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.
CBA Loan Benefits vs Bank Policy: When Management Rules Violate the Agreement
SC rules on when a bank's "no negative data bank" policy for employee loans violates the existing CBA. Learn the limits of management prerogative.
Corporate Merger and Garnishment: Surviving Corporation's Liability for Pre-Existing Obligations
When banks merge, the surviving corporation inherits garnishment obligations of the absorbed bank. The Supreme Court explains why.
Dragnet Clauses and Foreclosure: Defining the Limits of Mortgage Security in the Philippines
A bank cannot inflate a foreclosure redemption price using a dragnet clause. The Supreme Court explains the limits of mortgage security.
Corporate Rehabilitation Separate Juridical Personality Prevails Over Third Party Mortgages
Supreme Court clarifies that corporate rehabilitation stay orders do not cover properties owned by third-party mortgagors.
Bank Negligence vs Depositor Responsibility: Who Bears the Brunt of Fraud
Learn how Philippine courts balance bank negligence against depositor responsibility in fraud cases, and what this means for your rights.
Falsification of Official Documents: Upholding Integrity in Public Service
Supreme Court ruling on sheriff's DTR falsification underscores that public office is a public trust and dishonesty merits severe penalties.
Ratification Validates Unauthorized Acts: Agency Law in Philippine Mortgages
Explaining how ratification under Philippine law validates an agent's unauthorized mortgage acts, as ruled in Prieto v. Court of Appeals.
Court Employee Reprimanded for Disrespectful Conduct Toward a Judge
A Supreme Court ruling reminds court personnel that discourtesy toward judges violates the Code of Conduct and diminishes public trust.
Attempted Estafa in the Philippines: Proving Intent to Defraud and Penalties
Learn how Philippine courts prove intent to defraud in attempted estafa cases, the elements of the crime, and the applicable penalties under the Revised Penal Code.
Accountability in Public Office: Understanding Malversation of Public Funds in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains the elements of malversation of public funds and why restitution does not erase criminal liability for accountable officers.
Timely Transcript Submission: Court Stenographer Suspended for Delayed TSNs
Supreme Court suspends court stenographer for chronic TSN delays, underscoring that efficiency and compliance with Administrative Circular No. 24-90 are mandatory in the judiciary.
Reconstitution of Lost Title: Supreme Court Clarifies Rules on Destroyed Land Records
Supreme Court clarifies rules on reconstituting lost land titles when registry records were destroyed by fire, easing documentary requirements.
Reconveyance Action Is Imprescriptible When Owner Remains in Possession
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when an action for reconveyance of property does not prescribe—key exception for owners in possession.
Verbal Dismissal in the Philippines: Why Oral Termination Is Illegal Without Due Process
Verbal dismissal alone cannot lawfully end employment in the Philippines. Learn the due process rules from Uy v. Centro Ceramica.
When Void Government Contracts Still Get Paid: Quantum Meruit Explained
Philippine Supreme Court explains when contractors can recover payment for void government contracts through quantum meruit, citing DPWH v. Quiwa.
Sheriffs Ministerial Duty: Why Timely Writ Execution Is Crucial in Philippine Courts
A dismissed sheriff shows why Philippine courts treat writ execution as a ministerial duty—delays erode public trust in justice.
Finality of Judgments: Why Second Motions for Reconsideration Are Not Allowed in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts generally bar second motions for reconsideration. Learn the rule, its exceptions, and why finality matters.
Tax Refund or Tax Credit Carry Over: Understanding Irrevocability in Philippine Tax Law
The Supreme Court explains why choosing the carry-over option for excess income tax credits is irrevocable under the National Internal Revenue Code.
Due Diligence in Land Transactions: Why a Faulty Agreement Can Cost You Your Property in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court's ruling on attempted estafa underscores the critical need for due diligence in Philippine land transactions.
Confidentiality Rules for Court Personnel: Lessons from a Legal Researcher's Misconduct Case
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when court personnel breach confidentiality and why even "harmless" disclosures to litigants constitute misconduct.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Stockholders Become Liable for Corporate Debts in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when stockholders may be held personally liable for corporate debts, including unpaid subscriptions and the trust fund doctrine.
Sandiganbayan Jurisdiction: Private vs Public Corporations in the Philippines
When does the Sandiganbayan have jurisdiction over corporate officers? Learn from the Morales ruling on private vs public corporations.
Custody Consequences: Understanding Failure to Return a Minor Under Philippine Law
Learn what constitutes the crime of kidnapping and failure to return a minor under Philippine law, explained through a landmark Supreme Court case.
Implied Trusts in Philippine Mortgages: Protecting the True Lender
When a mortgage names one person but another funds the loan, Philippine courts may impose an implied trust to protect the true lender.