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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Writ of Possession in Foreclosure: Ministerial Duty of Courts Explained
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the ministerial duty of courts to issue writs of possession in extrajudicial foreclosure, and the binding effect of prior judgments.
Extrinsic Fraud and Annulment of Judgment: What Litigants Must Know
The Supreme Court clarifies that a lawyer's negligence is not extrinsic fraud, and explains the strict requirements for annulling a final judgment under Rule 47.
Extrinsic Fraud in Legal Redemption: When Final Judgments Can Be Annulled
The Supreme Court clarifies when extrinsic fraud justifies annulling a final judgment in legal redemption cases, protecting property rights.
Extrinsic Fraud and Road Lots: When Final Judgments in Property Disputes Stand
The Supreme Court clarifies when extrinsic fraud justifies annulling a final judgment in property disputes, using a road lots redemption case.
Equitable Mortgage: Execution and Reconveyance of Property Explained
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how courts must execute judgments involving equitable mortgages, emphasizing reconveyance over payment of fair market value.
Losing the Right to Appeal: Understanding Finality of Judgments in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a convicted person who misses the 15-day appeal period loses the right to appeal—and why counsel's negligence binds the client.
Belated Appeal in Criminal Cases: Finality of Judgment and the Right to Appeal
A belated notice of appeal in a criminal case results in finality of judgment. This article explains the rules and exceptions.
Upholding THE Rule OF LAW THE Imperative OF Executing Final Judgments AND Addressing Judicial Delay
Clarifying Final Judgments Ensuring TAX Refunds Reflect Court Intent
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified a final judgment's dispositive portion to include all tax refund cases, ensuring the court's true intent prevails.
Finality of Judgments in Mining Permit Disputes: Stability Over Relitigation
The Supreme Court affirms that final and executory decisions in mining disputes cannot be relitigated, upholding the doctrine of immutability of judgment.
Death of Accused Pending Appeal Extinguishes Criminal Liability and Civil Liability Ex Delicto
The Supreme Court clarifies that an accused's death before final judgment extinguishes criminal liability and civil liability arising from the offense.
Forum Shopping and Government Funds: Rallos v. City of Cebu on Execution of Judgments
The Supreme Court dismisses a contempt petition for forum shopping and clarifies rules on executing money judgments against local governments.
Finality vs Fairness: How Illegal Dismissal Awards Are Computed Up to Final Judgment
The Supreme Court clarifies that backwages and separation pay in illegal dismissal cases are computed up to finality of judgment, not just the labor arbiter's decision date.
Res Judicata Bars NHA From Relitigating Bad Faith in Land Expropriation Case
The Supreme Court rules that conclusiveness of judgment prevents the NHA from re-arguing ownership and bad faith issues already settled in prior final cases.
Reviving Judgments: The Doctrine of Suspended Prescription in Contract Disputes
When a debtor's own actions block execution, the five-year period to enforce a judgment by motion may be suspended.
Protecting Marital Integrity When a Prior Spouse Can Challenge a Bigamous Marriage
A prior spouse can ask Philippine courts to recognize a foreign judgment nullifying a bigamous marriage, protecting marital integrity.
Expropriation and Summary Judgment: Protecting Just Compensation in Philippine Condemnation Cases
When can summary judgment decide just compensation in expropriation cases? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules and protects landowners' rights.
Final Judgments and Supervening Events: When Execution Cannot Be Stopped
A sale of property after judgment finality does not automatically stop execution. The Supreme Court explains the limits of supervening events.
Final Judgment vs Supervening Events: When Execution Can Be Stopped
The Supreme Court explains when a supervening event can stop execution of a final judgment, using a partition case as example.
Fair Compensation in Land Reform: Upholding Valuation Standards in Agrarian Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that courts must follow DAR valuation formulas in agrarian reform cases, not subjective judgments.
Motion for Reconsideration Cannot Raise New Issues, High Court Rules
Supreme Court reiterates that new arguments raised for the first time in a motion for reconsideration are deemed waived, affirming finality of judgments.
Possession vs Ownership in Ejectment Cases: The Rule on Supervening Events
Learn how the Supreme Court treats claims of ownership acquired after an unlawful detainer judgment, and why possession remains the sole issue in ejectment cases.
Finality of Judgments: Repeated Motions for Reconsideration in Administrative Cases
Supreme Court warns against filing repeated motions for reconsideration in administrative cases, affirming the doctrine of finality of judgments.
Judgment in Absentia: Balancing Due Process and Timely Justice in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when judgment in absentia is valid, the limits of appeal, and how courts correct illegal penalties despite finality.