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.
PCGG Duty to Disclose Evidence in Sequestration Cases: Due Process Wins
Supreme Court rules PCGG cannot hide evidence behind Executive Order No. 1; subpoenas must be honored in sequestration cases.
Crossed Checks and Collecting Banks: Who Bears the Loss for Wrong Endorsement?
Learn when a collecting bank is liable for depositing a crossed check into the wrong account, and the duty to verify endorsements.
FAX Transmissions Are Not Electronic Evidence: MCC Industrial Sales v. Ssangyong
The Supreme Court clarifies that ordinary fax transmissions are not electronic evidence under R.A. 8792, but photocopies may still be admitted under the Rules of Court.
Burden of Proof in Philippine Criminal Law: Affirmative Testimony vs Denial
How Philippine courts weigh affirmative testimony against bare denial in criminal and civil cases, with practical guidance.
Client Bound by Counsel's Negligence: Lessons from a Philippine Attorney Ethics Case
A Supreme Court ruling on how a lawyer's failure to update addresses and clients' duty to monitor cases affect finality of judgments.
Restrictive Custody in the PNP: Balancing Discipline and Liberty
The Supreme Court explains when restrictive custody of police officers under investigation is lawful and not a ground for habeas corpus.
When Can Government Revoke Tax Exemptions in Freeport Zones
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when Congress may withdraw tax exemptions granted to Subic Freeport locators, and limits on injunctions against tax collection.
Proof of Alienability Required: Land Registration Denied Without Government Certification
Supreme Court denies land registration where applicant failed to prove the property was alienable and disposable public land.
Dishonesty in Public Service: Falsifying Credentials Leads to Dismissal
Falsifying a Personal Data Sheet to claim a college degree is gross dishonesty warranting dismissal from public service, even on first offense.
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.
Cashier's Check as Bank's Primary Obligation: Holder in Due Course Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on cashier's checks, holder in due course status, and bank liability explained in plain language.
The Perils of Oversight: Delineating Negligence and Liability in Medical Practice
A missed surgery due to a time-zone error tests the line between ordinary and gross negligence in medical practice, shaping damage awards.
Eminent Domain and Just Compensation: Why Courts—Not Agencies—Fix Fair Value
Supreme Court clarifies that RTCs, not DAR adjudicators, have original jurisdiction over just compensation in agrarian expropriation cases.
Forum Shopping Certification and Verification Defects: Strict Compliance in Philippine Courts
A defective certification against forum shopping and verification can get a petition dismissed. Learn the strict rules from Gabriel v. Court of Appeals.
Buy-Bust Operations in Drug Cases: When Arrests and Evidence Are Valid
Learn when warrantless arrests and searches in buy-bust operations are legal, and how evidence stays admissible in Philippine drug cases.
Bail and State Witness Rules in Murder and Parricide Cases: The Valerio Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when bail may be denied and when an accused may be discharged as state witness in murder and parricide cases.
Backwages in Illegal Dismissal: When the Employer’s Obligation Ends
Backwages in illegal dismissal accrue until actual reinstatement or payment of separation pay, per Mt. Carmel College v. Resuena.
Balancing Infant Health and Commercial Freedom: Limits on Restricting Breast Milk Substitute Ads
The Supreme Court struck down parts of the DOH's 2006 rules banning breast milk substitute ads, ruling the agency exceeded the Milk Code.
Elections Held Despite a TRO Are Not Automatically Void: Supreme Court Clarifies
The Supreme Court explains when an election held in defiance of a temporary restraining order may be annulled, and when it may stand.
Judicial Due Process When Haste Makes Waste in Nullity Cases
Two judges fined for gross ignorance of procedure after rushing a marriage nullity case, depriving the husband of due process.
Double Sale of Immovable Property: Good Faith as the Decisive Factor in Land Ownership Disputes
Learn how good faith determines ownership in double sale cases under Philippine law, and what buyers must do to protect their property rights.
Mandatory Foreclosure: GFIs Must Verify Borrower Payments Before Proceeding
Supreme Court ruling on P.D. 385: government financial institutions must verify borrower payments before mandatory foreclosure.
Government Liability When Illegal Land Seizure Requires Just Compensation
Supreme Court ruling on government liability for illegally seized property, default judgments, and limits on monetary awards.
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.