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.
Integrity Under Scrutiny: Why Honesty in Your Judicial and Bar Council Application Matters
A Supreme Court ruling on procedural deadlines and jurisdiction, and what it means for integrity in JBC applications.
Finality and Timeliness in Land Disputes: Lessons from the Supreme Court
Explore how the Supreme Court upholds prior rulings and enforces deadlines in land disputes, with practical guidance for litigants.
Civil Liability Survives Acquittal: Understanding the Limits of Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Law
An acquittal in a criminal case does not automatically erase civil liability. Learn how Philippine courts apply different standards of proof.
Forfeiture of Net Profits in Legal Separation: Protecting Children's Rights
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies forfeiture of guilty spouse's net profits in legal separation, protecting children's inheritance rights.
EX Officio Roles and Compensation When Extra Pay Violates the Constitution
The Supreme Court upholds COA's disallowance of P5.45M in per diems paid to ex officio PEZA board members, citing the constitutional ban on additional compensation.
Bank Negligence vs Depositor Responsibility: Who Bears the Brunt of Fraud
Learn how Philippine courts balance bank negligence against depositor responsibility in fraud cases, and what this means for your rights.
Tenant Estoppel and Tacita Reconduccion in Unlawful Detainer: Samelo v. Manotok Services
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on tenant estoppel, implied lease renewal, and interest in unlawful detainer cases.
Novation Nullified: Why Payment Agreements Don't Automatically Erase Original Loan Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a new payment agreement novates an old loan—and when it doesn't, in Heirs of Franco v. Gonzales.
Binding Counsel When Attorney Negligence Impacts A Clients Appeal IN Philippine LAW
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a client is bound by counsel's negligence in failing to file an appeal brief, and limits of certiorari.
When Can a Clerk of Court Refuse a Pleading? Ministerial Duty vs. Discretion
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that clerks of court have a ministerial duty to receive pleadings; only judges may judge their sufficiency.
The Tenant's Dilemma: Estoppel in Unlawful Detainer Cases
When a lease expires, a tenant cannot deny the landlord's title. Learn how estoppel and implied lease work in Philippine ejectment cases.
Estate Administration: The Administrator's Right to Examine Documents for Estate Properties
A Supreme Court ruling on an estate administrator's power to compel production of documents believed to reveal properties belonging to the decedent's estate.
Defining Agrarian Disputes When Land Ownership Claims Fall Outside DARAB Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court clarifies that ownership disputes over land, absent tenurial arrangements, are not agrarian disputes and belong to regular courts.
Proving Delivery and Payment in a Contract of Sale: Lessons from Asian Construction v. Mendoza
A seller need not attach invoices to a complaint, but must prove delivery. Learn the rules from a 2012 Supreme Court ruling.
Stare Decisis in Real Estate Disputes: When a Prior Ruling Binds Later Bank Cases
The Supreme Court applies stare decisis to dismiss a bank's reconveyance case, ruling that a prior finding of a void warehousing agreement binds all similar cases.
Probable Cause and Estafa: When Failed Corporate Investments Stay Civil, Not Criminal
Supreme Court ruling on when failed corporate investments amount to estafa, and why probable cause findings by prosecutors are rarely disturbed.
Shifting Legal Theories in Employer-Employee Disputes: Lessons from Duty Free Philippines v. Tria
Supreme Court ruling on when employers can change legal theories in illegal dismissal cases and the burden of proof for just cause.
Regulatory Fees vs Tax Exemption: What Educational Institutions Must Know
The Supreme Court clarifies when educational institutions are exempt from government impositions, distinguishing regulatory fees from taxes.
Electoral Jurisdiction: When COMELEC’s Authority Ends and HRET Begins
The Supreme Court clarifies the boundary between COMELEC and HRET jurisdiction over election disputes involving proclaimed congressmen.
Balancing Development and Ecology: The Imperative of Environmental Impact Assessments in Reclamation Projects
The Supreme Court underscores the mandatory nature of environmental impact assessments and consultations in reclamation projects, balancing development with ecological protection.
Expropriation for Socialized Housing: Balancing Public Need and Private Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on City of Manila's failed expropriation for socialized housing, highlighting strict rules on eminent domain.
Forfeiture in Plunder Cases: Tracing Ill-Gotten Wealth and Protecting State Interests
Explaining how the Supreme Court upheld the forfeiture of assets traceable to plunder, including shares held by third parties, under RA 7080.
Determining the Reckoning Point for Unlawful Detainer Actions: The Significance of the Final Demand to Vacate
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that the one-year period for unlawful detainer is counted from the last demand to vacate, not lease expiration.
Breach of Trust: Examining Guilt in Step-Parent Rape Cases Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a stepfather's rape conviction, explaining how moral ascendancy and threats establish intimidation in incestuous rape.