Abarquez and Angas Law Offices

08/05/2026

𝗦𝗢𝗙𝗧 𝗟𝗔𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 | 𝗔𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘇 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺

In partnership with the LGU–Linamon, Abarquez and Angas Law Offices proudly opens its doors to provide accessible legal assistance to the marginalized sectors in Linamon.

Available at:
Abarquez and Angas Law Offices – Linamon, Lanao del Norte Branch

Through this program, qualified residents may avail of:
• Free notarization of affidavits and simple legal documents.
• Free legal consultation during office hours.

Requirements:
• Endorsement Form from the LGU
• Valid ID
• Certificate of Indigency issued by the DSWD or Barangay

Because justice and legal assistance should be within reach of every community.

06/05/2026

29/04/2026

28/04/2026

“𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲: 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝟳 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿?”

Many parents hear about the “𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲” but misunderstand how it works.

Here’s the simple version: If the child is below 7 years old, the law generally keeps the child with the mother. But take note—this is not automatic or absolute. Courts apply this rule carefully, always guided by the child’s best interest.

Under Article 213 of the Family Code: “A child below 7 years old shall not be separated from the mother, unless there are compelling reasons.”

What are “compelling reasons”? These are serious conditions that show the mother may be unfit, such as:

• Neglect or abandonment
• Abuse or maltreatment
• Immorality affecting the child
• Drug addiction, habitual drunkenness, or similar incapacity

This rule is not about favoring one parent — It is about protecting young children during their most vulnerable years.

📩 If you are facing a custody issue, don’t rely on assumptions— 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀.

22/04/2026

“𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 ‘𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗽’ 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴?”

Maraming magulang ang nagsasabi: “Sige, ikaw na bahala sa bata para wala nang gulo.”

But here’s the legal reality: Parental authority is not something you can give away just to avoid conflict.

Article 210 of the Family Code provides: “Parental authority and responsibility may not be renounced or transferred except in the cases authorized by law.”

This means that:
• You cannot sign it away in a private agreement.
• You cannot fully transfer it to the other parent just for convenience.
• The law protects the child’s right to both parents’ responsibility.

In practice, this means that:
• Even if one parent has custody, both parents still have responsibilities.
• Agreements between parents are not absolute—they must comply with the law.
• The court may intervene if the arrangement harms the child’s welfare.

Peace between parents is important— but it cannot come at the expense of the child’s rights.

📩 Thinking of making custody or parenting arrangements? Don’t rely on informal agreements alone—𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

17/04/2026

“𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁?”

Many people think: “Wala akong custody, so wala akong obligasyon.” That’s a misconception.
Support and custody are separate matters under the law. Even if one parent has custody, both parents may still be legally required to support the child.

Section 771 of Act No. 190 provides that: “The court may order either or both parents to support or help support said child, irrespective of who may be its custodian.”

This means that:

• A non-custodial parent can still be required to give support
• In some cases, both parents share the responsibility, depending on their capacity
• Support is a continuing obligation, not optional
• Custody does NOT cancel or replace the duty to support
• The court ensures the child’s basic needs, education, and well-being are provided

Bottom line: You don’t earn or lose the duty to support based on custody. It exists because you are a parent.

📩 If you’re unsure about your rights or obligations on support and custody,
𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆.

15/04/2026

“𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱?”

Many believe that once a father gives financial support, he gains custody rights over his illegitimate child.

That’s not how the law works because custody is not earned by support alone—it is based on parental authority.

Under the Family Code (Arts. 176):
“Illegitimate children shall use the surname and shall be under the parental authority of their mother, and shall be entitled to support in conformity with this Code. This means custody also belongs to the mother, unless there are strong legal reasons to rule otherwise.”

The Supreme Court has likewise affirmed this in Gabun v. Stolk, Sr. (G.R. No. 234660, June 26, 2023):
• The mother is entitled to custody of an illegitimate child
• Custody may only be taken from her upon clear proof of unfitness or compelling reasons
• Parental authority is the basis of custody rights

What does this mean in practice?
• A father’s recognition or financial support does NOT automatically give him custody
• The mother retains primary authority and custody
• The father may still seek visitation rights or legal remedies through the court

When can custody be questioned? Only if there are serious grounds such as:
• Neglect or abandonment
• Abuse or maltreatment
• Immorality or unfitness
• Other compelling reasons affecting the child’s welfare

Bottom line:
Support is important—but the law prioritizes stability and the child’s best interest.
Custody is not about who provides more—it’s about who is legally and morally fit to care for the child.

📩 If you’re dealing with custody concerns involving an illegitimate child, 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲.

09/04/2026

“𝗜𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁—𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗱𝘆?”

Here’s what you need to know: the Court decides—and the child always comes first.

Many people think custody is about who “wins.”
It’s not. The law doesn’t protect egos—it protects children.

Under the Family Code (Art. 213): When parents separate, the court determines who will exercise parental authority—based on what is best for the child.

So how does the court decide?

1.For children below 7 years old:
They are generally placed under the mother’s custody, unless there are compelling reasons (such as neglect, abandonment, or unfitness).

2.For children 7 years old and above:
The court may consider the child’s preference, as long as the chosen parent is fit.

3.And even if one parent is not granted custody:
They are still usually given visitation rights—because a child deserves a relationship with both parents.

Important reminder:

Custody is not about proving who is the better parent— it’s about ensuring the child’s safety, stability, and well-being.

If you’re facing separation and unsure about your rights or your child’s future, don’t rely on assumptions. Get clear legal guidance.

📩 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆—𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁.

04/04/2026

𝗛𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗻.

This Easter Sunday, we celebrate a message of hope, renewal, and new beginnings.

May this day remind us that after every challenge comes restoration, and that faith, truth, and perseverance always lead us forward.

As we continue to serve with integrity and purpose, may we be guided by compassion and the enduring promise of renewal.

Wishing everyone a joyful and blessed Easter Sunday.