The Philippine Tax Academy, through the Customs Institute (CI), successfully concluded its Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Program conducted on June 14, 21, 28 and July 5, 2025.
Former Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Antonio T. Carpio led the lineup of lecturers at the four-day program, where he discussed the “Philippine Island Territories in the West Philippine Seas” as a topic under International Law.
A total of 58 lawyers from the BOC, took part in and completed their 9th MCLE compliance, enabling them to comply with Bar Matter 850 of the Supreme Court.
Pursuant to Bar Matter 850, all lawyers are mandatorily required to complete 36 units of MCLE every three (3) years to ensure that, throughout their career, they remain abreast of the law and jurisprudence, uphold the ethics of the profession, and enhance the standards of legal practice.
The MCLE Governing Board approved the accreditation of PTA as a provider of the MCLE program on September 12, 2024.
The MCLE subjects consisted of six (6) hours of Legal Ethics, four (4) hours of Trial and Pre-trial skills, five (5) hours of Alternative Dispute Resolution, nine (9) hours of substantive and procedural laws and jurisprudence, four (4) hours of legal writing and oral advocacy, two (2) hours of international law and international conventions, and six (6) hours MCLE-prescribed subjects.
Aside from Justice Carpio, the following also delivered their lecture on various topics: Olongapo City Judge Roline M. Ginez-Jabalde; Angeles City Judge Jocelyn P. Gamboa-Delos Santos; Caloocan City Prosecutor Othello M. Mendoza II; Attorneys Ma.Tanya Karina A. Lat, Rosario R. Olivas, Nelson S. Gargoles, Maisara C. Dandamun-Latiph, Julius Anthony R. Omila, Brenda Jay A. Mendoza, Froilyn P. Doyaoen-Pagayatan, and Eugene L. De Jesus.
The MCLE activity was led by CI Chancellor Atty. Noemi B. Alcala-Garcia and Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth Pableo, with support from the Department of Finance and other offices of the PTA.
Justice Antonio T. Carpio (middle) together with Chancellor Atty. Noemi B. Alcala-Garcia and Vice Chancellor Dr. Elizabeth B. Pableo (left most) and the participants during the first day of the MCLE 2025.
“Chancellor Atty. Noemi B. Alcala-Garcia, Vice Chancellor Dr. Elizabeth B. Pableo, Atty. Brenda Jay Mendoza, resource speaker, huddled for a group photo with the MCLE participants.”