Montinola, Quiñanola, Badal and Balili Law Offices

13/07/2026

We proudly welcome our 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻 𝓘𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓼 from the 𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓸𝓯 𝓢𝓪𝓷 𝓙𝓸𝓼𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓸𝓼 𝓐𝓑-𝓘𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓢𝓽𝓾𝓭𝓲𝓮𝓼 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓶.

We are pleased to have you join our team as you assist the office and our clients while gaining 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝓁𝑒𝑔𝒶𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝒻𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝑒𝓍𝓅𝑒𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒.

We look forward to working with you. 𝓦𝓮𝓵𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓪𝓻𝓭!

07/04/2026

Q: “Attorney, naka-motor po ako at na-flag down sa checkpoint. Wala akong dalang valid driver’s license. May karapatan ba ang pulis na i-detain ako o dalhin sa presinto, o dapat ticket lang? Ano ang lawful scope ng inspection at ano ang dapat kong gawin?”

A: Hindi ka puwedeng i-“detain” (i-kulong) sa checkpoint dahil lang wala kang lisensya. Pero puwede kang i-flag down, i-check, at i-process para sa traffic violation (tiket/impounding, etc.). Detention becomes legally defensible only if there is another lawful ground (hal. may probable cause sa ibang krimen, o valid warrantless arrest situation).

Under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, unlawful mag-operate ng motor vehicle nang walang valid license in possession, and the license must be carried and shown upon demand. — Batas Pambansa Blg. 398 (1983)

Therefore, the police may apprehend for the violation (i.e., issue citation/ticket, and take steps allowed by traffic enforcement). But detention (custodial holding/bringing you to jail) is not justified by that fact alone; they need an independent lawful ground (e.g., probable cause of another crime discovered in a lawful manner, valid warrantless arrest circumstances, etc.).

------(People v. Uy; De Villa v. People)

02/04/2026

Q: “Atty., hindi kami kasal ng live-in partner ko. May anak kami at naghiwalay na. Pwede ba niyang kunin ang anak namin at ipilit na sa kanya titira?”

A: Karaniwan, hindi—lalo na kung ikaw (ina) ay fit at maayos mag-alaga. Sa ilalim ng Family Code, ang illegitimate child ay nasa parental authority ng ina, kaya ikaw ang may pangunahing karapatan sa custody.

Because the law places an illegitimate child under the mother’s parental authority, therefore the father cannot simply “take” the child by demand or force; he must go to court and prove compelling/imperative cause (unfitness of the mother) for the court to deprive the mother of custody. This is consistent with Supreme Court rulings that the mother’s custody over an illegitimate child stands unless unfitness is clearly shown, and any exception must be established by proper evidence, always guided by the child’s welfare.

----- (Ang v. Sanchez-Fernandez, et al. (2025); Briones v. Miguel, et al. (2004); Masbate, et al. v. Relucio (2018))

02/04/2026

Q: “Atty., hindi kami kasal ng live-in partner ko. May anak kami at naghiwalay na. Pwede ba niyang kunin ang anak namin at ipilit na sa kanya titira?”

A: Karaniwan, hindi—lalo na kung ikaw (ina) ay fit at maayos mag-alaga. Sa ilalim ng Family Code, ang illegitimate child ay nasa parental authority ng ina, kaya ikaw ang may pangunahing karapatan sa custody.

Because the law places an illegitimate child under the mother’s parental authority, therefore the father cannot simply “take” the child by demand or force; he must go to court and prove compelling/imperative cause (unfitness of the mother) for the court to deprive the mother of custody. This is consistent with Supreme Court rulings that the mother’s custody over an illegitimate child stands unless unfitness is clearly shown, and any exception must be established by proper evidence, always guided by the child’s welfare.

---- (Ang v. Sanchez-Fernandez, et al. (2025); Briones v. Miguel, et al. (2004); Masbate, et al. v. Relucio (2018))

01/04/2026

01/04/2026

Our office hours:
Saturdays:
1:00PM-5PM
You can book an online or face-to-face consultation through our page.
We also accept appointment beyond operating hours. Please ensure to book in advance so we can accommodate your schedule.

01/04/2026

“Atty. gusto ko nang magpa-annul. ‘Di kami compatible’—pwede na ba ‘yun?”

Answer: Not by itself. “Incompatibility” alone is not the standard for declaring a marriage void under psychological incapacity. The Court explains that psychological incapacity is about an enduring personality structure that makes a spouse truly unable to understand and comply with essential marital obligations, and it must be proven by clear and convincing evidence.

— Egmalis-Ke-Eg v. Republic of the Philippines (2022)

01/04/2026

Our office hours:
Mondays-Fridays:
9:00AM-12:00NN
1:00PM-5:00PM
Saturdays:
1:00PM-5PM
You can book an online or face-to-face consultation through our page.
We also accept appointment beyond operating hours. Please ensure to book in advance so we can accommodate your schedule.