Rules and Regulations on the Liquor Ban in Connection with the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections (COMELEC Resolution No. 10095; Full Text)

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[Note: The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) issued Resolution No. 10095, or the Rules and Regulations on the Liquor Ban in Connection with the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections. The liquor ban will be in force on the day before the election (May 8, 2016) and on election day (May 9, 2016). On these days, it will be unlawful for any person, including owners and managers of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other establishments of the same nature, to sell, furnish, offer, buy, serve, or take intoxicating liquor anywhere in the Philippines. Violations are punishable with imprisonment. The full text of Resolution No. 10095 is reproduced below.] Continue reading →

Regulation of Ride-Sharing Services, Transportation Network Vehicle Service

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[Note: On 8 May 2015, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) issued Department Order No. 2015-011, amending Department Order No. 97-1092. Among the amendment is the provision of the Transportation Network Vehicle Service (TNVS), which basically refers to existing “ride-sharing” or “app-based ride-hailing” services like Uber and GrabCar. The Philippines is the FIRST country in the world to regulate this service. There is, of course, an opposition from operators of taxis and Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs), which are required to comply with certain requirements (e.g., franchise, insurance coverage). PUVs are common carriers and are issued the corresponding PUV license plates. The TNVS are private vehicles that can operate like PUVs. PUVs must also secure prior approval from the LTFRB before they can raise fares, but TNVS, based on the D.O 2015-011, are not covered by the same requirement. The pertinent portion of Department Order No. 2015-011 relating to TNVS is reproduced below.]

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When the Use of Aliases Violates the Law

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“Iqbal’s alleged use of aliases violates law — solon,” states the caption of a news article, referring to the allegation of Davao City Representative Carlo Nogales that the use of an alias by MILF Spokesman Mohagher Iqbal, apparently not his real name, in official documents “violates the Revised Penal Code and the Anti-Alias Law which prohibit the use of pseudonyms in public documents.” It might be helpful to have a summary of the laws the penalize the use of aliases in the Philippines.

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Primer on Wage Order No. NCR-19 (15-Peso Increase in Minimum Wage)

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The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-NCR (RTWPB-NCR) has approved Wage Order No. NCR-19 (full text), providing that all private sector minimum wage workers and employees in the National Capital Region (NCR) shall receive an increase in the existing Basic Wage in the amount of FIFTEEN PESOS (P15.00) per day. The new daily minimum wage rates of covered workers in the private sector in the NCR are as follows:

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The System of Fixing the Minimum Wage in the Philippines

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Calls for the increase of minimum wages have surfaced with the constant increase of oil prices. This increase in the prices of gasoline and diesel almost always have the effect of raising all prices of goods and commodities. How is minimum wage fixed? What is the process in fixing the minimum wage? Let’s have a brief discussion on minimum wage determination.

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No Registration, No Travel Policy (LTO Memorandum Circular AVT-2015-1927; full text)

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[Reproduced below is the full text of LTO Memorandum Circular AVT-2015-1927 (No Registration, No Travel Policy). Incidentally, in an Advisory published in newspapers, the LTO announced that: “In line with the implementation of NO REGISTRATION-NO TRAVEL policy, starting April 1, 2015, please be advised that only LTO Law Enforcers and LTO Deputized Agents in complete uniform with valid ID and carrying LTO issued Temporary Operators Permit (TOP) are authorized to stop vehicles and apprehend those in violation of the same.”]

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Premature Marriage No Longer a Crime

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The death of either spouse dissolves the marital bond (same effect with annulment or declaration of nullity). This simply means that, subject to compliance with certain requirements, the husband or the wife is free to marry again. There is no legal obstacle for remarriage (and we’ve heard of a plot or two involving a spouse who wants to kill the other spouse so he/she can marry another person). Men may remarry right away. Women, on the other hand, must wait for 301 days or, if pregnant at the time of the husband’s death, must wait until childbirth, before they can remarry.

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2014 Bar Exam Results: Top 10 and Full List

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Congratulations! The Supreme Court released the results of the 2014 bar examaminations on Thursday, 26 March 2015. Out of the 5,984 law school graduates that took the 2014 bar exam, only 1,126 passed (18.82% passing rate). The Top 10 bar passers and the full list of successful bar examinees are reproduced below:

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