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.
Court Cash Clerk Dismissed for Dishonesty and Misconduct in Handling Judiciary Funds
Supreme Court affirms dismissal of court cash clerk for misappropriating judiciary funds through falsified official receipts, citing public trust principles.
Regular Employment vs Consultancy: Defining the Line in Illegal Dismissal Cases
A consultant labeled regular employee: how control and supervision define employment status in illegal dismissal cases under Philippine law.
Voiding Contracts: The Perils of Selling Future Inheritance and Post-Mortem Deeds in Philippine Property Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a non-party can annul a judgment and the risks of selling inherited property before the estate is settled.
Proof of Notice in B.P. 22 Cases: Registry Receipt Alone Insufficient
In B.P. 22 cases, a registry return receipt alone cannot prove notice of dishonor. Learn what evidence the prosecution must present.
Annulment of Judgment: Who Can Sue and When It Is Allowed Under Philippine Law
Learn who may file annulment of judgment under Rule 47, the limited grounds, and why non-parties have other remedies.
Annulment of Judgment: When a Non-Party Can Challenge a Final Court Decision
Learn when Philippine courts allow annulment of judgment under Rule 47, and why non-parties have limited remedies.
Bad Faith in Unregistered Land Sales and Trust Disputes: Belle Corp. v. De Leon-Banks
When can a buyer of unregistered land be sued for bad faith? The Supreme Court clarifies pleading rules in trust and property disputes.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Consent and Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Law
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Lupac on proving rape through circumstantial evidence and the limits of consent when the victim is unconscious.
When a Motion to Dismiss Fails: Bad Faith and Trust Claims Must Go to Trial
The Supreme Court clarifies that allegations of bad faith and implied trust cannot be resolved in a motion to dismiss but require full trial.
Sheriffs Must Execute Writs Promptly: The Timely Enforcement Duty in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies sheriffs have a ministerial duty to execute writs promptly, with no discretion to delay absent a court order.
Illegal Dismissal: Employer Must Prove Just Cause AND Due Process in Termination
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that terminating an employee requires both substantive and procedural due process; failure in either makes dismissal illegal.
When Power Discounts Must Reach Consumers: The PPA Refund Case
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling that electric cooperatives must pass on power discounts and refund over-recoveries to consumers.
Preventive Suspension Grounds: When Philippine Civil Servants Face Removal
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when preventive suspension may validly issue against civil servants pending administrative investigation.
Presidential Control vs Agency Autonomy: Disallowed Incentive Awards Without Approval
When can the President override an agency's incentive program? The Supreme Court explains the limits of agency autonomy under presidential control.
Buy-Bust Operations Ensuring Integrity in Drug Sale and Possession Cases
The Supreme Court affirms drug convictions, explaining how buy-bust operations and chain of custody preserve evidence integrity under RA 9165.
Motion to Quash Denial: Interlocutory Orders and Grave Abuse of Discretion
Learn when a denied motion to quash can be challenged via certiorari, and why interlocutory orders generally require waiting for trial.
Treachery Defined When A Defenseless Victim Becomes THE Target IN Murder Cases
When a victim is down and defenseless, the attack is treacherous. This case explains how Philippine courts define treachery in murder.
Untangling Time: When Does the Clock Start Ticking for Relief from Judgment?
Explaining the 60-day and 6-month periods for filing a petition for relief from judgment under Rule 38, as clarified by the Supreme Court in Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Court of Tax Appeals an
Failure to Prove Actual Possession Dooms Unlawful Detainer Claim
In unlawful detainer cases, the plaintiff must prove actual possession by preponderance of evidence. The Supreme Court explains why.
Retirement Benefits vs Other Allowances: The Refundability Distinction in Illegal Disbursements
When illegal disbursements are disallowed, must payees refund? The Supreme Court draws a line between retirement benefits and ordinary allowances.
When Multiple Shots Mean Separate Crimes: Murder and Attempted Murder in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a single ambush produces separate crimes of murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder.
Dismissal for Dishonesty: Upholding Public Trust in the Philippine Legal Profession
A lawyer's misuse of client funds and notarizing without commission leads to one-year suspension, reaffirming high ethical standards for Philippine attorneys.
Supreme Court Acquits IMC General Manager But Affirms Convictions in P116M Graft Case
SC ruling clarifies evident bad faith in graft cases, acquitting an IMC official who relied on subordinates while affirming convictions of others.
Constructive Dismissal and Contract Substitution: Protecting OFWs from Unsafe Conditions
Learn how the Supreme Court protected OFWs from contract substitution and unsafe conditions, ruling that forced resignation amounts to constructive dismissal.