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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Breach of Public Trust: Tampering Court Records Leads to Dismissal
Supreme Court dismisses cash clerk for tampering official receipts and misappropriating fiduciary funds, reaffirming strict accountability for court personnel.
Upholding Ethical Duties: Disciplining Lawyers for Misrepresentation and Deceitful Conduct
The Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for two years for filing a complaint on behalf of a deceased client, reaffirming that lawyers must uphold honesty and integrity.
Conditional Settlements and Seafarer Rights: Protecting Vulnerable Workers in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court protects seafarers from unfair conditional settlements, treating them as full satisfaction of disability awards.
Torrens Title vs. Possession: When a Registered Owner Prevails in Land Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when a Torrens title prevails over possession claims in accion publiciana cases, reaffirming the indefeasibility of registered land titles.
Safeguarding Rights: The Critical Role of Witness Presence in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to secure required witnesses during inventory, underscoring strict chain of custody rules.
Land Rights and Oral Sales: Understanding Property Disputes in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when oral sales of land are valid, and why the five-year free patent ban on alienation matters.
Breach of Trust When Misrepresentation Justifies Termination in Employment
Supreme Court clarifies when misrepresentation and tampering with records justify dismissal for loss of trust and confidence under Philippine labor law.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Are Corporate Officers Personally Liable in Labor Cases?
The Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers can be held personally liable for labor claims, emphasizing the need for clear allegations and proof of bad faith.
Loss of Confidence in Employee Termination: Employer Must Prove Its Basis
Philippine Supreme Court rules that loss of trust and confidence cannot justify employee dismissal without proof of an underlying act or misconduct.
Regular vs Project Employment: Employer Must Prove Employee Status at Hiring
Supreme Court clarifies that employers bear the burden of proving project employment status, requiring clear notice at the time of hiring.
Holding Company vs Financial Intermediary: Local Business Tax on Dividends
Supreme Court clarifies that holding companies receiving dividends are not non-bank financial intermediaries subject to local business tax under the Local Government Code.
Continuing Security Mortgage Coverage Beyond Initial Credit Agreements
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on when deeds of assignment serve as continuing security for credit facilities, and why summary judgment was properly denied.
Regular vs Project Employment: What the Supreme Court Requires of Employers
A 2019 Supreme Court ruling clarifies when construction workers are regular employees, not project employees, and what employers must prove.
Falsification of Public Documents: Intent to Injure Not Required for Conviction
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that intent to injure is not an element of falsification of public documents under the Revised Penal Code.
When Confessions Collide: Admissibility and Guilt in Murder Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on when extrajudicial confessions are admissible and how circumstantial evidence can prove guilt in murder cases.
Chain of Custody in Illegal Drug Cases: Ensuring the Integrity of Evidence
A Supreme Court ruling reminds law enforcers that failing to secure the required witnesses during drug inventory can
Public Bidding and Travel Permits: When Mayors Fall Under Anti-Graft Law
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of two mayors for violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft Law over irregular medicine purchases and unauthorized travel reimbursements.
Summary Judgment Denied When Contract Reformation Facts Are Disputed
Supreme Court clarifies when summary judgment is improper in contract reformation cases involving disputed facts and mutual mistake allegations.
Compromise Agreements and Foreclosure: Reasserting a Bank's Right to Possess
When borrowers default on a compromise agreement after foreclosure, a bank can secure a writ of possession as a matter of right.
Seafarer Disability Claims: Accident vs Illness in Philippine Maritime Law
Learn how the Supreme Court distinguishes accident-based from illness-based seafarer disability claims, and why the third-doctor rule matters.
Land Reclassification and Agrarian Reform: Balancing Local Zoning With Farmer Rights
The Supreme Court clarifies when local zoning reclassification removes land from CARP coverage, protecting farmer-beneficiary rights.
Insufficient Information Leads TO Acquittal THE Importance OF Pleading Essential Elements IN Rape Cases
Just Compensation Balancing Zonal Value AND Fair Market Value IN Expropriation
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that zonal valuation is not the sole basis for just compensation in expropriation cases, affirming fair market value standards.
Reinstatement vs Strained Relations: Clarifying Rights in Philippine Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when strained relations justify dismissal instead of reinstatement in illegal dismissal cases.