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Free Legal Information and Biblical Counseling
on legal and spiritual matters regarding the family, marriage, support, adoption, legal separation, filiation, property rights and property relations between spouses, children, etc; For a discussion of relevant issues, please surf to the weblogs Legal Updates (current issues affecting the Filipino family) Families of Faith, Campus Connection and Salt and Light (relationships, family and marriage). You can also download free PDF newsletters on various legal issues.

Please read the Articles of Faith, legal and privacy statements, and user agreement.

Free legal information via e-mail

You can e-mail me at gtgalacio@yahoo.com for your legal questions. I can, however, only answer two or three e-mails a day on a first come, first served basis. You have to wait seven to ten days before receiving my reply. (If your questions are urgent, you can avail of the free legal counseling services by the government offices listed below.)

Also, before e-mailing me, please take time to browse the sidebar of my Legal Updates blog. Most of the questions e-mailed to me have already been answered in my various posts and comments (for example, questions on how to get financial support in case the husband or live-in partner abandons the woman and her chidren, surname of illegitimate children, grounds that invalidate a marriage, etc.). Please browse also the Frequently Asked Questions section of this website.

Your e-mail message may be written in English, Filipino or Taglish. Please avoid, as much as possible, mentioning specific details of names and other information about yourself and/or your opposing parties, as confidentiality cannot be strictly assured when using e-mail or the Internet. Please mention however the city, town or province where you are, for reference purposes.

Free legal counseling by private organizations or government offices

[1] The various chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) provide free legal assistance to the public. IBP chapter offices are often found in the Hall of Justice of cities or of the provincial capitol.

[2] Public Attorneys Office (PAO), a government agency under the Department of Justice

[3] Office of Legal Aid (OLA) of the UP College of Law in Diliman, Quezon City

[4] The DOJ Action Center acts on complaints, requests for assistance and legal queries of walk-in clients of the DOJ. For legal assistance please visit the Department of Justice Action Center (DOJAC) Main Office, Ground Floor, Multi-Purpose Building, Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila; Telephone no: 523-84-81; Email Address: dojac@doj.gov.ph or visit any Regional/Provincial/City Prosecution Offices in your locality.

[5] For RA 9262 and other cases involving women, you can ask for help from the following offices:

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) Rehabilitation Unit Tel. No.: (02) 734-8635 NCR Ugnayang Pag-asa, Legarda, Manila Tel. Nos.: (02) 734-8617 to 18

Philippine National Police (PNP) Women and Children’s Concern Division (WCCD) Tel. No.: (02) 723-0401 loc. 3480 Call or text 117 (PATROL 117)

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Violence Against Women and Children’s Desk (VAWCD) Tel. Nos.: (02) 523-8231 loc. 3403

DOJ Public Attorney’s Office Women’s Desk Tel. Nos.: (02) 929-9010; 929-9436 to 37

Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Women’s Desk Tel. Nos.: (02) 524-2990; 521-8450 loc. 3816

Women’s Crisis Center Women and Children Crisis Care and Protection Unit – East Avenue Medical Center (WCCCPU-EAMC) Tel. Nos.: (02) 926-7744; 922-5235

[6] For labor problems, you may seek advice and help from the Public Assistance and Complaints Unit (PACU) of the Department of Labor and Employment in Intramuros, Manila; tel. no. 527-8000, or of the regional DOLE offices.

Biblical counseling

[1] “Heartline” program aired over DZAS 702 Khz, 9:30 to 10:30 PM; tel. no. is 292-56-03 local 330; you can also send text messages (type DZAS space and then send to 2299)

[2] Women Today Magazine: Talk to a mentor

Note: Free PDF newsletters on legal issues available for download.