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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Burden of Proof in Illegal Dismissal: Employer's Duty vs. Security Guard's Claim
Who bears the burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on voluntary resignation vs. constructive dismissal.
Proving Land Ownership: Registration, Possession, and Government Approval
The Supreme Court clarifies what it takes to register public land: proof of possession since 1945 and DENR Secretary-approved classification.
Seafarer Disability Claims and the 240-Day Rule: What the Supreme Court Says
Learn how the 240-day rule and medical assessments shape seafarer disability claims under Philippine law.
Dismissal for Misconduct: When Employee Disrespect Justifies Termination
Explaining when an employee's disrespectful conduct toward a superior constitutes serious misconduct justifying dismissal under Philippine labor law.
Vicarious Liability: When Employers Are Liable for Employee Torts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers are vicariously liable for employee torts under Article 2180, and how due diligence in selection and supervision can defeat liability.
Public Use Prevails Over Private Claims in Road Right-of-Way Dispute
Supreme Court rules that road rights-of-way are public dominion property, and private claimants cannot demand just compensation for land never validly acquired.
Eminent Domain and Just Compensation: Valuing Property at the Time of Taking
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling that just compensation for expropriated property is valued at the time of taking, not when the complaint is filed.
Court Employees' Misappropriation of Funds: Administrative Liability and Penalties
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling on court employees found guilty of dishonesty and grave misconduct for misappropriating judiciary funds.
The Lingering Shadow of Disappearance: Navigating the Amparo Writ and the Limits of Investigation
The Supreme Court explains when an amparo case may be archived and the PNP relieved from investigation duties.
Judicial Accountability: When Compassion Cannot Override Duty in Court Fund Shortages
Supreme Court dismisses clerk of court for fund shortages and falsification, balancing compassion with the judiciary's strict accountability standards.
Dismissal Based on Uncorroborated Report Violates Due Process in Seafarer Cases
Supreme Court rules a seafarer's dismissal based on an uncorroborated captain's report violates due process and just cause requirements.
Upholding Client Trust Attorney Suspended For Neglect And Mismanagement Of Funds
A lawyer’s failure to update a client and mishandling of client funds leads to suspension, affirming strict duties under the Code of Professional Responsibility.
Seafarer Rights Illegal Dismissal and the Importance of Due Process
A seafarer's dismissal requires just cause and due process. The Supreme Court explains both in this landmark ruling.
Union Expulsion vs Dismissal: When a Union Security Clause Cannot Justify Termination
Supreme Court rules union officers cannot be expelled and dismissed based on grounds for impeachment under the union constitution.
Unlawful Search by Bantay Bayan Operatives Leads to Acquittal in Drug Case
Supreme Court rules Bantay Bayan operatives are state agents for Bill of Rights purposes; warrantless search without lawful arrest invalidates drug evidence.
Chain of Custody: Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity in Philippine Law
In People v. Segundo, the Supreme Court acquitted a drug suspect because police broke the chain of custody over a sachet of shabu.
Defense of a Stranger: How Courts Assess Reasonableness in Repelling Aggression
The Supreme Court clarifies how to assess reasonable means in defense of a stranger, acquitting an accused who stabbed an aggressor twice.
SEC Approval Needed to Trade Securities: SC Clarifies Probable Cause in Securities Fraud
Supreme Court clarifies when SEC approval is needed to trade securities and the limits of probable cause review in securities fraud cases.
When Court Orders Are Ignored: Indirect Contempt in Intra-Corporate Disputes
The Supreme Court explains when defiance of court orders becomes indirect contempt, using a school board dispute as a cautionary example.
Preventive Suspension by the Ombudsman: The Purisima Case and Due Process
The Supreme Court clarifies the Ombudsman's power to preventively suspend officials and the limits of due process in administrative cases.
When a Seafarer Is Deemed Totally and Permanently Disabled Under the POEA-SEC
The Supreme Court explains when a seafarer is deemed totally and permanently disabled and how attorney's fees are computed in disability claims.
Tax Assessment Waivers Must Strictly Comply With BIR Rules or Prescription Applies
Learn how defective tax waivers fail to extend the BIR's three-year assessment period, from the Supreme Court's ruling in CIR v. Systems Technology Institute.
SEC v. Price Richardson: Probable Cause in Securities Fraud Cases
Supreme Court clarifies when courts may review prosecutors' probable cause findings in securities regulation violations.
Ponzi Schemes and the Law: Convicting Syndicated Estafa in Investment Fraud
How the Supreme Court convicted a Multitel officer of syndicated estafa for a Ponzi scheme, and what investors should know.