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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider 'Friends with benefits?': Legal boundaries of friends tackled on 'CIA with BA'

'Friends with benefits?': Legal boundaries of friends tackled on 'CIA with BA'

Published Aug 3, 2025 12:59 pm  |  Updated Aug 3, 2025 01:10 pm
Boy Abunda (Facebook)
Boy Abunda (Facebook)

In a thought-provoking episode of CIA with BA, the Tanong ng Pilipino segment explored questions involving the legal rights of friends—particularly in designating a friend as a beneficiary and in claiming a referral bonus.

KC from Sampaloc, Manila, asked: “Pwede ko bang gawing beneficiary sa SSS (Social Security System) ang matalik kong kaibigan kahit may mga magulang at kapatid naman ako?”

Atty. Rafael Rivera responded affirmatively but clarified the legal limits: “Opo. Pwede mong gawing beneficiary ang iyong kaibigan ngunit ika-classify siya ng batas bilang secondary beneficiary. Ibig sabihin nito, pagka wala ‘yung nanay, tatay, asawa o anak, saka lang siya magkakaroon ng karapatan bilang beneficiary, in their absence.”

Host Boy Abunda followed up with a hypothetical scenario: “Halimbawa, in a situation kung saan galit o kaya’y may tampuhan, o ‘di kaya’y may circumstance na hindi niya kasundo itong mga sinabi mo—nanay, tatay… hindi pa rin pwede ‘yung kaibigan maging primary beneficiary?”

“Hindi po,” Atty. Rivera firmly replied. “Dahil ‘yung ginamit na salita ng batas ay, ‘in their absence.’”

Another question came from Ginny of Cabanatuan City: “Kaibigan ko ang tumulong sa ’kin maghanap ng trabaho. May legal basis ba siya kung sakaling hingian niya ako ng referral bonus?”

Atty answered this—Marian Cayetano, who explained that such matters rely on a prior agreement between parties.

“Yung referral bonus, it’s a contractual obligation so hindi po ito automatic. Ibig sabihin, pwedeng may prior na agreement kayo—pwedeng verbal or pwede ring written. Dapat po malinaw na ganon’ na, ‘Okay! ‘Pag naipasok kita ng trabaho, bibigyan mo ko ng porsyento.’ At pumayag po ‘yung isang partido,” she said.

The legal expert added: “Pag ganon po, may obligasyon talaga na magbigay [siyang] ng referral bonus sa isa niyang kaibigan.”“Pag ganon po, may obligasyon talaga na magbigay [siyang] ng referral bonus sa isa niyang kaibigan.”

By shedding light on scenes scenarios, CIA with BA reminded viewers that while friendship plays a vital role in Filipino culture, legal recognition of such ties—especially in matters of benefits or compensation—requires formal structure or documentation.

Alongside Tito Boy, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano leads CIA with BA, continuing the legacy of his late dad, Sen. Rene “Compañero” Cayetano. The program airs every Sunday at 11:00 p.m. on GMA7, with replays every Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on GTV.

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