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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Integrity in Public Service: Due Process in Administrative Misconduct Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on grave misconduct clarifies due process, family interests, and compromise authority in administrative cases.
Court Employee Suspended for Handling Bail Money: Breach of Trust Rules
Supreme Court suspends court utility worker for receiving bail money and drafting motions—acts beyond her authority and a breach of judicial trust.
Corporate Authority and Tax Credits: Clarifying the Scope for Senior Citizen Discounts
Supreme Court clarifies corporate officer authority in signing pleadings and affirms tax credit entitlement for senior citizen discounts despite net loss.
Register of Deeds Cannot Re-Annotate Liens Omitted from Reconstituted Titles
Supreme Court rules Register of Deeds lacks authority to re-annotate liens omitted from reconstituted Torrens titles; court petition required.
Reconstitution of Titles: Limits on Register of Deeds Authority and Third Party Rights
When titles are reconstituted after fire, the Register of Deeds cannot annotate liens omitted from the new certificates without court order.
Hospital Liability for Consultant Doctors: The Doctrine of Apparent Authority
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on hospital liability for consultant physicians' negligence under apparent authority and corporate negligence doctrines.
When Apparent Authority Binds a Corporation: Lessons from Filipinas Life v. Pedroso
When can a corporation be liable for its agent's unauthorized acts? The Supreme Court explains apparent authority and ratification in Filipinas Life v. Pedroso.
Navigating Election Disputes: The COMELEC's Authority in Pre-Proclamation Cases
A look at Cambe v. COMELEC on the proper handling of pre-proclamation cases, including the need for division-level review and the rules on excluding election returns.
Fixed Term vs Unexpired Term: Clarifying Appointments in the Philippine Tourism Authority
The Supreme Court clarifies when a PTA General Manager serves a full six-year term versus only the unexpired portion of a predecessor's term.
Bribery and Abuse of Authority When Recanted Testimony Fails to Sway the Court
Supreme Court affirms bribery and graft convictions despite recanted testimony, explaining why retractions rarely overturn convictions.
Ombudsman's Authority Upheld Disciplining Public School Teachers and Employees
Supreme Court confirms the Ombudsman can directly discipline public school teachers and employees, not just recommend action.
Authority and Accountability: When a Project Manager's Sign-Off Binds the Owner in Construction Disputes
A project manager's approval of time extensions can bind the owner. Learn the rules from this Philippine Supreme Court case.
SEC Authority to Regulate Fees Upheld to Protect Investors
The Supreme Court affirms SEC's power to regulate fees, protecting investors from excessive charges in securities transactions.
Duterte v. Kingswood: Burden of Proof in Disease-Based Dismissals
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that employers, not employees, must secure a health authority certification to validly terminate on disease grounds.
AWOL and Reinstatement: The Scope of Appointing Authority in Philippine Civil Service
Explaining Jaucian v. Wycoco on AWOL, automatic separation from the rolls, and the appointing authority's discretion over reinstatement.
Land Dispute Resolution Supreme Court Upholds COSLAP Authority and Emphasizes Judicial Hierarchy
The Supreme Court reinforces the doctrine of judicial hierarchy and res judicata in land disputes involving COSLAP, dismissing a direct petition for certiorari.
Private or Public? COA Audit Authority Over Animal Welfare Societies
When is a corporation created by special law a government entity subject to COA audit? The Supreme Court clarifies the test.
Intrafamilial Rape and the Erosion of Parental Authority: Lessons from People v. Ceballos Jr.
The Supreme Court affirms that a father's grave abuse of authority in raping his daughters erodes parental trust and warrants the heaviest penalties.
Election Offenses and Court Jurisdiction: Defining the Boundaries of Legal Authority
The Supreme Court clarifies which courts have jurisdiction over election offenses under the Omnibus Election Code.
Certiorari Dismissed: Defective Verification and Certification Against Forum Shopping
A Rule 65 petition signed by only one of two petitioners, without authority for the other,
Disbarred Lawyer's Continued Practice: Indirect Contempt and the Supreme Court's Warning
The Supreme Court held a disbarred lawyer in indirect contempt for continuing to practice law, underscoring the permanence of disbarment and the judiciary's authority.
Executive Power vs Legislative Authority: Reorganizing Government Agencies in the Philippines
The Supreme Court upholds the President's power to reorganize executive agencies, clarifying the limits of executive authority under the Constitution.
Navigating Traffic: MMDA Authority and the Limits of Executive Action on Metro Manila Bus Terminals
The Supreme Court ruled on the limits of MMDA authority and executive power in ordering the closure of provincial bus terminals along EDSA.
Ombudsman's Supervisory Power Over Special Prosecutor in Graft Cases
Supreme Court clarifies Ombudsman's authority to reverse Special Prosecutor's dismissal recommendation in public official graft cases.