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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Written Stipulation Is Paramount: Examining Interest Rate Agreements in Loan Contracts
The Supreme Court clarifies when interest rates bind borrowers and when the 12% legal rate applies instead.
Fixed Price Contracts: No Recovery for Unapproved Additional Costs
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on fixed lump-sum contracts: contractors cannot recover additional costs without written approval under Article 1724.
Fixed Price Contracts NO Extra PAY Without Written Approval FOR Construction Changes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on fixed price contracts: no extra pay for construction changes without written approval. Learn the rules.
Partnership Disputes: Proving a Partnership Without a Formal Agreement
When no written partnership contract exists, courts look to conduct and circumstances. This case shows how to prove or disprove an informal partnership.
Command Responsibility and the Writ of Amparo: Clarifying the Scope of Protection
The Supreme Court clarifies that command responsibility has little bearing in amparo proceedings, which determine accountability, not criminal liability.
Ejectment Case Recall of Writ of Execution Due to Supervening Event
When can a court recall a writ of execution in an ejectment case? The Supreme Court explains the rule on supervening events.
Tenant's Right of Redemption: Written Notice Is Mandatory in Agrarian Reform Cases
Philippine Supreme Court rules written notice to tenant and DAR is mandatory before redemption period can run under agrarian reform law.
Tenant's Right of Redemption: Written Notice Requirement and the Perils of Wrong Appeal Remedy
Supreme Court clarifies tenant redemption rights require written notice, and errors in appeal mode are fatal to agrarian cases.
Tenant's Right of Redemption: Written Notice Is Key in Agrarian Reform
Supreme Court ruling on tenant redemption rights under RA 3844 and the importance of written notice in agrarian reform cases.
Writ of Possession in Extrajudicial Foreclosure: No Certification Against Forum Shopping Required
Learn why the Supreme Court ruled that an ex parte petition for a writ of possession is not an initiatory pleading, so no certification against forum shopping is needed.
When Is a Statement an Admission? Lessons from a Prawn Feed Dispute
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a written statement counts as an admission and when corporate officers can be held personally liable.
Enforced Disappearance and Government Accountability: The Writ of Amparo Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies the writ of amparo as a protective remedy against enforced disappearance, distinguishing responsibility from accountability.
Right to Travel vs Public Interest: Examining the Scope of the Writ of Amparo
The Supreme Court explains why the writ of amparo cannot question travel restrictions such as hold departure orders issued in pending criminal cases.
Fraudulent Inducement and Preliminary Attachment When Allegations Mirror the Cause of Action
When fraud is both the ground for attachment and the core of the complaint, only a counter-bond can discharge the writ.
Amparo and Property Rights: Clarifying the Boundaries of Protection
The Supreme Court clarifies that amparo and habeas data writs protect life, liberty, and security—not property disputes.
Parol Evidence Rule and Commitment Fees: Norton Resources v. All Asia Bank
When a written contract is clear, courts will not look beyond its four corners. The parol evidence rule explained.
Contractual Obligations: Interpreting Intent and the Parol Evidence Rule in Loan Agreements
When a loan agreement's terms are clear, courts enforce the written word—not verbal promises. The Supreme Court explains why in Norton Resources v. All Asia Bank.
Handwriting Analysis and Election Disputes: Protecting the Sanctity of the Ballot
The Supreme Court clarifies when handwriting analysis may invalidate ballots in election protests, stressing that no two persons write alike.
When Loan Restructuring Terms Must Be in Writing: The Marcopper Case
A Supreme Court ruling on why unwritten conditions in loan restructuring cannot be enforced, and the binding nature of written agreements.
Writ of Possession Denied When Third Party Holds Property Adversely to Mortgagor
Supreme Court clarifies when a bank cannot get a writ of possession after foreclosure—when a third party holds the property under an adverse title.
Right of Way Cannot Be Acquired by Continuous Use Alone; Title or Written Agreement Required
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: easement of right of way is discontinuous, cannot be acquired by prescription or mere continuous use.
Estoppel in Land Sales: Upholding Agreements Despite Lack of Written Authority
Philippine Supreme Court rules on estoppel in land sales where an agent lacked written authority, protecting buyers who relied on the seller's silence.
Writ of Possession in Foreclosure: Validity and Grounds for Annulment
Learn when a writ of possession is ministerial, when redemption ends, and the remedy to annul a foreclosure sale.
Attachment vs. Unregistered Sale: Who Has the Better Right Over Land?
A registered writ of attachment generally beats an earlier unregistered deed of sale, but knowledge of the prior sale can change the outcome. Here is how the Court ruled.