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.
Untimely Appeal: The Perils of Procedural Lapses in Labor Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling on how missing the 60-day appeal period in labor cases can cost a party the case entirely.
False Legal Credentials and a Lawyer's Duty of Candor to the Court
The Supreme Court suspended a lawyer for two years for using another counsel's professional details in pleadings, underscoring the duty of candor.
Executive Judge’s Power to Act on Defective Judicial Inhibition Orders
SC clarifies that an executive judge may return a defective voluntary inhibition order to the judge, without usurping the Supreme Court’s sole power to reverse it.
Perfecting Appeals in Special Proceedings: Why the Record on Appeal Matters
In special proceedings like estate settlement, failing to file a record on appeal is fatal. Learn the rules and avoid losing your appeal.
Personnel Actions and the Courts: When CSC Jurisdiction Yields to Judicial Review
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when courts may hear personnel actions involving public officers despite CSC jurisdiction.
How Marital Status Determines Property Ownership in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling explains how marital status affects property ownership, co-ownership rules, and the validity of selling property without spousal consent.
Land Registration: Proving Open, Continuous Possession for a Clear Title
The Supreme Court clarifies what evidence is needed to prove possession for land registration under PD 1529, and when the tracing cloth plan requirement may be relaxed.
Third Party Beneficiaries and Compromise Agreements: When Excluded Parties Cannot Claim Benefits
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when compromise agreements benefit only named parties, not excluded third parties under stipulation pour autrui.
Ombudsman's Probable Cause Discretion and Grave Abuse in Public Official Cases
Courts rarely interfere with the Ombudsman's probable cause findings unless grave abuse of discretion is clearly shown. This case explains the rule.
Malicious Prosecution: Holding Employers Accountable for Unjust Accusations
When employers file baseless criminal charges against workers, they may face damages for malicious prosecution. Learn from a Supreme Court ruling.
Presumption of Compensability Protecting Seafarers With Cardiovascular Disease
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarers' disability benefits for cardiovascular disease, presumption of compensability, and POEA-SEC.
Dual Allegiance Disqualification Renunciation Requirements FOR Elective Office
A naturalized Filipino who reacquired citizenship must strictly comply with renunciation requirements or face disqualification from elective office.
Bail and Illness: Balancing Liberty and Justice in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court ruled that bail may be granted for humanitarian reasons, especially when an accused's health is fragile, even in non-bailable offenses.
When Aiding a Principal Overshadows Accessory Liability in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when helping a principal offender may constitute grave misconduct rather than mere accessory liability in administrative cases.
Obstructing Justice When Removing Evidence Leads to Criminal Liability
Learn when removing evidence becomes obstruction of justice in the Philippines, based on a Supreme Court ruling on tampering and misconduct.
Conditional Satisfaction of Judgment and the Mootness Doctrine in Labor Disputes
When does paying a labor award end the case? The Supreme Court clarifies when a conditional settlement does not make an appeal moot.
Confessions and Counsel: Safeguarding Rights in Criminal Investigations
The Supreme Court clarifies when the right to counsel applies in confessions and what makes a lawyer "competent and independent" under Philippine law.
VAT Refund Timelines: Strict Compliance Prevails Over Prior BIR Rulings
Supreme Court clarifies mandatory 120+30 day VAT refund periods; late judicial claims fail despite BIR Ruling No. DA-489-03.
Buyers Right Prevails Enforcing Title Delivery IN Subdivision Sales
Supreme Court rules subdivision buyers who fully paid can compel title delivery despite later transfers to third parties.
Joint Account Withdrawal Rights: Limits of Authority Among Co-Depositors
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on joint account, meaning either depositor could transact without the other's signature.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: Limits of Personal Liability for Corporate Acts in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers may be held personally liable and why certiorari cannot replace a lost appeal.
Forged Deeds and Ejectment: Protecting Co-Ownership Rights in Family Property Disputes
When a forged deed transfers family property, can the fraudulent titleholder evict co-owner heirs? The Supreme Court says no.
Upholding Drug Convictions: Chain of Custody and Evidence Preservation in Drug Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court upheld a drug conviction by applying the chain of custody rule and substantial compliance under RA 9165.
Citizenship by Naturalization: Balancing National Sovereignty and Refugee Protection
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on naturalization of a refugee, clarifying the "lucrative income" requirement and reciprocity under the Naturalization Law.