court ruled that a teacher or school head may be held liable for damages if a student under their supervision causes harm and they failed to exercise due diligence to prevent the incident.

In a Decision penned by Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, the Court's First Division upheld the liability of a public school principal after a 15-year-old student, acting under his instruction, cut down a banana plant that fell onto a passing motorcyclist, causing the latter's death.

The victim's family sued the principal for damages, arguing that he failed to implement basic safety measures or properly supervise the student while the task was being carried out.

The Supreme Court affirmed the rulings of the lower courts, emphasizing that teachers and school heads are responsible for students under their supervision, even when activities occur outside regular school hours.

The Court explained that under the Civil Code, teachers and school heads may be held vicariously liable for the acts of students in their custody unless they can prove that they exercised the diligence of a good parent in preventing the harm.

Finding that the principal failed to take reasonable precautions—such as providing adequate supervision or warning oncoming motorists—the Supreme Court held him liable for damages and ordered him to pay the victim's heirs.

Read the full text of the Decision: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/gil-apolinario-v-heirs-of-francisco-delos-santos-represented-by-edwin-delos-santos/