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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Wrong Court, Wrong Remedy: Appeals From Labor Arbiter Decisions in the Philippines
Learn why a Labor Arbiter decision must be appealed to the NLRC, not the RTC, and how choosing the wrong remedy can make a judgment final and executory.
Forced Resignation vs Voluntary Retirement: Protecting Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when retirement is forced and illegal, protecting employee tenure and rights.
Stock Dividends and Documentary Stamp Tax: Par Value vs Actual Value in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether documentary stamp tax on stock dividends is based on par value or book value.
Enforcing Foreign Judgments in the Philippines: Arbitration Clauses and Due Process
When can a foreign judgment be enforced in the Philippines? The Supreme Court explains arbitration clauses, due process, and presumptive validity of foreign rulings.
Constructive Dismissal vs Abandonment: Know Your Rights as an Employee in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts distinguish constructive dismissal from voluntary resignation, and what the San Miguel v. NLRC ruling means for your security of tenure.
Navigating Litis Pendentia and Forum Shopping: When Multiple Lawsuits Can Proceed in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when two cases involving the same parties can proceed without violating litis pendentia or forum shopping rules.
When Silence Breaks: The Power of Witness Testimony in Philippine Murder Cases
A teenager's delayed confession convicts a murderer in the Philippines, proving that credible witness testimony can outweigh inconsistent statements.
Mortgage Preference vs Corporate Rehabilitation: Understanding Creditor Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on creditor rights, mortgage preference, and payment rules under the Civil Code explained in plain language.
Ignorance Is No Defense: Death Penalty and Drug Importation in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms the death penalty for a woman caught importing shabu, ruling that ignorance of the drugs' presence is not a valid defense.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: When Killing Can Be Justified
The Supreme Court explains the three elements of self-defense in the Philippines and why a murder conviction stood despite the accused's claim.
Presumption of Illegal Fishing: What Fishermen Need to Know About Dynamite Fishing Laws in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts apply the presumption of illegal fishing in dynamite fishing cases, what evidence convicts, and the penalties under P.D. 704.
Motion to Quash Denied: Navigating Criminal Procedure and Your Rights in the Philippines
Learn when a motion to quash can be denied, the limits of certiorari, and your rights in Philippine criminal procedure.
Why Original Checks Are Crucial in Bouncing Check Cases in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies why original checks must be presented as evidence in BP 22 and estafa cases.
Preventive Suspension in the Philippines: When Does It Become Illegal
Philippine law allows preventive suspension of employees, but only under strict conditions. This article explains when it becomes illegal.
When Is Killing Justifiable Self-Defense in the Philippines? People v. Magaro
The Supreme Court explains when killing is justifiable self-defense and when it is homicide, using People v. Magaro as a guide.
When Private Immorality Leads to Public Disbarment: Understanding Lawyer Ethics in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling shows how a lawyer's private misconduct—abandoning his family—can lead to disbarment.
Executive Orders vs Agency Circulars: Navigating Pilotage Fee Regulations in the Philippines
When an executive issuance and agency circulars conflict over pilotage fees, which prevails? The Supreme Court settles the hierarchy.
Corporate Mergers and Contract Enforcement: Successor Liability in the Philippines
When a Philippine corporation merges, the surviving company assumes all rights and liabilities—even for contracts signed after the merger agreement.
Protecting Your Property Rights: Encroachment and Builder in Bad Faith in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts handle property encroachment and the consequences of being a builder in bad faith, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Valid Dismissal for Insubordination: Employee Rights and Company Discipline in the Philippines
Understand when a strike is legal and dismissal valid under Philippine labor law, based on a Supreme Court ruling on employee rights.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Understanding Your Rights to Back Wages and Reinstatement
Learn how Philippine law protects workers from illegal dismissal, including rights to back wages, reinstatement, and separation pay.
When IS Self Defense Valid IN THE Philippines Analyzing Intent AND Proportionality
Understand self-defense in Philippine law: when it applies, the requirements of unlawful aggression, and how courts weigh intent and proportionality.
Night Shift Differential Pay in the Philippines: Who Bears the Burden of Proof?
In claims for night shift differential pay, the employer bears the burden of proving payment, not the worker. Learn the rule from this Supreme Court case.
Regular Employee Status, Security of Tenure, and CBA Benefits in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when seasonal workers become regular employees entitled to CBA benefits and security of tenure.