Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
Missed Deadlines Lost Rights Understanding Prescription AND Laches IN Philippine Property Disputes
Learn how prescription and laches bar stale property claims in the Philippines, with key rules and practical guidance.
Project vs Regular Employment: What San Miguel v. NLRC Teaches About Employee Status
Understand project vs regular employment in the Philippines through San Miguel Corp. v. NLRC, a landmark case on employee classification and security of tenure.
Presumption of Innocence Prevails: How Due Process Protects Against Graft Convictions in the Philippines
The Supreme Court acquits Imelda Marcos in a graft case, reaffirming that proof beyond reasonable doubt and due process are essential in criminal convictions.
Breach of Trust: Understanding Parental Authority in Incestuous Rape Cases in the Philippines
How Philippine courts treat parental authority as a form of intimidation in incestuous rape, explained through People v. Bartolome.
Corporate Authority in Property Sales: Why Board Approval Matters in the Philippines
A corporate officer cannot sell company land without board approval. Learn the due diligence steps to protect your property transaction.
Retrenchment Rules in the Philippines: Proving Business Losses and the Limits of Quitclaims
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when retrenchment is valid, what evidence employers must show, and when quitclaims do not bar illegal dismissal claims.
Oral Partition of Co-Owned Property in the Philippines: Validity and Implications
Understand the validity of oral partition of co-owned property in the Philippines, its legal effects, and practical implications for property owners.
Upholding Judicial Efficiency: Consequences for Judges Delaying Case Resolutions in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on administrative liability of judges and court personnel for delayed case resolutions and record mismanagement.
Enforcing Foreign Judgments in the Philippines: Jurisdiction and Due Process
A Hong Kong judgment against a Quezon City resident was unenforceable in the Philippines because the foreign court never acquired jurisdiction over him.
Retrenchment Rules in the Philippines: When Business Losses Justify Employee Dismissal
Learn the strict rules for valid retrenchment in the Philippines, including proof of serious losses, notice requirements, and quitclaim limits.
Understanding Anti-Squatting Laws in the Philippines: Due Process and Constitutional Considerations
The Supreme Court explains how anti-squatting laws interact with constitutional due process and housing rights in the Philippines.
Credit Card Suspension in the Philippines: Cardholder Responsibilities and Bank Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on credit card suspension rights, cardholder obligations, and when damages may be claimed.
Loss of Trust and Confidence as Just Cause for Employee Dismissal in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when loss of trust and confidence justifies dismissing a managerial employee, and what due process requires.
Refiling a Dismissed Case in the Philippines: When a Technical Dismissal Is Not Final
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains when a procedural dismissal is without prejudice, allowing a case to be refiled.
Tax Refunds for Mining Operations in the Philippines: The Atlas Mining Case
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how mining firms' 25% specific tax refunds on fuel are computed under RA 1435.
Eviction Moratoriums and Tenant Rights in the Philippines: RA 7279 and Supervening Events
Learn how the Supreme Court applied RA 7279's eviction moratorium and the supervening events doctrine in unlawful detainer cases.
Fatal Procedural Error: How a Missing Notice of Hearing Can Doom Your Motion for Reconsideration in the Philip
Learn how a missing notice of hearing can doom a motion for reconsideration in the Philippines, based on a Supreme Court ruling on procedural rules.
Certiorari vs Appeal: The Proper Way to Challenge NLRC Decisions in the Philippines
Learn the correct remedy for questioning NLRC decisions—certiorari under Rule 65, filed with the Court of Appeals, not a direct appeal.
How Presidential Proclamations Affect Imperfect Land Titles in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when presidential proclamations can defeat claims to public land by long-time occupants.
Void Titles: Land Ownership and Forest Land Classifications in the Philippines
A homestead patent over forest land is void. The Reyes v. Court of Appeals ruling and its implications for Philippine land titles.
Lost Property Claims: Why Delay Can Cost You Everything in the Philippines
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling shows how delay, laches, and prescription can bar property recovery claims. Learn the legal lessons.
When Is Self-Defense Justified in the Philippines? Limits of Self-Defense and Defense of Strangers
The Supreme Court clarifies when self-defense and defense of strangers apply in the Philippines, and when they fail.
Use It or Lose It: Understanding Abandonment of Mining Claims in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court defines abandonment of mining claims, including annual work obligations, tax payments, and the consequences of non-compliance.
Floating Status or Illegal Dismissal: Security Guard Rights in the Philippines
When does a security guard's off-detail become illegal dismissal? The Supreme Court explains the six-month floating status rule and employee rights.