As more Filipinos rely on digital tools for work and communication, questions continue to arise about the legality of electronic signatures and emailed documents.
On a recent episode of “CIA with BA,” the program’s “Tanong ng Pilipino” segment tackled two such concerns.
One viewer, Grace from Bulacan, shared her experience of sending a file with an electronic signature, only for the other party to reject it.
“Minsan, nagpadala ako ng file na may e-signature. Tumanggi ‘yung kabilang partido kasi raw hindi valid ‘pag hindi handwritten o wet signature. Tama po ba sila?” she asked.
According to legal expert Atty. Bernadette Maybituin, electronic signatures are indeed valid under Philippine law.
“Mali po sila,” she responded, pointing to the E-Commerce Act of 2000, authored by the late Senator Rene Cayetano.
“Under the E-Commerce Act, which was authored by the late Rene Cayetano way back in 2000, ‘yung e-signature [is] given the same legal weight as the physical signature,” Maybituin clarified. “So kahit ‘yung mga agreement, contracts, pwede mo siyang i-e-sig,” she added.
Another viewer, CJ from Quezon City, raised a similar issue — this time about resigning through email.
“‘Yung friend ko, in-email lang ang resignation letter niya sa HR nila. Tinatanggap po ba ito sa batas?” he asked.
Atty. Marian Cayetano confirmed that such a method is legal and acceptable.
“Yes, of course po,” she replied, emphasizing that the law only requires written notice, not necessarily a printed one.
“Ayon po sa ating labor laws, ang nire-require lang po dito is kailangan po ang isang empleyado … makapagpadala ng notice of intent to resign 30 days before the effectivity date, in writing,” Cayetano explained. “Hindi naman ipinagbabawal ang pag-submit nito in electronic form and hindi naman po sinasabi na dapat physical paper lang or hard copy. Valid and legally-binded ito,” she added.
These answers reflect how Philippine law has evolved to keep pace with digital technology, treating properly executed electronic documents with the same enforceability as their physical counterparts.
To cap off the segment, host Boy Abunda invited viewers to continue sending questions via “CIA with BA’s” official social media channels — either written or in video form—for a chance to be featured in upcoming episodes.
Airing every Sunday at 11 p.m. on GMA7, with replays on Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. on GTV, “CIA with BA” is hosted by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Boy Abunda, continuing the advocacy of the late Senator Rene Cayetano.
