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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Ombudsman's Discretion, Due Process, and Probable Cause in Public Funds Misuse Cases
The Supreme Court affirms the Ombudsman's wide discretion in finding probable cause for misuse of public funds, explaining due process limits in preliminary investigations.
Corporate Rehabilitation in the Philippines: Navigating Stay Orders and Foreign Judgments
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how a rehabilitation stay order suspends enforcement of foreign judgments against a distressed corporation.
Legal Standing and Public Interest Litigation: When Can You Sue the Government in the Philippines?
The Supreme Court explains legal standing, hierarchy of courts, and when citizens may sue the government in this 2023 mandamus ruling.
Mandamus and Inordinate Delay in Government Investigations: Key Lessons from Baquirin v. Dela Rosa
The Supreme Court clarifies when mandamus can compel government investigation of alleged extrajudicial killings, and why standing and hierarchy of courts matter.
Ancestral Land Rights in Baguio City: IPRA, Townsite Reservations, and the Cariño Doctrine
The Supreme Court clarifies IPRA's application to Baguio City, ancestral land claims, and the Cariño doctrine on native title.
PAO Conflict of Interest Rule Upheld: What the Supreme Court Ruling Means
The Supreme Court upheld Section 22, Canon III of the CPRA, limiting conflict of interest imputation among PAO lawyers. Learn the implications.
Disbarment for Defrauding Clients: Lessons from Dizon v. Trinidad-Radoc
When lawyers fabricate cases and misappropriate client funds, the Supreme Court does not hesitate to impose the ultimate penalty of disbarment.
Due Process in Tax Assessments: When BIR Service of Notices Fails
Supreme Court voids BIR deficiency assessments served on unauthorized persons, stressing strict due process rules in tax collection.
When Is a Seafarer's Injury Work-Related? The Arguilles Case Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies when an off-duty injury on board a vessel is compensable, applying the bunkhouse rule and POEA-SEC standards.
Labor-Only Contracting vs Legitimate Job Contracting: Key Distinctions and Employer Responsibilities
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between labor-only contracting and legitimate job contracting, and the employer liabilities that follow.
Insurance Claims and Excluded Risks: Understanding Insurrection and Rebellion
When do violent attacks fall under excluded insurance risks like insurrection or rebellion? The Supreme Court clarifies in Platinum Group Metals Corp. v. Mercantile Insurance.
Local Tax Assessments After Corporate Restructuring: Who Pays?
Supreme Court rules on who bears local business tax liability when a government corporation's operations transfer by law to another entity.
Perpetuation of Testimony: Balancing Due Process and Preventing Fishing Expeditions
The Supreme Court clarifies when perpetuation of testimony is allowed, protecting due process and barring fishing expeditions.
Red-Tagging and the Writ of Amparo: Protecting Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when red-tagging can justify a writ of amparo, reversing a trial court's outright dismissal of an activist's petition.
Jurisdiction and Due Process: When Courts Cannot Act Without Serving Notice
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when courts acquire jurisdiction over respondents and why proper service of notice is essential to due process.
Understanding Special Leave Benefits for Women: Insights From a Landmark Supreme Court Case
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the procedural requirements for special leave benefits for women, emphasizing the importance of the three-day notice rule in motions.
Employee Theft in the Philippines: Legal Consequences and Prevention
A Supreme Court ruling on a court clerk who stole PHP 277,000 explains the legal consequences of employee theft in the Philippines and how employers can prevent it.
Judicial Clemency in the Philippines: When a Dismissed Judge Can Be Forgiven
The Supreme Court explains the rules on judicial clemency and when a dismissed judge may recover retirement benefits.
Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal of Court Clerk for Theft of Court Funds
Court personnel who steal from court collections face dismissal, forfeiture of benefits, and disqualification from public office.
Attorney Disbarment When Online Conduct Violates Professional Ethics in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when government lawyers face disbarment for official acts under new CPRA guidelines.
Attorney Disbarment When Dishonesty AND Neglect Lead TO Loss OF Legal License
The Supreme Court disbarred Atty. Lorenzo Gadon for profane, misogynistic language against a journalist, reaffirming that lawyers must uphold dignity in public and private life.
Ombudsman Jurisdiction Over GOCCs: What You Need to Know
The Supreme Court clarifies that the Ombudsman has jurisdiction over officials of GOCCs without original charters, expanding anti-graft oversight.
Grave Misconduct vs. Simple Neglect: When Can Philippine Officials Be Dismissed?
The Supreme Court clarifies when a public official may be dismissed for grave misconduct and how substantial evidence shapes administrative cases.
Combating Human Trafficking: The State's Burden to Prove Trafficking for Prostitution
The Supreme Court clarifies the elements of qualified human trafficking for prostitution, emphasizing that actual sexual intercourse is not required for conviction.