We are dedicated to providing the best legal
Who We Are
About UsARB Law is one of the new and rising law firms within and outside Metro Manila. Being a full-service law firm, ARB Law has a wide range of legal expertise, which is led and mastered by its founding partners, Atty. Jeanne Luz Castillo Anarna, Atty. Jearemmy Rosario-Guinto and Atty. Alvin John F. Balagbag, who honed their proficiency and competence in their respective legal fields grounded with a decade of legal practice and experience.
ARB Law differs from traditional law firms. ARB Law is committed to keeping its practice up-to date with the latest technological advances and developments by providing our clients the most practical and convenient access to excellent legal service and expertise. While keeping true to established traditions of the legal profession, we believe that antiquated legal service is a thing of the past and has no place in this modern world. Fast, efficient, and innovative legal service is how we deliver exceptional results to our clients.
Being client-oriented, ARB Law is dedicated to providing the best legal solutions to our clients’ concerns. We are loyal to our clients, and pursue their cause with the highest standards of integrity, quality and professionalism.
All client’s cause, whether big or small, deserves the highest and remarkable legal service. For when it matters, there is ARB Law.
What We Do
Practice AreasWith our specialized staff and support, we are divided into departments and continue to work efficiently and systematically.
General Counseling & Retainer Services
We are always ready to provide general legal consultation for people who need legal advice and assistance.
Land Registration & Real Estate
We conduct due diligence and review of land titles, as well as the preparation and drafting of real property documents.
Immigration Law
We process the application of different kinds of visas such as work visa, tourist visa, and other special visas.
Labor & Employment
We provide assistance in the preparation of employment contracts and drafting of employment manuals and policies.
Corporate & Commercial Laws
We process applications for business registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Election Law
We advise candidates regarding the election laws, and assist them during the filing of candidacy, campaign, election and counting, etc..
Our Team
PartnersComprised of some of the most experienced and knowledgeable legal professionals in the industry.
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Our Law Reviews
Legal JournalTo offer our clients new perspective and groundbreaking business insights.
July 10, 2025
Writ of Habeus Corpus (Rule 102)
Habeas Corpus is a summary remedy. It is a special proceeding governed by Rule 102 of the Rules of Court, as amended. The sole purpose of resorting to Writ of Habeas Corpus is to have the person's restraint be presented before the judge in order that the cause of his detention may be inquired into and his statements final.
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July 10, 2025
How to Acquire Philippine Citizenship through Naturalization
Section 1, Article 4 of the 1987 Constitution enumerates who are the citizens of the Philippines, as follows:
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July 10, 2025
Rules on Electronic Evidence
On July 17, 2001, the Supreme Court issued and approved the Rules on Electronic Evidence (“RRE”) which took effect on August 1, 2001. Thereafter, the 2019 Proposed Amendments to the Revised Rules on Evidence was approved by the Supreme Court on October 8, 2019 and took effect on May 1, 2020.
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July 09, 2025
How to Amend Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws using SEC eAMEND?
On January 15, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued SEC Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 3- 2024 that gives a guideline on the use of the Electronic Application for Modification of Entity Data (eAMEND) Portal. Prior to MC 3-2024, applicants are required to manually accomplish the amendments forms and submit together with the hard copies of either the amended Articles of Incorporation (“AOI”) and/or By-Laws (“BL”) and other requirements.
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July 09, 2025
Constitutional Prohibition Against Dual/Multiple Offices
Section 13, Article VII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution expressly prohibits specific public officials from holding any other office or employment during their tenure, to wit:
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July 08, 2025
Pregnancy of Unmarried Teacher Cannot Be a Valid Ground for Suspension
Under the Labor Code of the Philippines, an employer can terminate their relationship with the employee provided that they have established that there is a just or authorized cause, as defined under the law. Aside from establishing the grounds above mentioned, it must undergo due process.
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July 08, 2025
Nonmarital Child Inheriting from Grandparents
According to Article 992 of the Civil Code, an illegitimate child has no right to inherit ab intestato (intestate succession) from the legitimate children and relatives of his parents and vice versa. This rule on succession is characterized as the “ironcurtain rule” which is a rule of barrier between legitimate family and illegitimate family.
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April 14, 2025
Duterte ICC Arrest, Explained
On March 12, 2025, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was surrendered to the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague after his arrest in Manila on March 11, 2025. The arrest was based on an ICC warrant for crimes against humanity.
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April 14, 2025
Appeal For Visa Cancellation
There are various reasons for the immigration authority to cancel your visa. The possibility and process for applying for a new one would depend on the immigration law of the country you are applying to and the grounds for canceling your visa. In this case, here are some of the things you should consider when it happens:
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April 14, 2025
Child Support
Enacted in 1987, the Philippines’ framework for child support is primarily guarded by the Family Code (Art. 194-211), where the child/s’ rights, and obligations of parents and family relations are comprehensively addressed. These laws and regulations are placed to protect the rights of the children and establish mechanisms in which child support can be obtained.
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March 7, 2025
Rules of Guardianship
It is established that the father and the mother of a minor are their guardians by default, denoting that its parents shall provide all primary needs of the child. However, in cases where the parents are deemed unable to provide necessary care for the child, a petition for guardianship shall be filed.
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March 7, 2025
Removing your name from The Philippines Blacklist
In the Philippine context, blacklisted individuals may be barred from three (3) months to a lifetime depending on the gravity of the violation, pursuant to the Immigration Administrative Circular No. SBM-2014-001. This ruling sets the period for lifting the entries of those included in the Blacklist Order (BLO), it must also be noted that the process for removing one’s name on the BLO is complex in nature as it involves both legal and administrative procedures.
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March 6, 2025
Alien Employment Permit
The Philippines is renowned for its diverse and dynamic workforce. In recent years, the country has emerged as a dynamic hub for international business, attracting many expatriates seeking professional opportunities in various sectors. However, foreign nationals who wish for employment in the Philippines that lasts more than six months (6) must obtain an Alien Employment Permit (AEP) issued by the Department of Labor and Employment. An AEP authorizes foreign nationals to work in the country, this serves as evidence that the employment of a foreign national will not be detrimental to the interests of qualified Filipino workers.
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February 28, 2025
Recognition of Foreign Divorce in the Philippines
A divorce between a foreigner and a Filipino may be recognized in the Philippines.
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February 20, 2025
Impeachment: A Class of Its Own
Impeachment is a political proceeding exercised by the legislative branch of government. It is not an administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding but a class of its own.
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February 19, 2025
Persons with Disabilities Identification (PWD ID)
Persons with Disabilities (“PWDs”) may enjoy certain rights and privileges under the law. The grand purpose of these rights and privileges is to improve their full well-being and achieve their integration into mainstream society.
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February 13, 2025
Anti-Money Laundering Act
Republic Act No. 9160 otherwise known as The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, together with Republic Act No. 9194, criminalizes money laundering in the Philippines. The purpose of enacting the law is to combat money laundering and ensure that the Philippines is not used to launder proceeds from unlawful activities.
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February 12, 2025
Premium Payment
Insurance is a contract whereby one undertakes for a consideration to indemnify another against loss, damage or liability
arising from an unknown or contingent event. (Sec. 2[a], Insurance Code) Just like any other contract, it requires a cause or
consideration. The consideration thereto is called premium.
Premium refers to the consideration paid to an insurer for undertaking to indemnify the insured against specified peril.
February 11, 2025
Putang Ina Principle
The phrase “putang ina mo” is frequently used to express anger, excitement, sadness or surprise. Thus, when the issue arose whether that statement is slanderous that is punishable under the Revised Penal Code, the Supreme Court ruled in the negative.
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February 7, 2025
Transfer of Shares of Stocks
One of the problems for buyers of shares in a corporation is the procedural aspect of it, particularly if the shares are purchased from the holder of the shares. Buyers frequently make the mistake of assuming that as long as they pay the consideration, the shares are already transferred to their name or that they own the shares automatically in the corporation.
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February 5, 2025
Grave Threats
When someone threatens to take your life or your family member, that person can be prosecuted for the crime of grave threats. Under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, it provides that any person who shall threaten another with the infliction of any wrong amounting to a crime upon the person, honor, or property of the latter or of his family constitutes the crime of Grave Threats.
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February 3, 2025
Incontestability Clause
Incontestability clause is a provision in law that after a policy of life insurance made payable on the death of the insured shall have been in force during the lifetime of the insured for a period of two (2) years from the date of its issue or of its last reinstatement, the insurer cannot prove that the policy is void ab initio or is rescindible by reason of fraudulent concealment or misrepresentation of the insured or his agent.
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June 1, 2024
Unjust Vexation
Does someone try to irritate you? Or somebody who annoys you? Fear not - acts that infuriate, vex or torment another person are punishable under the Revised Penal Code called unjust vexation. Unjust vexation is a form of light coercion punishable under Article 287 (2) of the Revised Penal Code.
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May 30, 2024
Process of Legitimation
Under the Family Code, there exists a classification of children based on the rights granted by law. A child born within a lawful marriage is legitimate, while a child born outside of wedlock is considered illegitimate. On the other hand, if the latter's parents were, at the time of the child's conception, not legally barred from marrying each other and subsequently do so, the child's filiation improves as he becomes legitimized and the "legitimated" child eventually enjoys allthe privileges and rights associated with legitimacy.(De Santos vs. Hon. Angeles, G.R. No. 105619, December12, 1995)
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May 27, 2024
Maceda Law
Most low income earners who wish to acquire a lot must be aware of their rights as buyers. Rights of buyer of real estate such as house and/or lot or condominium to be used as “residence” of the buyer that is payable in installment payments are governed by Republic Act No. 6552, the Realty Installment Buyer Act or more popularly referred to as the Maceda Law which protects them against onerous and oppressive conditions.
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May 25, 2024
Lost and Found : Crime of Theft
Although most people believe that the crime of theft only involves taking someone else's property without using force, theft can also occur when someone fails to report lost items to the rightful owner or the appropriate authorities
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May 23, 2024
Application For Bail
Bail is the security given for the release of a person in custody of the law, furnished by him or a bondsman, to guarantee his appearance before any court as required under certain specified conditions. (Section 1, Rule 114, Rules of Court)
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February 26, 2024
Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition
The advancement in migratory dynamics and the increasing trend of Filipinos establishing lives abroad prompt a progressive and inclusive approach to Philippine legislation through its Dual Citizenship law. The Republic Act No. 9225, otherwise the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, regulates dual citizenship status in the Philippines. This law enables former natural-born Filipinos to retain/reacquire the Philippine citizenship they’d lost when they became a naturalized citizen of another country.
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February 22, 2024
Domestic and Foreign Adoption
Adoption in the Philippines is governed by the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998 (RA 8552), the Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995 (RA 8043), and most recently, the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act (RA11642) that was created to expedite the adoption process in the Philipines. Therefore, any adoption applicant undergoes a thorough screening and evaluation process under the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) to ensure the adoption is in the child’s best interest.
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January 29, 2024
Overtime pay in the Philippines
The competitive and fast-paced business environment has increased the demand for more than eight hours (8) of the allotted working hours. Fortunately, the Philippine Law recognizes the importance of overtime work and has established a legal framework to ensure fair compensation for employees beyond their working hours.
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January 25, 2024
Employer-Employee Relationship
It is established that the employment status of a person is defined and prescribed by law and not by what the parties decide it to be (Century Properties, Inc. vs. Concepcion, G.R. No. 220978, July 05, 2016). Thus, the existence of employer-employee relationship (EER) cannot be negated by repudiating the same through management contracts.
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January 15, 2024
Election
The B.P. Blg. 881 or otherwise known as “Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines” (OEC) provides two (2) available remedies that may filed against bona fide candidates, viz: (1) Petition for Disqualification and (2) Petition to Deny Due Course to or Cancel a Certificate of Candidacy.
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January 11, 2024
Intellectual Property Rights
Intellectual property has become a legal and economic concern in the dynamic landscape of the Philippines. Intellectual property protection has risen over time as the country progressed in creativity, technology, and commerce. The Republic Act No. 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, is designed to grant intellectual property protection to scientists, inventors, artists, and gifted individuals on their creations.
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December 11, 2023
Person's Liable for Cyber Libel
With the growing number of socialmedia users,social media became one of the primary tools of communication in the Philippines. In the Philippines,as of January 2023, there are 84.45million social media users or 72.5 percent of the total population, 116.5million to be exact.
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December 7, 2023
Identity Theft
The emergence of the Digital Age has paved the way for a more comprehensive implementation of technology in everyday life, from payment methods to identification cards to shopping and even banking, to name a few
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December 4, 2023
Clerical Error Law
(R.A. NO. 9048, AS AMENDED BY RA 10172) Any Person who has a direct and personal interest in the correction of a clerical or typographical error or mistake in civil register
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November 30, 2023
Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children
Republic Act (RA) No. 9262 or the AntiViolence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 allows women and children to enjoy the protection that the law has granted to them from the violence
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