Legal Insights

Upholding Due Process in Execution Sales: Ensuring Fair Notice and Proportionality

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies sheriffs must follow Rule 141 procedures for execution expenses, ensuring due process and fair notice in levying properties.

Mortgage in Good Faith: How Registered Mortgages Protect Lenders Despite Title Defects

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how registered mortgages protect lenders in good faith, even when prior unregistered sales exist.

Reckless Imprudence in Vehicle Collisions: How Courts Determine Fault

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts determine fault in reckless imprudence cases involving vehicle collisions under Article 365.

Substantial Compliance With Attestation Requirements in Will Probate

Philippine Supreme Court explains when defects in a will's attestation clause may still allow probate under the substantial compliance rule.

Preliminary Injunctions Preserve Status Quo, Not Final Judgments — Key Rules

Philippine Supreme Court explains why preliminary injunction orders are interlocutory, unappealable, and need not state full facts and law.

Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Officers Face Personal Liability

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers may be held personally liable for contractual obligations, explaining the limits of piercing the corporate veil.

Sheriffs Duty Enforcing Writs With DUE Notice AND Jurisdictional Respect

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on sheriffs' duty to give notice and coordinate with local sheriffs when enforcing writs outside their jurisdiction.

Lost Deeds, Lost Claims: Proving Real Property Donations in the Philippines

Philippine Supreme Court explains why a lost deed of donation cannot be proven by testimony alone, and the formal requirements for valid real property donations.

Upholding Due Process: Employees' Right to Notice in Termination Cases

Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that resignation does not shield court employees from administrative liability for dishonesty and grave misconduct.

Prescription of Penalties: Imprisonment Must Begin Before Evasion Can Trigger Prescriptive Period

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that prescription of penalties under Article 93 RPC only runs when a convict escapes during actual imprisonment, not while at large.

Due Process in Administrative Cases: Suspension, Not Dismissal, for First-Time Inefficiency

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that first-time inefficiency in public service warrants suspension, not dismissal, under Civil Service rules.

When Does Prescription of Penalties Begin? The Doctrine of Evasion of Sentence

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that prescription of penalties under Article 93 RPC only runs when a convict escapes while serving imprisonment.

Unlawful Detainer and Estate Possession: Lessons from Umpoc v. Mercado

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on unlawful detainer, estate administrators' possessory rights, and unregistered deeds in ejectment cases.

Reconveyance Actions Protecting Land Ownership Despite Title Indefeasibility

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that Torrens titles become indefeasible after one year, but reconveyance actions remain available to true owners.

Tenant's Right of Redemption: Protecting Farmers When Land Is Sold Without Notice

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on agricultural lessees' right to redeem land sold without notice under RA 3844.

When Possession Does Not Equal Ownership: Land Registration and the Alienable and Disposable Requirement

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when possession of public land can ripen into ownership for registration under the Property Registration Decree.

Tuition Fee Increases and Employee Benefits: Ensuring Fair Allocation of Incremental Proceeds

Philippine Supreme Court rules on how to compute incremental proceeds from tuition fee increases for employee benefits under RA 6728.

Compromise Agreements in Philippine Courts: When Settlements End Litigation

Philippine Supreme Court explains when compromise agreements are valid and binding, ending protracted litigation between parties.

Retirement Benefits and Notional Salary: Employee Rights in Overseas Assignments

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether retirement benefits for overseas-assigned employees are based on notional or actual salary.

When Promises Corrupt Justice: Ethical Boundaries for Court Sheriffs in the Philippines

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on sheriffs' ethical duties, corruption, and the consequences of overstepping authority in court proceedings.

Surety vs Guarantor: Understanding Liability in Loan Agreements Under Philippine Law

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the key difference between a surety and a guarantor, and why a surety cannot invoke defenses meant for the principal debtor.

Writ of Possession Is Ministerial Duty Despite Pending Mortgage Disputes

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why courts must issue writs of possession in foreclosure sales even when the mortgage validity is being challenged.

Liability for Damages: Balancing Official Duty and Personal Bad Faith

A public officer's official acts can still trigger personal liability for damages when done in bad faith, as this Philippine Supreme Court case shows.

Self-Defense Claims Fail When Evidence Shows Accused Was the Aggressor

Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when incomplete self-defense applies in homicide cases and why the accused's version must be credible.