Legal Note

Yup! That should always be considered. I had to just "Blotter" a former local kuya a few years ago....I noticed there were really only 2 items the PNP investigating officer stressed with the local, besides that he broke a very serious law: The 2 items? #1. This foreigner has enough money to file a case and put you in jail for life -better be nice to him. #2. We (PNP) now have you on our Blotter, and if ANYTHING happens to this foreigner, we will come directly to you first! Interesting.........???
Don

 

When I was doing my 13A annual report in 2014, it was total chaos at the BOI in Dumaguete. I must have visited it several times and each time the rules and procedure changed. As you must know, we eventually had to go to Cebu to be processed.
I wrote a long letter to BOI Chief Siegfred Mison regarding the total ineptitude of the Dumaguete Branch. I eventually got a reply just restating the requirements for the 13A annual reporting process. It is pretty obvious, that they have no respect for foreigners, other than taking our money and making the yearly visit miserable. So the answer appears to keep your head down and don't make waves, as they will always side with a filipino, no matter how strong or legitimate your case is. As a side note, the very person whom is running the BOI Chief Siegfred Mison is now under investigation for graft with several others, as posted earlier by Wrye83.

BI chief, 7 others linked to multimillion-peso racket - The Manila Times OnlineThe Manila Times Online

 

I've been here 9 yrs now....had a Tourist visa with extensions the first 3 or 4 yrs, then got a 13a. I have always been treated courteously and fairly efficiently - considered that there are only two girls there...they are overwhelmed at annual renewal time. What the Chief of BI in Manila did or didn't do doesn't affect the DGE office...they all work hard, including Peter, the OIC...when needed - like at annual report time - he will be out in front processing papers like the ladies. Don

 

I doubt that. At least we would need some sort of statistics to work from. If there is a lack of statistics, then that's probably the larger problem.

I have known several people here who have spent a lot of time in court (including a retired attorney.) Basically, the gist that I have got from these people is that while there is no telling what bat sh*t crazy things the other people might try, the judges and the overall system are generally reasonable. While "several people" is also a bad sample, I tend to stick with the most likely scenario. If you fight back are you going to enter a hopelessly corrupt system and run down and shot? Or will you likely be okay with a good case? I think the latter is more reasonable.

That said, like in the U.S. - it's not perfect. I feel like I have been f*cked over in the U.S. courts because I had an overworked public defender. For the best possible outcome, you probably still need to shell out for someone sharp, who can focus on your case. If the other site tries something shady, then you need someone who can catch it. You need someone to defend you, not take you through the motions.

I think the locals which see a lot of time in court screwing people over aren't used to people fighting back. When it happens, they make mistakes. So, corrupt behavior on the other side can actually help your own case. This happened with the retired attorney and he said the other side is basically making his case for him.

Bottom line, I think it's not good advice to tell people that they shouldn't try to defend themselves in court for fear of being shot.

 

I agree that there are times when you should seek legal recourse - but those times are few and far between and one should understand there are inherent risks in doing so. What provoked my response (and others, I suspect) was the wording in the opening post.

 

That must be worrisome to teachers. And contribute to grade inflation for rich kids.