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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How to Contest a Foreclosure Sale in the Philippines: A Guide from GSIS v. Court of Appeals
Learn how to contest a foreclosure sale in the Philippines, including the remedy under Act No. 3135, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in GSIS v. Court of Appeals.
Foreclosure Sale Remedies in the Philippines: Act 3135 Explained
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the remedy to set aside a foreclosure sale under Act 3135, and when courts may relax procedural rules.
Wage Disputes: Understanding Regional Director Jurisdiction in the Philippines
Explaining when DOLE Regional Directors can decide wage claims, based on the Supreme Court ruling in M. Ramirez Industries.
Perfecting an Appeal: Understanding Timeliness and Receipt of Court Decisions in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts treat appeal timeliness, notice of judgment, and receipt of decisions—key rules every litigant must know.
Understanding Forum Shopping in the Philippines: Avoiding Dismissal of Your Case
Learn how the Supreme Court defines forum shopping in the Philippines and why failure to file a motion for reconsideration can doom your case.
Contract Bar Rule Explained: Certification Elections and CBAs in the Philippines
Learn how the contract bar rule limits certification elections during a CBA's term, based on the Formey Plastic case.
Spanish Land Titles in the Philippines: P.D. 892 and Why They No Longer Prove Ownership
Spanish-era land titles lost their force under P.D. 892. Learn the registration deadline, the San Pedro ruling, and what evidence now counts.
Child Abuse and Parricide: Understanding the Legal Consequences in the Philippines
A father's brutal killing of his two-year-old son led to a parricide conviction. Learn the legal rules and penalties.
Parricide in the Philippines: Proving Marriage and the Effect of an Affidavit of Desistance
The Supreme Court explains how to prove marriage in parricide cases and why an affidavit of desistance does not erase criminal liability.
Municipal Boundaries in the Philippines: Validating Creation and Resolving Disputes
The Supreme Court explains when a municipality's creation is valid, how boundary disputes are settled, and why a 1950 agreement could not override an executive order.
Retrenchment vs Redundancy: Navigating Employee Layoffs in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the difference between retrenchment and redundancy as valid grounds for employee layoffs under Philippine labor law.
Malversation in the Philippines: When Can a Public Official Be Held Liable
Explaining when public officials face malversation charges under Article 217, and why COA audit clearance does not automatically end criminal liability.
Attorney Discipline When Misconduct As A Government Official Leads To Disbarment IN THE Philippines
When can a lawyer be disciplined for misconduct committed as a government official? The Supreme Court explains in Dinsay v. Cioco.
Eyewitness Testimony in the Philippines: When Is It Enough to Convict?
The Supreme Court explains when eyewitness testimony is enough to convict—and when it isn't—in People v. Abellanosa.
Eminent Domain in the Philippines: Just Compensation and Due Process
Learn how Philippine law protects property owners in eminent domain cases, focusing on just compensation and due process requirements.
Partitioning Property Proving Ownership AND Avoiding Legal Pitfalls IN THE Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts handle partition actions, ownership disputes, and prescription from the Catapusan case.
Juvenile Justice Understanding Mitigation AND Criminal Liability IN THE Philippines
How Philippine courts treat juvenile offenders, minority as mitigating circumstance, and criminal liability under the law.
Employer Beware Understanding Illegal Recruitment AND Estafa IN THE Philippines
Understanding Seafarer Dismissal Rights and Employer Duties in the Philippines
Learn the rules on seafarer dismissal in the Philippines from a Supreme Court case on illegal termination, due process, and overtime pay.
Overseas Employment Contracts: Illegal Dismissal and Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal of a seafarer, covering due process, overtime pay, and overseas employment contract rights.
Wage Distortion in the Philippines: Employee Rights and Employer Obligations
Understand wage distortion under Philippine law, how it arises, and the rights and obligations of employees and employers.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: When Can You Legally Defend Yourself?
Learn the legal requirements for self-defense in the Philippines, including unlawful aggression, reasonable necessity, and lack of provocation.
Overcoming the Onus of Proving Increased Risk for Compensation Claims in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on proving increased risk of non-occupational diseases for employees' compensation claims under PD 626.