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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Perfecting Appeals Strict Compliance AND Jurisdictional Requirements IN Philippine LAW
Reconstitution of a Torrens title requires clear proof the certificate was genuine and in force when lost or destroyed.
Navigating Corporate Rehabilitation: Strict Compliance vs Equitable Relief in Financial Distress
The Supreme Court clarifies when liberality in procedural rules applies in corporate rehabilitation appeals, balancing equity with due process for creditors.
Perfecting an Appeal: Why Timely Payment of Fees Is Critical in Philippine Courts
Learn why timely payment of appellate docket fees is mandatory in Philippine courts and how failure to perfect an appeal can be fatal to a case.
Due Process and Proper Notice: Protecting the Republic's Right to Appeal
Learn how procedural rules on notice and due process protect the right to appeal in Philippine civil cases.
Fixed-Term Employment: When Repeated Contract Renewals Create Regular Employee Status
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when repeated fixed-term contract renewals convert employees to regular status with security of tenure.
Conjugal Property Sales When A Void Contract Still Speaks Volumes
When a deed of absolute sale is void for lack of spousal consent, can it still be used to prove a valid dacion en pago? The Supreme Court weighs in.
Clerk of Court Notarial Authority: Limits on Ex-Officio Powers in Appeals
Supreme Court clarifies clerks of court cannot notarize appeal pleadings; improper verification warrants dismissal of petition for review.
Judicial Ethics: Conviction of Moral Turpitude Leads to Dismissal and Disbarment
A judge's conviction for malversation and graft leads to dismissal from the bench and disbarment, even while criminal appeals are pending.
Court of Appeals Erred in Dismissing Case Against Monzon: Jurisdiction Acquired Through Counsel
Supreme Court rules CA acquired jurisdiction over respondent through service to counsel of record, reversing dismissal order.
COMELEC Authority Over Election Officers and Execution Pending Appeal Rules
Supreme Court clarifies COMELEC's supervisory power over election officers and when courts lose jurisdiction to order execution pending appeal.
Union Officers' Failure to Act on Member's Appeal Is Unfair Labor Practice
Supreme Court rules union officers who ignore a member's appeal commit unfair labor practice violating the right to self-organization.
Union Members' Right to Due Process in Suspension and Expulsion Cases
Supreme Court rules union officers liable for unfair labor practices when they ignore members' appeals from suspension and expulsion.
Execution Pending Appeal: Moral Damages and Attorney's Fees Excluded
Supreme Court rules moral damages, exemplary damages, and attorney's fees cannot be included in execution pending appeal. Learn the rules.
Land Conversion Disputes and the Finality of Agrarian Reform Decisions
The Supreme Court affirms that final and executory DAR conversion orders may no longer be questioned, especially on issues first raised on appeal.
Mandamus and the House Speaker's Duty to Seat a Duly Proclaimed Representative
When can the Supreme Court compel the House Speaker to seat a representative? The Velasco ruling explains the ministerial duty after disqualification.
Intent to Kill in Philippine Law: How Courts Prove Homicide and Fix Penalties
Philippine courts explain how intent to kill is proven in homicide cases, and when penalty and damages must be corrected on appeal.
Circumstantial Evidence and Penalty Rules in Philippine Homicide Convictions
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies penalty imposition, damages, and evidence rules in homicide appeals under Rule 45.
Why Deadlines Matter in Philippine Courts: Lessons from a Falsification Case
A Supreme Court ruling shows why procedural deadlines are crucial in Philippine criminal appeals and how courts review convictions.
Preventive Suspension Limits and Employer Rights in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when employers may impose successive preventive suspensions and the rules on appeal bonds in labor cases.
Procedural Pitfalls: Why Improper Appeals Can Derail Your Case
Filing a case before the wrong tribunal wastes time and money. Learn how jurisdiction works and why proper procedure matters.
Mandatory Appeal Bond in Labor Disputes: What It Means for Employees and Employers
Understanding the mandatory appeal bond in labor disputes, its purpose, and why compliance is crucial for employers seeking to appeal labor rulings.
Only the Solicitor General Can Appeal Criminal Case Dismissals
Private complainants cannot appeal the dismissal of criminal cases; only the OSG may do so on behalf of the State.
Disbarment for Gross Immorality: When a Lawyer’s Private Conduct Ends the Legal Career
The Supreme Court disbars a Court of Appeals clerk for an adulterous affair, reaffirming that lawyers must uphold high moral standards in private life.
Trademark Infringement Mootness Doctrine and the Dissolution of Preliminary Injunctions
When a final judgment on the merits is rendered, an ancillary preliminary injunction dissolves, rendering appeals on the writ moot.