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.
Upholding Corporate Stability When Courts Defer to Internal Disputes
How the Supreme Court resolved a family corporate dispute by deferring to amended pleadings, docket fee rules, and the limits of injunctions.
Authority TO Sell Written Power IS KEY To Valid Real Estate Transactions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Estate of Lino Olaguer clarifies when a written power of attorney is required for valid real estate sales.
Venue Rules in Personal Actions: Why the Principal Plaintiff's Residence Matters
Supreme Court clarifies venue rules for personal actions, emphasizing the principal plaintiff's residence determines proper venue, not nominal co-plaintiffs.
Upholding Due Process for Workers: When Business Closure Is a Subterfuge
Business closures must be bona fide. The Supreme Court explains when a simulated shutdown becomes illegal dismissal.
Exterior vs Interior Contract Interpretation and Obligations in Philippine Law
Supreme Court rules on contract interpretation: plain meaning controls unless ambiguity exists, and obscurity cannot favor the drafting party.
Contempt of Court: Due Process and Just Penalties in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the proper procedure and penalties for indirect contempt, emphasizing due process rights.
Altered Checks and Holder in Due Course Protection Under the Negotiable Instruments Law
Supreme Court ruling on drawee bank liability for altered checks and holder in due course protection under the Negotiable Instruments Law.
Reconstitution of Lost Titles: Proving Loss of Owner's Duplicate and ROD Records
Supreme Court clarifies what evidence suffices to reconstitute a lost or destroyed certificate of title under Republic Act No. 26.
Unconscionable Interest Rates: Protecting Borrowers From Excessive Loan Costs
The Supreme Court affirms that monthly interest rates of 5% to 7% are unconscionable and may be reduced to 12% per annum.
Freelance or Employee? The Test for Newspaper Columnists in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a newspaper columnist is an independent contractor, not an employee, under the control test.
Rape Conviction Affirmed on Credibility of Testimony and Weak Defense of Alibi
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction, explaining why credible eyewitness testimony outweighs alibi and denial in Philippine criminal cases.
Breach of Duty and Mitigating Circumstances: Balancing Justice and Compassion in Public Service Misconduct
When a clerk of court faces dismissal for fund shortages, mitigating circumstances can temper the penalty. The Supreme Court explains how.
Abuse of Rights in Philippine Law: When Filing Complaints Is Not a Basis for Damages
The Supreme Court clarifies the abuse of rights principle, ruling that filing labor complaints and seeking government action without malice is not actionable.
Lis Pendens and Fraudulent Patents: When a Buyer Is Not in Good Faith
The Supreme Court explains when a notice of lis pendens defeats a claim of good faith purchase of registered land.
Upholding Ethical Conduct: Infidelity as Grounds for Attorney Disbarment in the Philippines
The Supreme Court rules on infidelity as grounds for attorney disbarment, clarifying ethical standards for lawyers and judges in the Philippines.
Private Land Rights Prevail Over Free Patent Applications Understanding Land Ownership Disputes
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled that private land cannot be subjected to free patent applications, settling a decades-long ownership dispute.
Upholding Workers' Rights: The Extent of DOLE's Authority and the Validity of Labor Standards Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies the scope of DOLE's visitorial powers over labor standards claims and the limits of its jurisdiction.
Nemo Dat Quod Non Habet and Tenancy Rights in Philippine Land Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a tenant's right of redemption requires proof of a valid tenancy relationship with the true landowner.
Entrapment vs Illegal Arrest: Warrantless Arrests in Drug Cases
When is a warrantless arrest in a buy-bust operation valid? The Supreme Court explains the difference between entrapment and illegal arrest.
Parol Evidence Rule and Oral Agreements in Lease Contracts: Key Lessons from Amoncio v. Benedicto
When can oral agreements modify a written lease? The Supreme Court explains the parol evidence rule and its exceptions.
Compulsory Retirement at 60: When Company Policy Violates Security of Tenure
A company policy forcing retirement at 60 can be illegal dismissal. The Supreme Court explains the difference between voluntary and compulsory retirement.
Voice Recognition as Valid Identification in Robbery with Homicide Cases
How Philippine courts accept voice identification and physical familiarity as proof of identity in robbery with homicide cases.
Habitual Tardiness in Public Service: Defining Limits and Upholding Accountability
The Supreme Court clarifies what constitutes habitual tardiness in government service and why traffic is not a valid excuse.
Protecting the Innocent: Statutory Rape and the Incapacity of Minors to Consent
Explaining statutory rape under Philippine law, why minors cannot legally consent, and how courts protect child victims.