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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Simulated Sales: When Continued Possession Trumps a Deed of Sale
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on simulated sales: continued possession and tax payments can nullify a deed of absolute sale.
Priority of Attachment Liens Over Prior Unregistered Sales of Real Property
When an attachment lien is registered before a sale, the lien prevails. Learn the priority rules under PD 1529.
Local Taxing Powers vs National Policy: Navotas Cannot Tax Petroleum Sales
Supreme Court rules local governments cannot impose business taxes on petroleum products under (h) of the Local Government Code.
Marital Consent Is Key: Spousal Rights in Property Sales Under Article 124
Supreme Court voids a husband's sale of conjugal property without his wife's consent, explaining Article 124 of the Family Code.
Public Funds, Private Gain: Unpacking the Unconstitutional Levy on Fertilizer Sales
The Supreme Court struck down a fertilizer levy that funneled public funds to a private company, reaffirming that taxes must serve a public purpose.
Upholding Contractual Obligations: The Binding Force of Agreed Interest Rates in Credit Transactions
Supreme Court ruling on agreed interest rates in credit sales, party autonomy, and limits on unconscionable charges.
Oral Sales and Unlawful Detainer: Resolving Property Disputes in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when an oral sale of real property defeats an unlawful detainer suit, and when it does not.
Enforcement OF Estate Obligations Probate Courts Power TO Execute Sales Agreements
Timeshare Contracts and SEC Registration: What Buyers Should Know
Supreme Court clarifies that unregistered timeshare sales violate the Securities Act, and buyers may rescind such contracts.
Proving Illegal Sale of Shabu: The Role of Informants and Buy-Bust Operations
A Supreme Court ruling explains what prosecutors must prove in illegal drug sales cases and when an informant's testimony is dispensable.
FAX Transmissions Are Not Electronic Evidence: MCC Industrial Sales v. Ssangyong
The Supreme Court clarifies that ordinary fax transmissions are not electronic evidence under R.A. 8792, but photocopies may still be admitted under the Rules of Court.
Partitioning Property Understanding Co-Ownership and Heirs' Rights in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine law resolves double sales of inherited property, the role of registration, and heirs' rights in co-ownership disputes.
Sheriffs Must Follow Auction Sale and Redemption Rules Strictly
A sheriff's failure to follow Rule 39 procedures on auction sales and property redemption constitutes simple neglect of duty, warranting suspension.
Price Certainty in Real Estate Sales: When a "Yes" Is Not Enough
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a contract of sale requires a definite price; vague terms and unresolved payment details prevent perfection.
Writ of Possession and Third-Party Rights: Protecting Possessory Interests in Foreclosure Sales
When can a foreclosure sale purchaser evict a third-party possessor? The Supreme Court explains limits on writs of possession.
Compromise Agreements and Redemption Rights in Philippine Tax Delinquency Sales
Supreme Court ruling on compromise agreements, tax delinquency redemption, and substantial compliance in Philippine property law.
Upholding Contractual Obligations: Enforceability of Sales Invoices Despite Claims of Discrepancies
Supreme Court affirms that signed sales invoices are binding evidence of delivery and payment obligations, even when a buyer later claims short deliveries.
When Is a Sales Manager Personally Liable for Company Debts? Agency Rules Explained
Philippine Supreme Court explains when an agent or sales manager can be held personally liable for company obligations under Article 1897.
Writ OF Possession Ministerial Duty VS Redemption Rights IN Foreclosure Sales
Public Land vs Private Rights: Resolving Fishpond Ownership Disputes in the Philippines
Supreme Court ruling on fishpond sales patents, public land classification, and the limits of government reversion actions.
Lump Sum Land Sales: Boundaries vs. Area Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on land sales, tenancy, and why property boundaries matter more than area in lump sum transactions.
Equitable Mortgage in Philippine Law: When a Sale Is Not Really a Sale
Learn how Philippine courts treat contracts that appear as sales but are actually loans secured by property, and what equitable mortgage means for property owners.
Loss of Trust and Confidence: When Philippine Employers Can Validly Dismiss Employees
In Norsk Hydro v. Rosales, the Supreme Court upheld dismissal for loss of trust and confidence — but only with substantial proof and proper notice and hearing.
Loss of Trust and Confidence: When an Employer's Dismissal Is Justified
The Supreme Court clarifies the legal standard for dismissing managerial employees based on loss of trust and confidence in Norsk Hydro v. Rosales.