Cabatbat and Lara Law

19/12/2025

‼️Office Closed Advisory‼️

Our office will be closed from December 22, 2025 to January 5, 2026 in observance of the holiday season.

Regular business hours will resume on January 5, 2026 (Monday).

For any urgent concerns, you may still reach us directly via Messenger or email.

Thank you, and we wish everyone a joyful and restful holiday season.🎄🎇

05/12/2025

‼️Office Closed Advisory‼️

In observance of the Special Non-Working Holiday for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, our office is closed today.

For any urgent concerns, you may reach us directly via Messenger or email.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and meaningful day.

09/11/2025

‼️ANNOUNCEMENT‼️

Due to the forecasted heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon , our office will be closed on November 10, 2025 (Monday), for everyone’s safety. 🌧️

For any urgent services, you may reach us directly via Messenger or email.

Stay safe and dry, everyone.

29/10/2025

Office Advisory: Special Non-working Holiday

Our office will be closed on Friday, October 31, 2025, in observance of the Special Non-Working Holiday.

Regular business operations will resume on:
Monday, November 3, 2025.

For urgent concerns, you may reach us via email or message us via Messenger.

Wishing everyone a safe and restful long weekend! 🌼

25/09/2025

‼️Office Closed Advisory‼️

Due to the forecasted heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon , our office will be closed on Friday, September 26, 2025.

For any urgent services, you may reach us directly via Messenger or email.

Please stay safe and keep updated on weather advisories. 🙏

21/09/2025

‼️ANNOUNCEMENT‼️

In view of the forecasted heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon “Nando” and the Southwest Monsoon, our office will be closed on Monday, September 22, 2025, as mandated by the Office of the President Memorandum Circular No. 97.

🔗 Reference: Office of the President Announcement

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1281129497392038&set=pb.100064849986224.-2207520000&type=3

Courtesy: Office of the President

For any urgent legal services, please don’t hesitate to reach us via Messenger or email.

Stay safe and keep dry, everyone. 🙏

12/09/2025

11/09/2025

The (SC) has ruled that a public institution must vacate the land it occupies if it lacks permission from the rightful owner and the owner has a better right of possession.

In a Decision written by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, the SC’s Second Division ordered the Department of Education (DepEd) to vacate and return a parcel of land to its owner, Princess Joama Marcosa A. Caleda (Caleda).

In 2014, Caleda bought a 10,637 square meter rice land in Cagayan through an Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Waiver of Rights and Sale signed by the heirs of the registered owner, Bueno Gallebo (Gallebo).

However, when Caleda later visited the land for a relocation survey, she discovered that it was being occupied by the Solana Fresh Water Fishery School (the School), a public institution under DepEd Regional Office 2.

Caleda sent several demand letters for DepEd to vacate the land, but received no reply. She then filed a case to recover possession of the land and remove any structures built on it.

DepEd argued that government agencies cannot be evicted from land already used for public purposes. It claimed it had the right to take over the property through its power of eminent domain, and that Caleda’s only remedy was to ask for just compensation.

Ruling in favor of Caleda, the SC found that the latter had clearly proven her better right to the property. Her land title was valid and accurately described the land, unlike the School’s deed of sale, which referred to an adjacent lot.

The SC emphasized that while the government can take private property for public use through its power of eminent domain, this must be done through proper legal proceedings and with payment of just compensation. Because no expropriation process was initiated in this case, the School could not retain the land simply by offering to pay for it.

The SC also clarified that a public institution can only prevent eviction if the property owner fails to assert their rights in time, which is considered an implied acceptance.

In this case, Caleda acted quickly—sending demand letters, talking to DepEd, registering her claims, and filing a case within two years of discovering the School’s occupation of the property.

Read the full text of the Press Release at https://tinyurl.com/y35skjpf.

Read the full text of the Decision at https://tinyurl.com/58ja5trh.

01/09/2025

‼️ANNOUNCEMENT‼️

Our office is still closed today due to the Low Pressure Area (LPA).

You can still reach us for any inquiries through email or Messenger. We'll get back to you as soon as possible. 🌧️

Stay safe everyone!

20/08/2025

📌Office Advisory: August Holidays 🇵🇭

In observance of Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21, Thursday) and National Heroes Day (August 25, Monday), our office will be closed on these dates.

We will resume regular business hours on Friday (August 22) and Monday (August 26).�

For any urgent legal services, please feel free to reach us via Messenger or email.

Let us honor the courage and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes. 🙏

01/08/2025

The (SC) has upheld a company's decision to suspend an employee who blocked access to the software he created while working there.

In a Decision written by Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, the SC’s Third Division held that JGC Philippines, Inc., a design engineering and construction management company, validly placed one of its senior engineers, Santiago dJ. Sillano, under preventive suspension while investigating his actions.

Sillano developed several programs while working under JGC. When a dispute arose over who owned the software—Sillano claimed it was his, while JGC said it belonged to the company—Sillano activated security features that made the programs unusable.

JGC responded by preventively suspending Sillano. When Sillano refused to unlock the programs and turn over the source codes, JGC fired him for disobedience and filed a complaint against him before the National Labor Relations Commission for breach of his employment contract.

In response, Sillano sued JGC for illegal dismissal and suspension. He also filed a case before the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), which later ruled that he owned the software.

The SC agreed with the Court of Appeals, which ruled that while JGC was justified in suspending Sillano, its termination of Sillano’s employment was “devoid of substantial due process.”

Under the 𝘓𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘥𝘦, an employer can preventively suspend an employee without pay for up to 30 days if the employee’s presence poses a threat to the company or its property.

In this case, the SC found that JGC had good reason to suspend Sillano.

At that time, the company believed it owned the software, as the IPO had not yet ruled on this matter. Sillano’s action of blocking access to the software posed a threat to its property. Additionally, the suspension also complied with the 30-day limit provided under the 𝘓𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘥𝘦.

Read the full text of the Press Release at https://tinyurl.com/ywwdnkky.

Read the full text of the Decision at https://tinyurl.com/yd2enyea.

Read the Dissenting Opinion of Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao at https://tinyurl.com/5n87sfkc.

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