PUBLICATIONS
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Are Misleading Questions Allowed on Cross-Examination? What the Rules on Evidence Actually Provide.
No. A misleading question is not allowed even during cross-examination. This issue recently drew attention during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, where an objection was raised against a question on the ground that it was misleading. The ensuing exchange brought into focus an important issue in trial practice: while lawyers are generally…
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When “One-Half Month Salary” Means 15 Days—and When It Means 22.5 Days
A recent labor dispute involving a voluntary separation program brought to the fore an issue that employers do not always anticipate when designing separation packages: how should “one-half month salary” be computed? The dispute arose after an employer introduced a one-time voluntary separation program, notably denominated as “Early Retirement Offer”. Under the program, employees who…
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AWOL Does Not Automatically Mean Abandonment of Work: What Every Employer and Employee Should Know
Employers are often confronted with a difficult question: May an employee who repeatedly fails to report for work simply be considered to have abandoned his/her employment? Many company handbooks classify prolonged unauthorized absences as a dismissible offense, leading employers to believe that termination necessarily follows once an employee goes AWOL. The Supreme Court, however, has…