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.
Lessor Liability for Lease Violations: Trespass in Fact vs Trespass in Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a lessor is liable for third-party disturbances of a lessee's possession, distinguishing trespass in fact from trespass in law.
Bound by Your Lawyer’s Mistakes? Client Responsibility Under Philippine Law
Philippine courts generally hold clients responsible for their lawyers' negligence. Only gross negligence that deprives a client of due process warrants relief.
When Can Loss of Trust Justify Employee Dismissal in Philippine Labor Law
Loss of trust justifies dismissal only for positions of confidence and must rest on substantial evidence, not mere suspicion.
Upholding Judicial Ethics: Lessons from Administrative Cases Against Baguio City Judges
The Supreme Court's consolidated ruling on administrative cases against Baguio City RTC judges clarifies standards of judicial conduct, propriety, and accountability.
Proving Land Ownership in the Philippines: Tax Declarations and Cadastral Surveys in Quieting Title Cases
Learn how tax declarations, cadastral surveys, and possession determine ownership in Philippine land disputes, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Attorney Negligence: Failing to File a Pre-Trial Brief in the Philippines
When a lawyer's failure to file a pre-trial brief leads to case dismissal, the Supreme Court may impose disciplinary sanctions. Learn the rules.
Upholding Integrity: Public Officials Held Accountable for Dishonesty and Misconduct
The Supreme Court reinstates the Ombudsman's ruling against a school principal for dishonesty, grave misconduct, and prohibited private practice under R.A. 6713.
Default Doesn't Mean Victory: Why Plaintiffs Still Need Evidence in Philippine Courts
A default order doesn't guarantee a win. Philippine courts still require plaintiffs to prove their case by preponderance of evidence.
Tax Declaration vs. Deed of Sale: Proving Land Ownership in the Philippines
A tax declaration annotation is not proof of land ownership. Learn what documents legally establish title under Philippine law.
Navigating Agrarian Disputes: DARAB Jurisdiction and Tenancy Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when DARAB has jurisdiction over agrarian disputes and what evidence proves tenancy and ownership rights.
Transferee Recruitment Agency Liability and OFW Claims: The Grand Placement Case
Explaining when a transferee recruitment agency assumes liability for OFW claims, and why evidence still matters in monetary disputes.
Meeting of Minds in Property Sales: Why Price Agreement Is Key in Philippine Contracts
Philippine contract law requires a meeting of minds on price for property sales. Learn from a Supreme Court ruling on consent and judicial ethics.
Estafa Liability and the Need for Pre-Existing Fraudulent Intent in Business Dealings
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that estafa requires false pretenses made before or simultaneously with the fraud, not mere subsequent breach.
Administrative Accountability: When Can You File a Complaint Against a Philippine Court Employee
Learn when a complaint against court personnel prospers or fails, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Mikrostar Industrial Corporation v. Mabalot.
Oral Loan Agreements in the Philippines: When a Verbal Promise Is Legally Binding
Oral loan agreements can be enforceable in the Philippines. Learn the rules, evidence needed, and key Supreme Court ruling on verbal contracts.
Limits of Ombudsman Discretion When Clarificatory Hearings Are Not Mandatory
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when the Ombudsman may skip clarificatory hearings in preliminary investigations without abusing discretion.
Preventive Suspension of Court Personnel: The Case of Maripi Apolonio
Explaining preventive suspension for court personnel facing criminal charges, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in De Guzman v. Apolonio.
VAT Refund Claims: Proving Input Tax Payments With Proper Documentation
Tax refund claims fail without proper evidence. Learn the documentation rules from a Supreme Court case on input VAT refunds.
Establishing Ownership: The Decisive Role of Documentary Evidence Over Testimonial Claims in Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why documentary evidence outweighs testimonial claims in land registration cases.
Advance Payments and Government Contracts: Fiscal Responsibility in Infrastructure Projects
Supreme Court ruling on advance payments in government infrastructure contracts and the limits under PD 1594 and PD 1445.
Possession vs Ownership: How Tax Declarations and Evidence Resolve Land Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling explains how tax declarations and evidence of possession resolve land disputes, and why paper title alone may not win the case.
Reckless Imprudence and Damages in Vehicular Homicide: Key Rules from Nueva España
The Supreme Court clarifies reckless imprudence liability, proof of damages, and employer subsidiary liability in vehicular homicide cases.
Vehicular Homicide vs. Murder: Intent and the Use of a Motor Vehicle
When does a fatal vehicular incident become murder? The Mallari case shows how intent and the use of a motor vehicle elevate the crime.
Ejectment Suits MTC Jurisdiction Prevails Despite Ownership Claims
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that MTC retains jurisdiction over ejectment cases even when defendants raise ownership or agrarian reform claims.