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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Simulated Sale or Real Deal: How Philippine Courts Protect Property Owners From False Contracts
Philippine courts distinguish real estate mortgages from pacto de retro sales. Learn how judges protect property owners from fraudulent contracts.
Meeting of Minds: Why Genuine Agreement Is Key to Valid Philippine Contracts
Philippine law requires a genuine meeting of minds for a valid contract. Learn how consent is formed and what happens when it is absent.
Documentary Evidence vs Verbal Agreements: Why Written Contracts Prevail in Philippine Courts
When a verbal claim of discount conflicts with written invoices, Philippine courts rely on documentary evidence. Learn from a Supreme Court ruling.
Extraordinary Inflation and Philippine Contracts: When Can You Adjust Rental Rates
Philippine law allows rent adjustments for extraordinary inflation, but courts rarely grant them. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court case.
Extraordinary Inflation and Lease Rentals: What Singson v. Caltex Means for Contracts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when extraordinary inflation justifies adjusting contract rentals under Article 1250 of the Civil Code.
Statute of Limitations in Philippine Contract Law: The 10-Year Rule for Written Contracts
Learn the 10-year prescriptive period for written contracts in the Philippines, when it starts, and how the Supreme Court applied it in a stock pledge dispute.
Presidential Authority Over SBMA Awards and Limits of Injunctions in Government Contracts
Supreme Court ruling on presidential control over SBMA bids, injunction limits under RA 7227, and foreign bidder licensing requirements.
Presidential Power Bidding Wars Navigating Philippine Government Contracts
The Supreme Court clarifies the President's authority to overturn government contract awards and the limits on foreign bidders' rights.
Venue Stipulations in Contracts: Who Is Bound Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on venue stipulations in contracts and who is bound, including assignees and privies.
Extrajudicial Rescission of Lease Agreements: A Guide for Philippine Landlords and Tenants
Learn how extrajudicial rescission of lease contracts works in the Philippines, including legal grounds, notice requirements, and practical tips for landlords and tenants.
Contracts Under Martial Law: When Government Regulations Don't Mean Void Ab Initio
Supreme Court clarifies that regulated goods under martial law orders remain valid contract objects, distinguishing prohibition from regulation.
PEZA Cannot Cancel Lease Contracts Without Due Process: The Saffirou Ruling
The Supreme Court ruled that PEZA's unilateral cancellation of a lease agreement without hearing violates due process and may be enjoined by courts.
Quantum Meruit in Government Contracts: What Contractors Must Know
The Supreme Court clarifies when contractors can recover payment from the government and the limits of the quantum meruit principle.
Stare Decisis in Property Disputes: Tala Realty vs. Banco Filipino
How the Supreme Court applied stare decisis to settle a property dispute between Tala Realty and Banco Filipino over conflicting lease contracts.
When Does an Agreement Become Legally Binding? The BF Homes Case on Perfected Contracts
Learn when a contract becomes legally binding in the Philippines, based on the Supreme Court's BF Homes ruling on homeowners' rights and jurisdiction.
Verbal Contracts in the Philippines: Why Written Agreements Win in Court
Verbal contracts are valid in the Philippines but hard to prove. Learn from Romago v. Court of Appeals why written agreements prevail.
Rescission of Contracts: When Can You Back Out of a Deal?
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a party may rescind a contract, the effects of rescission, and what restitution requires.
When a Project Employee Becomes Regular: The Imbuido Ruling on Continuous Rehiring
The Supreme Court explains when repeated fixed-term contracts convert a project employee into a regular employee entitled to security of tenure.
Fixed Term Contracts VS Illegal Dismissal Balancing Employer Rights AND Employee Security
Upholding Authenticity: Validating Contracts of Sale Despite Registration Lapses
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that notarized deeds of sale remain valid and binding even if not registered with the Register of Deeds.
Life Insurance Contracts: When Does an Application Become a Binding Agreement
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a life insurance application becomes a binding contract, using Perez v. BF Lifeman as guide.
Public Bidding Prevails Miaas Duty TO Ensure Fair Contracts FOR Security Services
Control Is Key: When a Bank Becomes the Real Employer of an Outsourced Janitor
The Supreme Court rules that control over work, not contracts, determines employer-employee relationships in outsourcing arrangements.
Reformation of Contracts in the Philippines: Navigating Unforeseen Events and Economic Shifts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on contract reformation, fortuitous events, and extraordinary inflation in lease agreements. Learn key legal principles.