Muñoz-Bagano Law Office

27/09/2024

SC: Pang-iinsulto at Masamang Pakikitungo sa Empleyado Maaring Ituring na Constructive Dismissal

Maaaring ituring na constructive illegal dismissal ang pagbitiw ng isang empleyado dahil sa demotion o pagbaba sa ranggo, pang-iinsulto, masamang pakikitungo, at kawalan ng malasakit ng employer.

Ito ang naging Desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa kaso ng isang empleyado na napilitang mag-resign dala ng hostile work environment.

Sa Desisyon na isinulat ni Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, sinabi ng Korte Suprema na ang mga kilos ng employer na nagpapakita ng labis na pagkayamot sa empleyado tulad ng demotion, nakakainsultong pananalita, at kawalan ng malasakit o pakialam ay maituturing na constructive illegal dismissal kapag hindi na nakayanan ng empleyado ang kanyang kalagayan at napilitang magbitiw sa pwesto.

Ang pamantayan para malaman kung merong constructive dismissal ay kung ang isang makatuwirang empleyado ay mapipilitang iwanan ang kanyang trabaho dahil sa kanyang kalagayan.

Bagamat sinabi ng Korte Suprema na hindi talaga maiiwasang may mga matitinding salita na maaaring bitawan sa trabaho dahil sa hindi pagkakaunawaan, hindi ito dapat nakasisira sa dignidad ng mga empleyado.

Basahin ang buong press release: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-employers-insulting-words-hostile-behavior-toward-an-employee-constitute-constructive-dismissal/

Basahin ang buong kaso: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/254465-jonathan-dy-chua-bartolome-vs-toyota-quezon-avenue-inc-lincoln-t-lim-esteban-dela-paz-jr-josefina-de-jesus-and-pauline-bacaling/

21/09/2024

SC: Maaaring kilalanin sa Pilipinas ang divorce kahit hindi dumaan sa korte sa ibang bansa

Hindi kinakailangang dumaan sa korte ang divorce sa ibang bansa para mabigyan ng bisa sa Pilipinas.

Ito ang naging Desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa kaso ng isang Pilipina na nakakuha ng divorce sa Japan mula sa kanyang asawang Hapon sa pamamagitan ng isang kasunduan.

Para kilalanin sa Pilipinas ang kanyang divorce, naghain siya sa Regional Trial Court (RTC) ng petition for judicial recognition of foreign divorce na ipinagkaloob ng RTC. Kinwestiyon ito sa Korte Suprema ng Office of the Solicitor General.

Sa Desisyon na isinulat ni Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, maaaring kilalanin ang divorce sa ibang bansa basta ito ay tanggap sa batas ng bansang nagkaloob nito, maging ito man ay dumaan sa judicial o administrative proceeding, o sa pamamagitan ng kasunduan ng mag-asawa.

Sa ilalim ng Article 26(2) ng Family Code, ang mga Pilipinong dating kasal sa dayuhan ay maaaring humiling sa mga korte ng Pilipinas na kilalanin ang divorce na wasto nitong nakuha sa ibang bansa, para maiwasan ang sitwasyon na pwede na mag-asawa ang dayuhan sa ibang bansa pero bawal pa rin mag-asawang muli ang Pilipino sa Pilipinas.

Pero ibinalik ng Korte Suprema sa RTC ang kaso para mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang Pilipina na patunayan ang batas ng Japan.

Basahin ang buong press release: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-recognition-of-divorce-not-limited-to-those-decreed-by-foreign-courts/

Basahin ang buong kaso: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/249238-republic-of-the-philippines-vs-ruby-cuevas-ng-a-k-a-ruby-ng-sono/

18/09/2024

SUSPENDED FOR TWO YEARS

Read: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/09/16/2385703/lawyer-suspended-notarizing-document-while-signatory-was-abroad

The Supreme Court on Monday, September 16, said it suspended a lawyer after he forged his client’s signature and notarized a special power or attorney despite his client being out of the country.

13/09/2024

10/09/2024

Dear valued clients,

Our office will be closed tomorrow. Our operations will resume on Thursday, from 9 AM to 5 PM. See you!

09/09/2024

“The Court ruled that the Bangsamoro Organic Law is constitutional because it does not make BARMM a separate state from the Philippines. The Law did not give it the power to enter into relations with other states, nor did it grant the BARMM its sovereignty. Matters of national defense and security, citizenship, foreign policy, and foreign trade remain with the national government.

The BARMM’s autonomy is limited to its internal governance. The greater autonomy given to the region does not imply separation from the national government.

The Court also upheld the parliamentary form of the Bangsamoro government. An autonomous region is not prohibited from prescribing a form of government that differs from the national government so long as it upholds democratic principles.

The Bangsamoro government is democratic, with the members of the Parliament elected by its people as representatives. In turn, the Bangsamoro Parliament elects a chief minister who shall exercise the executive powers of the Bangsamoro government.

The Court however declared unconstitutional the interpretation of the provision in the law directing the provinces and cities of ARMM to vote as one geographical unit as including provinces that did not vote to be included. It violates Article X, Section 18 of the Constitution, which states that only provinces, cities, and geographic areas voting favorably in the plebiscite shall be included in the autonomous region.

As Sulu rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the plebiscite, it was wrong to include the province in BARMM.”

The Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) but declared the Province of Sulu not part of the BARMM after the province rejected the law’s ratification. The Decision is immediately executory.

Read more at: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-upholds-validity-of-bangsamoro-organic-law-declares-sulu-not-part-of-bangsamoro-region/

05/09/2024

“Thus, in cases of marital infidelity, the requirement of specific criminal intent to cause mental and emotional suffering is already satisfied once the offender commits the act of infidelity. This is because marital infidelity is inherently wrong under current social, cultural, and religious norms.”

“The Court, however, clarified that not all extramarital relationships are punishable under Section 5(i) of the Anti-VAWC Act. In non-traditional family setups and modern relationship arrangements with consciously consenting spouses, extramarital relationships may not inflict mental or emotional suffering and is not punishable as a crime under the law.”

FULL TEXT of G.R. No. 252739 (### v. People), April 16, 2024 at: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/252739-###-vs-people-of-the-philippines/

The Supreme Court has ruled that in determining whether marital infidelity caused psychological violence under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, criminal intent is presumed in the act of marital infidelity.

Read more at: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-criminal-intent-to-cause-anguish-presumed-in-marital-infidelity-under-anti-vawc-act/

31/08/2024

Psalm 127:1
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.

Dedicating to the Lord this small law office in San Narciso, Zambales. May He direct our path as we serve our community to the best of our capabilities.

Thank you Lord for your unending grace.

29/08/2024

The Supreme Court has ruled that decades-long unjustified absence from the marital home may be considered evidence of psychological incapacity to comply with marital obligations.

Read more at: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-unjustified-absence-from-marital-home-considered-psychological-incapacity/