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.
Service by Publication in the Philippines: Strict Rules for Valid Summons
Learn the strict requirements for valid service of summons by publication in the Philippines, and why procedural lapses can void court judgments.
B.P. 22 Liability: Severing Accommodation Deals Does Not Erase Knowledge of Insufficient Funds
Signing blank checks for an accommodation arrangement can create B.P. 22 liability even after severing ties. Learn the rules from Benjamin Lee v. CA.
Extortion in the Judiciary: Dismissal for Grave Misconduct and Betrayal of Public Trust
Court personnel who collect money from litigants face dismissal for grave misconduct, even if they claim it was for safekeeping.
Court Personnel Must Answer Written Inquiries Promptly: A Lesson from A.M. No. P-04-1912
Court employees must respond in writing to public inquiries within 15 working days. Verbal replies are not enough.
Implied Admission: The Decisive Impact of Uncontested Requests in Philippine Courts
How a sheriff's failure to file a comment led to a finding of dishonesty and dismissal from service.
When Sheriffs Overstep: The Duty to Execute Judgments Strictly As Written
A sheriff's dismissal for dishonesty underscores the rule that execution must follow the judgment exactly—no more, no less.
Substantial Compliance with Procedural Rules: Certified Xerox Copies in Philippine Law
Supreme Court ruling on certified xerox copies as substantial compliance with Rule 65 requirements for petitions for certiorari.
Perfecting Appeals: The Crucial Difference Between Single and Multiple Judgments in Philippine Law
Learn when a record on appeal is required in Philippine civil procedure, and why missing this step can cost you your appeal.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Acquittal in Attempted Murder Based on Insufficient Circumstantial Evidence
The Supreme Court acquits a school principal of attempted murder, ruling that hearsay and unverified confessions cannot support a conviction based on circumstantial evidence.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Corporate Officers Face Personal Liability in Estafa Cases
When can a corporate officer be personally liable for estafa? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of corporate personality and criminal liability.
Partial Payment and Fulfillment of Obligations: Creditor Rights Under B.P. 22
When does partial payment satisfy a debt? The Supreme Court clarifies creditor rights and the Bouncing Checks Law in Alonto v. People.
State Control vs Foreign Assistance: The Scope of Mining Agreements Under the Constitution
The Supreme Court clarifies that foreign-assisted mining agreements under Article XII must preserve state control, not bar foreign participation.
Reconstituting Lost Land Titles: Supreme Court Clarifies Standards for Judicial Reconstitution
Supreme Court clarifies the rules and evidence needed to reconstitute a lost or destroyed land title under Republic Act No. 26.
Who Pays Capital Gains Tax and Sale Registration Costs in Philippine Property Deals
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who bears capital gains tax and registration expenses in property sales, distinguishing obligations of individual and corporate sellers.
LGU Right to Immediate Possession in Expropriation: City of Iloilo v. Legaspi
When can an LGU take immediate possession of private property in expropriation? The Supreme Court explains the 15% deposit rule.
Shareholder Derivative Suits and Private Prosecutor Intervention in Falsification Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when a shareholder suit is truly derivative and when private prosecutors may intervene in criminal falsification cases.
Overlapping Land Titles: Registration Date and Reconstitution Validity in Philippine Property Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts resolve conflicting land titles, weighing registration dates, reconstitution validity, and evidence of ownership.
Self-Defense in Homicide Cases: Proving Justification in the Philippines
When claiming self-defense in Philippine homicide cases, the accused bears the burden of proving all elements by clear and convincing evidence. Learn the rules.
Barangay Conciliation Substantial Compliance Sufficient For Unlawful Detainer Cases
Substantial compliance with barangay conciliation suffices for unlawful detainer cases, even without pangkat proceedings, per Zamora v. Heirs of Izquierdo.
Moral Turpitude and Lawyer Disbarment: Issuing a Bouncing Check
A lawyer's conviction for issuing a bouncing check under BP 22 involves moral turpitude and warrants disbarment, the Supreme Court ruled.
Public Land Cannot Be Burdened: Property Rights and Public Use in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on public dominion property, right of way easements, and possession claims over government land.
Clerks of Court as Notaries: Limits on Ex Officio Notarial Powers
Clerks of court are ex officio notaries, but their notarial powers extend only to official duties—not private documents.
Breach of Warranty: Proving Hidden Defects in Animal Feed Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on what buyers must prove to claim breach of warranty for hidden defects in animal feed.
Upholding Ethical Standards: Adultery as Grounds for Attorney Disbarment in the Philippines
The Supreme Court suspended a lawyer for cohabiting with a woman not his wife, reaffirming that good moral character is a continuing requirement for membership in the Philippine Bar.