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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Corporate Assets and Execution: Exemptions for Juridical Entities in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why corporations cannot claim execution exemptions meant for natural persons.
Attorney Accountability Understanding Lawyer Neglect of Duty in the Philippines
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lawyer neglect of duty, abandonment of clients, and the ethical obligations of attorneys.
Substantial Compliance Prevails: Justice Over Strict Procedural Rules in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court rules substantial compliance with procedural requirements may excuse technical lapses, ensuring cases are decided on merits.
Retrenchment and Due Process: Balancing Business Needs and Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies retrenchment rules, due process, and damages in Clarion Printing House v. NLRC.
Service of Summons on Corporations: Who Can Validly Receive It
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who may validly receive summons for a corporation, including management committee members under SEC supervision.
Venue Stipulations in Contracts: Limits on Exclusive Venue Clauses
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when exclusive venue stipulations in contracts apply, and when they cannot restrict access to courts.
Contract of Sale vs Piece of Work: Subcontractor Rights Under Article 1729
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a supply agreement is a piece of work, giving subcontractors direct claims against project owners.
Due Process in Termination: Employer's Duty to Give Notice and Hearing
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that dismissal without notice and hearing, even with just cause, results in nominal damages.
Upholding Finality When Failure to Prosecute Leads to Dismissal on the Merits
Learn how skipping an administrative appeal and a motion for reconsideration can prove fatal to a case, as shown in this Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Rescission of Contract: Balancing Forfeiture Clauses With the Duty to Reimburse
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how rescission under Article 1191 requires mutual restitution, even when forfeiture clauses exist.
Authority Matters: Why Verbal Assurances From Bank Clerks Can't Seal Property Deals in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why verbal assurances from bank clerks cannot validate property transactions, and the importance of proper authority.
The Counter Bond Conundrum: Ensuring Fair Attachment in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts should compute counter-bonds to discharge preliminary attachment, preventing excessive demands on debtors.
The Finality of Judgments: When Court Decisions Cannot Be Altered
Philippine Supreme Court explains the doctrine of immutability of judgments and why final orders cannot be modified.
Upholding Workers Rights THE Limits OF Quitclaims IN Philippine Labor LAW
Philippine Supreme Court rules on when quitclaims and waivers signed by employees are invalid and cannot bar recovery of labor standard claims.
Conditional Sales of Land: Upholding Contractual Obligations in Real Estate Transactions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on foreclosure, redemption rights, and the consequences of failing to prosecute a case for injunction.
Reconstitution Denied: Insufficient Evidence Fails to Restore Lost Land Title
Philippine Supreme Court denies reconstitution of lost land title due to insufficient evidence, clarifying strict requirements under RA 26.
Breach of Trust and Employee Dismissal: When Is It Justified in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employee dismissal for breach of trust is justified, and why procedural rules yield to substantial justice in labor cases.
Burden of Proof in Loan Obligations: Debtor Must Prove Payment Despite Creditor's Claim of Non-Payment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on who bears the burden of proving payment in loan and mortgage obligations, and when contract rescission is proper.
Property Rights vs Self-Help: Landowners Cannot Evict Holdover Tenants Without Due Process
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on accion reinvindicatoria, property identification, and the limits of self-help in land disputes.
Unlawful Detainer: Actual Possession vs. Representation in Ejectment Suits
Learn when an ejectment suit must target the actual occupant versus the lessee they represent, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Quitclaims and Continued Employment: Can Post-Termination Actions Revoke Redundancy?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when quitclaims are valid and whether post-termination tasks revoke a redundancy dismissal.
Perfecting Appeals in Labor Cases: The Indispensable Role of Appeal Bonds
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why posting an appeal bond on time is mandatory for perfecting an employer's appeal from a Labor Arbiter decision.
Substantial Compliance and Legal Representation: Justice Prevails Over Technicalities
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on substantial compliance in ejectment cases, month-to-month leases, and the balance between procedural rules and substantive justice.
Reinstatement Prevails: An Employee's Right to Their Former Position After Illegal Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court affirms that illegally dismissed employees have a right to reinstatement to their former position, not just separation pay.