Legal Counsel for Litigation & Business in the Philippines

Atty. Celine Anne Purificacion is a Junior Associate of Salig-Bathan Law Firm, where she handles a broad range of civil and criminal litigation, as well as labor and corporate matters. Her work includes assisting in the preparation and handling of civil and criminal cases, drafting pleadings and other court submissions, and representing clients before courts and administrative agencies. She also represents clients in proceedings before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), including Single Entry Approach (SEnA) conferences, and the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

In addition to litigation, Atty. Purificacion is involved in the Firm’s day-to-day corporate work for its retainer clients, including reviewing and drafting contracts and other legal documents, providing legal advice on employment and human resources concerns, preparing corporate documents such as Secretary’s Certificates and Board Resolutions, and assisting clients with corporate and regulatory concerns before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Before joining the Firm, Atty. Purificacion served as a Senior Associate at SGV & Co., where she assisted clients in tax audits and controversies, including the preparation of position papers, replies to Preliminary Assessment Notices, protests to Final Assessment Notices, and the settlement of tax deficiencies. Her background in taxation is complemented by several years of professional experience in accounting, finance, banking, and financial reporting.

Atty. Purificacion earned her Juris Doctor from San Beda College Alabang School of Law and holds a degree in Business Administration in Management Accounting from De La Salle University–Dasmariñas. She passed the 2024 Philippine Bar Examinations as well as the 2024 Professional Civil Service Examination. Her combination of legal, accounting, and tax experience allows her to approach client concerns with both legal and commercial considerations in mind.

Atty. Eileen Kay A. Mañibo is an Associate of Salig-Bathan Law Firm whose practice includes civil and criminal litigation, labor and employment matters, and general legal advisory work. She assists in developing case strategies, evaluating documentary and testimonial evidence, preparing pleadings and other court submissions, and representing clients in hearings and other stages of litigation.

She also supports the Firm’s corporate retainer clients on a continuing basis. Her work includes preparing and reviewing commercial agreements, advising management on workplace and personnel issues, drafting legal correspondence and internal documents, and addressing day-to-day legal concerns that arise in the course of business operations.

Before joining the Firm, Atty. Mañibo gained experience in both private practice and independent legal work. She advised clients on matters involving family law, corporate law, employment law, and immigration law, represented clients in court proceedings, and handled negotiations and mediations. She also previously served as a Junior Associate at a law office in Laguna, where she worked on criminal and employment-related matters, conducted legal research, prepared pleadings and other legal documents, and rendered legal opinions for clients.

Her practical exposure to litigation began even before her admission to the Bar. As a paralegal, she assisted in client interviews, case build-up, legal research, and the preparation of contracts and pleadings. She also completed an internship with the Department of Justice–National Prosecution Service, where she gained experience in case-file organization and prosecution-related administrative work.

Atty. Mañibo earned her Juris Doctor from San Beda College Alabang School of Law and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in January 2025. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Far Eastern University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Her background in litigation, negotiation, legal research, and client counseling allows her to handle both contentious matters and the practical legal requirements of individual and corporate clients.

Atty. Cielo Anne C. Pabella brings to Salig-Bathan Law Firm a multidisciplinary background in legal research, writing, development communication, and public-sector engagement. As part of the Firm, she handles civil and criminal litigation, including legal research, case preparation, drafting of pleadings and other court submissions, and assisting in the representation of clients in court proceedings.

She is likewise involved in the Firm’s daily corporate work for its retainer companies, including reviewing and drafting contracts and agreements, providing legal advice on employment and human resources concerns, preparing legal correspondence and opinions, and assisting corporate clients with their day-to-day legal and operational requirements.

Prior to joining private practice, Atty. Pabella worked as an Attorney Editor for Thomson Reuters, where she analyzed United States procedural laws, statutes, court rules, administrative orders, and other legal authorities, with particular attention to procedural requirements and deadlines. She also conducted legal research and reviewed developments in procedural rules for legal-content applications. Before entering the legal profession, she accumulated several years of experience in development communication and program management, including work with government institutions, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders. Her previous roles involved project coordination, policy and systems development, stakeholder relations, and the preparation of public information and communication materials.

Atty. Pabella obtained her Juris Doctor from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. During law school, she distinguished herself academically, receiving recognition as a Most Outstanding Law Student from the Association of Law Students of the Philippines, earning consistent Dean’s List distinctions, and serving in several national and university-level leadership positions. She previously graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines Los Baños with a Bachelor of Science in Development Communication, where she ranked among the top students of her graduating class.

Her background in law, research, communication, and government relations equips her to approach legal matters with careful analysis while communicating legal issues in a clear and client-focused manner.