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.
When a Lawyer's Admission in Court Binds the Client: Lessons from Chung v. Mondragon
A client's fate can hinge on counsel's admissions in court. Learn how the Supreme Court applied this rule in quieting of title cases.
Probable Cause and Judicial Discretion: Safeguarding Against Unjust Prosecution
The Supreme Court affirms a trial judge's dismissal of murder cases for lack of probable cause, clarifying judicial discretion in warrant issuance.
Default Judgments: Balancing Procedural Rules and Fairness in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may declare a defendant in default for late answers, balancing strict procedural rules against fairness.
Balancing Security and Liberty: Substantial Evidence in Amparo and Habeas Data Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies the evidentiary standard for amparo and habeas data petitions, balancing national security concerns with individual liberty.
Sheriffs Must Execute Writs Promptly: The Timely Enforcement Duty in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies sheriffs have a ministerial duty to execute writs promptly, with no discretion to delay absent a court order.
Illegal Dismissal: Employer Must Prove Just Cause AND Due Process in Termination
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that terminating an employee requires both substantive and procedural due process; failure in either makes dismissal illegal.
When a Motion to Dismiss Fails: Bad Faith and Trust Claims Must Go to Trial
The Supreme Court clarifies that allegations of bad faith and implied trust cannot be resolved in a motion to dismiss but require full trial.
Failure to Prove Actual Possession Dooms Unlawful Detainer Claim
In unlawful detainer cases, the plaintiff must prove actual possession by preponderance of evidence. The Supreme Court explains why.
Due Process in Administrative Cases: When Formal Hearings Are Not Required
The Supreme Court clarifies that formal hearings are not always required in administrative cases, as long as the respondent is given an opportunity to be heard.
Due Process in Administrative Cases: The Melendres Doctrine on Formal Hearings
When is a formal hearing required in administrative cases? The Supreme Court clarifies due process rules for government officials facing charges.
Due Process in Administrative Cases: When a Formal Hearing Is Not Required
The Supreme Court clarifies that due process in administrative cases does not always require a full formal hearing, as long as the respondent is given an opportunity to be heard.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: The Two-Notice Rule and Employer Obligations
Learn the two-notice rule in Philippine labor law and how the Supreme Court applied it to probationary employees in Carvajal v. Luzon Development Bank.
Electoral Jurisdiction: When COMELEC’s Authority Ends and HRET Begins
The Supreme Court clarifies the boundary between COMELEC and HRET jurisdiction over election disputes involving proclaimed congressmen.
Expropriation for Socialized Housing: Balancing Public Need and Private Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on City of Manila's failed expropriation for socialized housing, highlighting strict rules on eminent domain.
Contempt and Corporate Audits: The Boundaries of Court Orders and Stockholder Rights
The Supreme Court clarifies when court-ordered corporate audits and contempt citations stand—and when they become moot.
Judicial Accountability: Judge Fined for Gross Ignorance of the Law Over Inaction on Pending Case
A judge was fined P10,000 for gross ignorance of the law after failing to act on a contempt petition for years, underscoring judicial accountability.
Speedy Justice in Ejectment Cases: Understanding Summary Procedure Timelines in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court enforces strict timelines in ejectment cases under the Revised Rule on Summary Procedure, using a 2012 administrative case as a guide.
Refusal to Obey and Dismissal: Lessons from Realda v. New Age Graphics
When can an employer fire a worker for refusing overtime? The Realda case explains just cause, due process, and nominal damages.
Judicial Integrity Imperiled When Judges Betray Public Trust Lessons From Falsified Court Decisions
When a judge fabricates annulment decisions without proceedings, the Supreme Court shows why dismissal and disbarment follow.
Probating Foreign Wills in the Philippines: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to probate a foreign will in the Philippines, including the legal requirements, court process, and practical steps for heirs and executors.
Illegal Dismissal vs Abandonment: Supreme Court Clarifies Employer's Burden of Proof
The Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases and what constitutes abandonment of work.
Just Compensation in Expropriation: Upholding Fair Market Value for Property Owners
Philippine Supreme Court affirms that just compensation in expropriation is based on fair market value, not tax or zonal valuations alone.
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.
Demurrage Recovery in the Philippines: How Subrogation Protects Payers
Learn how legal subrogation allows an indent representative to collect demurrage from a defaulting buyer, as ruled by the Supreme Court.