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.
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Service by Registered Mail in the Philippines: When Deadlines Start Ticking
Understand when service by registered mail is complete in Philippine courts, and how insufficient postal certifications can protect your right to due process.
Mandatory PCHC Arbitration for Bank Check Disputes in the Philippines
Philippine banks must settle check clearing disputes through PCHC arbitration before going to court, as explained in Allied Banking v. Court of Appeals.
Self Defense in the Philippines: When Can You Justifiably Use Force
Philippine law allows force only against unlawful aggression. Learn the limits from the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Sabalones.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Employer's Burden of Proof and Due Process — The RDS Trucking Case
Learn from the RDS Trucking case how Philippine law protects employees from illegal dismissal and what employers must prove to justify termination.
Seniority Matters: Why Fair Retrenchment in the Philippines Requires More Than Just Financial Losses
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on retrenchment: financial losses alone don't justify layoffs—seniority must be considered in employee selection.
Protecting Children: Understanding Statutory Rape Laws in the Philippines
A landmark Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains statutory rape, victim testimony, and damages in child sexual abuse cases.
When Company Practice Makes Resignation Pay: Separation Pay for Voluntary Resignees in the Philippines
Voluntary resignees usually get no separation pay, but a consistent company practice of paying it can create a legal right. Here's how.
Upholding Judicial Integrity: Gross Ignorance of Law and Impropriety in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge's gross ignorance of law and impropriety, and what it means for judicial accountability in the Philippines.
Robbery vs. Highway Robbery in the Philippines: Key Distinctions Explained
Philippine law distinguishes simple robbery from highway robbery under P.D. 532. Learn how the Supreme Court clarified this crucial difference.
Duplicity in Criminal Charges: How Improperly Worded Informations Can Impact Convictions in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when duplicitous informations violate an accused's right to be informed and how convictions may still stand.
Publication Is Key: Ensuring Government Transparency and Rule of Law in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why administrative circulars must be published to be effective, ensuring transparency and rule of law.
Retrenchment in the Philippines: Avoiding Illegal Dismissal Claims
The Supreme Court explains the substantive and procedural requirements for valid retrenchment in the Philippines, and why weak evidence leads to illegal dismissal.
Security of Tenure for Tenant Farmers: Upholding Leasehold Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court reaffirmed tenant farmers' security of tenure, ruling that land sale does not extinguish agricultural leasehold rights.
Public Land vs Private Ownership in the Philippines: Land Classification and Acquisition
Understand how Philippine law distinguishes public land from private property, and the rules on classification and acquisition.
Buyer Beware Understanding Mortgage Foreclosure Risks When Purchasing Property in the Philippines
Learn from Ligon v. Court of Appeals why buyers of mortgaged Philippine property face serious foreclosure risks and what due diligence requires.
When Acts of God Disrupt Travel: Airline Liability for Flight Delays in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on airline liability for passenger expenses during flight delays caused by force majeure, like the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.
Philippine Legal Interest on Loans: When Does 12% Apply? Villanueva v. CA Explained
Learn when 12% legal interest applies to unpaid loans in the Philippines, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Villanueva v. Court of Appeals.
Stock Pledge in the Philippines: When Can a Pledgee Demand Ownership and Stock Transfer
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a pledgee of shares can demand stock transfer and ownership rights under a contract of pledge.
Forged Deeds and Fake Titles: Protecting Your Land Ownership in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts handle forged deeds and spurious titles, and what landowners can do to protect their property from fraud.
Right of Way Easements in the Philippines: The Least Prejudice Rule and Due Process
Philippine courts require hearing all affected landowners in right of way disputes. Learn the least prejudice rule from Almendras v. Court of Appeals.
Sequestration Orders in the Philippines: Validity Rules and Timely Legal Action
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when sequestration orders are valid, how PCGG rules apply, and the constitutional deadline for judicial action.
Regular vs Casual Employment in the Philippines: Employee Rights and Employer Obligations
Understand the difference between regular and casual employment in the Philippines, and learn how labor-only contracting affects employee rights and employer liability.
Final Judgment Is Final: Understanding Annulment of Judgment in the Philippines
When can a final criminal judgment be annulled? The Supreme Court explains the limits of annulment of judgment and due process.
Valid Dismissal in the Philippines: When Loss of Trust Justifies Termination of Managerial Employees
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when loss of trust and confidence justifies valid dismissal of managerial employees under the Labor Code.