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.
Movable or Immovable: How Mortgage Agreements Define Property in Foreclosure
A Supreme Court ruling on whether machineries are movable or immovable property in mortgage foreclosures, explained in plain language.
Tenants Rights and Landlords Title: Estoppel and Redemption in Lease Agreements
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on repurchase agreements, estoppel, and landlord-tenant rights in foreclosure cases.
Redemption Rights Upheld: SSS Bound by Repurchase Agreement Despite Procedural Lapses
Supreme Court rules SSS must honor deed of conditional sale for foreclosed property, despite expired redemption period and internal procedural lapses.
Preliminary Injunction and Foreclosure: When Mortgagors Can Stop a Sale
The Supreme Court clarifies when a mortgagor may obtain a preliminary injunction to stop an extrajudicial foreclosure sale.
Novation Requires Clear Intent: Upholding Lease Agreements in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that novation of a lease into a deposit requires clear intent, not mere inference from circumstances.
Duty to Bargain Union Representation Despite Pending Cancellation Proceedings
Philippine Supreme Court rules on duty to bargain despite pending union cancellation, labor-only contracting, and illegal dismissal.
Foreclosure vs Rehabilitation: When a Stay Order Takes Effect
A stay order in corporate rehabilitation does not undo a foreclosure completed before the petition. Ownership matters.
Loan Restructuring vs Foreclosure: Borrower Rights in the Philippines
When does a pending loan restructuring stop a bank from foreclosing? The Supreme Court explains borrower rights and limits.
Annulment of Judgment: Who Can Sue and When It Is Allowed Under Philippine Law
Learn who may file annulment of judgment under Rule 47, the limited grounds, and why non-parties have other remedies.
Upholding Client Confidentiality When Prior Representation Bars Subsequent Claims
A lawyer who sued a former client for a new client violated the duty against conflicting interests, earning a one-year suspension.
Corporate Rehabilitation Separate Juridical Personality Prevails Over Third Party Mortgages
Supreme Court clarifies that corporate rehabilitation stay orders do not cover properties owned by third-party mortgagors.
Dragnet Clauses and Foreclosure: Defining the Limits of Mortgage Security in the Philippines
A bank cannot inflate a foreclosure redemption price using a dragnet clause. The Supreme Court explains the limits of mortgage security.
Ratification Validates Unauthorized Acts: Agency Law in Philippine Mortgages
Explaining how ratification under Philippine law validates an agent's unauthorized mortgage acts, as ruled in Prieto v. Court of Appeals.
When Dismissal of the Main Case Kills Injunctions and Triggers Forum Shopping
A preliminary injunction dies with the main case. Filing similar suits in different courts is forum shopping.
When a General Manager Is Not a Corporate Officer: Jurisdiction Over Illegal Dismissal Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies when a corporate officer is really an employee, and who has jurisdiction over dismissal disputes.
Res Judicata and Forum Shopping in Foreclosure Disputes: Villanueva v. Court of Appeals
The Supreme Court explains how res judicata and forum shopping bar repeated challenges to loan interest rates and foreclosure proceedings.
Partial Redemption in Philippine Foreclosure: Can You Redeem Select Properties?
Philippine law allows partial redemption of foreclosed properties. Learn the rules, limits, and practical implications from a key Supreme Court ruling.
Levy on Mortgaged Property in the Philippines: Sheriff's Duties Explained
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that sheriffs may levy mortgaged properties to satisfy judgments, as debtors retain beneficial ownership until foreclosure.
Census Is King: Priority Rights Yield to Actual Occupancy in Philippine Housing Projects
In ZIP housing projects, the official census and tagging determine who gets the lot—not priority certificates or prior possession claims.
Laches and Land Disputes: Registered Title Prevails Over Delayed Claims
When a land judgment becomes final, it is immutable. The Supreme Court explains why registered titles cannot be overturned by belated claims.
Navigating Philippine Bank Secrecy Laws When Foreign Currency Deposits Can Be Disclosed
The Supreme Court clarifies when foreign currency deposits may be examined under Philippine law, and the limits of bank secrecy.
Final Judgments in Philippine Courts: Supervening Events and the Doctrine of Immutability
Learn how the Supreme Court defines supervening events and why final judgments in the Philippines are generally immutable and unalterable.
Is Your Organization Subject to Government Audit? Understanding COA Jurisdiction in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when Philippine government agencies may be audited by the Commission on Audit, and what this means for private organizations.
Confidentiality Rules for Court Personnel: Lessons from a Legal Researcher's Misconduct Case
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when court personnel breach confidentiality and why even "harmless" disclosures to litigants constitute misconduct.