ZSN Law Office

23/06/2026

"The first lesson in law remains the most important: lawyering is service." Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo addressed the UA&P School of Law Class of 2026 at its first-ever commencement, encouraging the graduates to cultivate competence, character, humility, diligence, integrity, kindness, and courage.

Link to the full speech in the comments.

22/06/2026

17/06/2026

COMELEC OMNIBUS ORDER DATED 17 JUNE 2026 | ANOTHER MOTION GRANTED by the COMELEC En Banc for petitioner Bangsamoro Party through its counsel, ZSN Law Office. ⚖️

01/06/2026

This June, the Philippines marks Judiciary Month, celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Supreme Court.

Declared under Presidential Proclamation No. 1265, s. 2026, the observance calls on government agencies, local government units, the private sector, and civil society to support and partake in the commemoration.

Established on June 11, 1901 through Act No. 136 of the Philippine Commission, the Supreme Court has stood as a pillar of justice—first led by Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano.

In line with this milestone year, the Court unveils a series of activities under the theme: “SC: 125 Years of Tradition and Innovation.”

Stay tuned for updates through the official social media channels of the Supreme Court.

31/05/2026

COMELEC Order dated 28 May 2026 -- After being the first regional political party to file its Manifestation In Lieu of Petition for Registration (MLPR), another Motion filed by BAPA dated 07 April 2026 is deemed GRANTED, along with the earlier grant of its MLPR, in the sense and to the extent that it is treated as an amendment to BAPA's MLPR dated 17 March 2026.

This is the third petition/motion/pleading handled by ZSN Law Office for BaPa Bangsamoro Party. Alhamdulillah!

​We look forward to a successful and peaceful first BPE! ⚖️

Bangsamoro Party - Regional Headquarters
Office of the Bangsamoro Party - BaPa President
Bangsamoro Party - Office of the Chairman
Bangsamoro Party- Maguindanao del Norte Chapter
Bangsamoro Party - Lanao del Sur
Bangsamoro Party - Basilan
Bangsamoro Party - BAPA Tawi-Tawi
SGADA Bangsamoro Party "BaPa"

26/05/2026

ADVISORY:

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐥-𝐀𝐝𝐡𝐚

For all examinees, please take note of the reminders regarding the Community Prayer for Eid al-Adha to be conducted in all local testing centers on the second day of the 2026 Shari’ah Special Bar Examinations.

23/05/2026

Assalamu Alaikum, 2026 Shari'ah Bar Takers!

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem.

As you embark on this life-changing journey of taking the 2026 Shari'ah Special Bar Examinations, I want to extend my warmest wishes and fervent prayers.

May Allah (SWT) reward your dedication, and when the results are released, may you officially be named Shari'ah Bar Passers!

To support you through this rigorous journey, I am sharing some powerful Duas from the Holy Quran and Sunnah that you can recite during your review, before entering the exam room, and while answering the questions:

1. Duas for Clarity, Focus, and Memory

a. Before starting your review or the exam:

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

Transliteration: Rabbish rahli sadri, wa yassirli amri, wahlul 'uqdatan min lisani, yafqahu qawli.

Translation: "My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance] and ease for me my task and untie the knot from my tongue so that they may understand my speech." (Surah Taha, 20:25-28)

b. To increase your knowledge and understanding:

رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا

Transliteration: Rabbi zidni 'ilma.

Translation: "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." (Surah Taha, 20:114)

2. Duas for Success and Ease

a. When facing a difficult situation or feeling overwhelmed:

اللَّهُمَّ لاَ سَهْلَ إِلّاَ مَا جَعَلّتَهُ سَهْلاً وَأَنّتَ تَجّعَلَ الحَزَنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلاً

Transliteration: Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja'altahu sahla, wa 'anta taj'alul hazna idha shi'ta sahla.

Translation: "O Allah, there is no ease except what You make easy. If You wish, You can make the difficult easy." (Sahih Ibn Hibban)

b. When relying entirely on Allah for your affairs:

وَمَا تَوْفِيقِي إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ

Transliteration: Wama tawfeeqee illa billahi alayhi tawakkaltu wa-ilayhi uneeb.

Translation: "My success is not but through Allah. Upon Him I have relied, and to Him I return." (Surah Hud, 11:88)

Trust the Journey and Have Faith

With these beautiful prayers, may Allah (SWT) grant you absolute clarity of thought, a sharp memory, unwavering resolve, and profound ease in the bar examinations. You have come so far, and this final milestone is a testament to your immense hard work. Trust in the knowledge you have acquired, and have full confidence in the noble path you have chosen.

Hold fast to Tawakkul (trust in Allah). Once you have given your absolute best in your preparations, leave the ultimate results in His hands. Remember that your faith is your greatest asset; hard work combined with sincere prayer is a powerful combination that brings not only success, but deep inner peace.

Bi Taufiq on the 2026 Shari'ah Special Bar Examinations! May all your sacrifices be blessed with a triumphant victory. Allahumma Ameen.

Jazak Allahu Khairan and Wassalam.

ZSN Law Office

23/05/2026

2026 Shari'ah Bar Coverage: Bigamy (Art. 180, PD 1083)

11/11 Case: MALAKI vs. PEOPLE
G.R. No. 221075, November 15, 2021

Whether Francis converted to Islam before or after his marriage with Jacqueline, the subsequent marriage consummated the crime of bigamy. He cannot successfully invoke the exculpatory clause in Art. 180 of the Muslim Code, considering that the Muslim Code finds no application in his then subsisting marriage with Nerrian, the marriage recognized by law that bars and penalizes a subsequent marriage.

Art. 3 of PD 1083 declares that its provisions shall not be construed to the prejudice of a non-Muslim. Certainly, granting the Muslim convert the recourse provided in Art. 180 would be prejudicial to the abandoned wife, and the State, the aggrieved party in criminal jurisdictions.

Conversion to Islam to remarry and circumvent the laws on bigamy generates legal tensions as it exploits the protective mantle of religious freedom under the Constitution.

22/05/2026

2026 Shari'ah Bar Coverage: Pronouncement of talaq (divorce) by the husband in a combined Muslim-Civil Marriages

10/11 Case: SUMAGKA vs. SUMAGKA
G.R. No. 200697, June 10, 2019

In combined Muslim and civil law wedding rites where both parties are Muslims, the law governing the first marriage prevails. It is of no moment that a second wedding between the parties was celebrated using the solemnities of civil lae. The second wedding cannot and does not alter the character of the first wedding. Afterall, it is the first wedding which creates the marriage bonds between the parties.

Thus, in this case, the law of Rohaina and Abdulgani's first marriage takes precedence. The nature, incidents, and consequences of their marriage are governed by the Muslim Cofe. They cannot be any more married than they already were when they subsequently wedded before a municipal mayor.

Considering that the Muslim Code governs the marriage of Rohaina and Abdulgani, the latter may legally avail of divorce by Talaq under the Code.