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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Second Chance Appeals: COMELEC's Duty to Allow Correction of Election Fee Payments
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when corporate officers may be held personally liable for a corporation's unpaid obligations under the Corporation Code.
Supreme Court on Sandiganbayan Appeals: Credibility Findings Bind Review
Learn how the Supreme Court limits appeals from the Sandiganbayan to questions of law, and why witness credibility findings are conclusive.
Perfecting Appeals Strict Compliance With Appeal Bonds In Labor Cases
Learn why the Supreme Court requires strict compliance with appeal bonds and deadlines in labor cases, and what happens when employers fail to perfect their appeals on time.
Annulment of Judgment in Criminal Cases: Llamas v. Court of Appeals
When can a criminal conviction be annulled? The Supreme Court clarifies Rule 47 applies only to civil cases, not criminal ones.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies in CLOA Cancellation Cases: A Property Law Primer
Learn why a landowner's direct appeal to the Court of Appeals failed in a CLOA cancellation case, and the importance of exhausting administrative remedies.
Certificate of Non-Forum Shopping: A Mandatory Requirement for Perfecting Labor Appeals
Learn why a missing Certificate of Non-Forum Shopping can doom a labor appeal and make a decision final and executory.
Perfecting Appeals in Election Protests: Clarifying Appeal Fee Payment Rules
When is an election protest appeal perfected? The Supreme Court clarifies the appeal fee rules in Pacanan v. Comelec.
Labor Appeals When Justice Outweighs Strict Deadlines In Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on labor appeals, strict deadlines, and when substantial justice prevails over procedural rules.
Perfecting Appeals: Strict Adherence to COMELEC Rules on Filing Fees
The Supreme Court underscores that failure to pay the correct appeal fee within the reglementary period is fatal to an election appeal before the COMELEC.
The Binding Nature of Counsel's Negligence: Upholding Procedural Rules in Labor Appeals
Explore how the Supreme Court addressed appeal bond requirements and procedural rules in labor cases, balancing technicalities with substantial justice.
Probate Appeals and Executor Disqualification: Lessons from the Marcos Estate Case
The Supreme Court clarifies appeal rules in probate cases and when a criminal conviction disqualifies an executor for moral turpitude.
Default Orders and the Law of the Case: When Prior Rulings Bind Subsequent Appeals
The Supreme Court explains how the doctrine of law of the case bars relitigating a default order previously upheld with finality.
Hierarchy of Courts: When Direct Resort to the Supreme Court Is Not Allowed
The Supreme Court explains the hierarchy of courts rule and why direct petitions for certiorari must first go to the Court of Appeals.
When Banks Must Answer: BSP Decisions Appealable to Court of Appeals
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling that BSP Monetary Board decisions on bank administrative complaints may be appealed to the Court of Appeals.
Due Process in Election Appeals: The 30-Day Rule for COMELEC Petitions
The Supreme Court clarifies the 30-day filing period for appeals from COMELEC rulings, emphasizing strict compliance in election cases.
Derivative Suits and Venue: Lessons from Hi-Yield Realty v. Court of Appeals
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on derivative suit venue, Rule 65 vs. Rule 45, and why certiorari cannot substitute for a lost appeal.
Laches and Diligence: The Duty to Prosecute Appeals in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on dismissing appeals for failure to file briefs, and the duty of counsel to prosecute appeals diligently.
Untimely Appeal Delivery to Courier Not Considered Filing Date in Labor Disputes
Supreme Court clarifies that in labor appeals, delivery to a private courier does not count as filing; only actual receipt by NLRC matters.
Lost Appeals When Negligence Bars Justice in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court affirms dismissal of an appeal for failure to file brief on time, stressing that the right to appeal is a mere statutory privilege.
Double Jeopardy and Acquittal: The Grave Threats Case of Tiu v. Court of Appeals
The Supreme Court affirms that an acquittal in a grave threats case bars further prosecution, explaining double jeopardy rules.
When Substantial Justice Prevails Over Late Appeal Briefs: Bigornia v. Court of Appeals
The Supreme Court reinstates an appeal dismissed for a late brief, holding that procedural rules serve—not suppress—substantial justice.
Perfecting Appeals: The Critical Role of Timely Docket Fee Payment in Philippine Courts
Learn how the Supreme Court treats late docket fee payments in appeals, and why timing can make or break a case.
Dismissal of Appeal: The Duty of Diligence for Law Firms in Monitoring Case Deadlines
A reminder that law firms, not just individual lawyers, bear responsibility for missed deadlines, and why courts may dismiss appeals for late briefs.
Navigating Appeals: Jurisdictional Errors and Lost Rights in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling on res judicata, indispensable parties, and mortgagee good faith in property disputes.