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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Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Abandonment, Illness, and Employer Obligations
When does absence become abandonment, and when can illness justify termination? A Supreme Court ruling clarifies employer duties.
When Death of the Accused Extinguishes Criminal and Civil Liability in Philippine Libel Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how an accused's death before final judgment affects criminal and civil liability in libel cases.
Attorney Negligence: When a Botched Case Makes a Lawyer Liable
When a lawyer's negligence costs a client their case, disciplinary action follows. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Prior Land Title Prevails: Property Rights and Good Faith in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on ejectment, lease obligations, and why historical landmark status does not override property rights.
Corporate Liability vs Personal Guarantee: Surety Agreements in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a continuing surety agreement covers corporate debts and when it does not bind the surety.
Bouncing Checks Law: Corporate Officers Personally Liable for Signed Checks
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on BP 22: corporate officers who sign bouncing checks face personal criminal liability, even if signed in blank.
When Can a Judge Be Held Liable for Taking Bribes: A Philippine Case Study
A Supreme Court ruling on judicial misconduct shows when a judge can be dismissed for bribery and corrupt practices.
Can Corporations Hire Optometrists? The Corporate Practice of Professions in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether corporations may employ optometrists, and the limits of the corporate practice of professions doctrine.
When Can an Employee Be Dismissed for Negligence in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on gross negligence as a just cause for dismissal, explained in plain language for employees and employers.
Election Protests Must Specify Precincts Where Fraud Occurred
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why election protests must specify precincts where fraud allegedly occurred to be sufficient in form and substance.
Perfecting an Appeal: Navigating the Jurisdictional Requirements in Philippine Labor Cases
Learn how jurisdictional requirements affect appeals in Philippine labor cases, with insights from recent Supreme Court rulings.
Marine Insurance: When Arrest of a Vessel by Civil Authorities Is a Covered Risk
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when arrest of a vessel by judicial process is a covered risk under marine cargo insurance policies.
Mining Claim Disputes: Tie Points and Reconstitution Requirements in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on mining claim validity, tie points under the Philippine Bill of 1902, and reconstitution rules.
Employee Dismissal in the Philippines: Due Process and Just Cause Explained
A Supreme Court ruling shows that a valid dismissal needs both a just cause and due process — and that failing on either one changes the employer's liability.
Incestuous Rape in the Philippines: Legal Implications and Victims' Rights
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling on incestuous rape clarifies force, intimidation, and victim credibility in Philippine law.
Election Protests and Forum Shopping: The Certification Rule in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when non-forum shopping certifications apply to election protests and why timing matters.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Are Company Officers Liable for Corporate Debts in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when corporate officers and close corporation stockholders can be held personally liable for separation pay.
Defense of Strangers: When Can You Legally Protect Someone Else in the Philippines
Philippine law allows defending strangers, but only under strict conditions. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
The Perils of Delayed Disclosure: Eyewitness Testimony and Credibility in Philippine Criminal Law
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness identification, voice recognition, and alibi in criminal cases, explained through a 1997 Supreme Court ruling.
Constructive Trusts Protecting Beneficiaries From Abuse OF Confidence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on constructive trusts, fiduciary duty, and remedies for abuse of confidence in property relations.
Partnership Disputes: When a Deed of Sale Is Simulated and Fiduciary Duties Endure
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on simulated deeds of sale in partnership disputes, fiduciary duties, and bad faith withholding of funds.
Extended Leases Balancing Equity AND Contractual Obligations IN Property LAW
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on extending lease terms beyond contract expiry, balancing equity and contractual freedom in property law.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: When Can You Skip It
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when courts may excuse failure to exhaust administrative remedies, and why premature court actions get dismissed.
Anti-Graft Law: Delay in Official Action and Extortion Under RA 3019
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on delay of official action and extortion under the Anti-Graft Law, Section 3(f) of RA 3019.