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.
Good Faith and Land Titles: When a Contract to Sell Expires in Philippine Property Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a contract to sell expires, the parol evidence rule, and refund rights for unpaid buyers.
Balancing Corporate Development and Residents' Rights: Defining Cause of Action in Land Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when evicted residents have a cause of action for damages against corporate developers in land disputes.
Navigating Compensation in GOCCs: PCSO COLA Disallowance and the Limits of Board Authority
The Supreme Court affirms COA's disallowance of PCSO's cost of living allowance, clarifying limits on GOCC board authority over compensation.
Demolition and Due Process: Balancing Property Rights and Public Projects in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when demolitions may proceed without a court order under RA 7279, using the BCDA JUSMAG case.
Illegal Dismissal Claims: When Voluntary Resignation and Quitclaims Prevail
Supreme Court ruling on when a resignation and quitclaim are voluntary, and what evidence employees must present to prove illegal dismissal.
Voluntary Resignation vs Illegal Dismissal: Protecting Overseas Filipino Workers
When is an OFW's resignation voluntary or forced? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on quitclaims, waivers, and illegal dismissal claims.
Retirement Benefits for Seasonal Workers: Entitlement and Computation Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies how seasonal workers' retirement pay is computed under Article 287 and RA 7641, including the six-month rule.
Balancing Housing Rights and Public Interest in Philippine Eviction Law
Supreme Court clarifies when evictions without court orders are allowed under RA 7279, and why procedural rules matter in constitutional challenges.
Misconduct and Separation Pay: When Is an Employee Entitled to Separation Pay
The Supreme Court clarifies when a dismissed employee may still receive separation pay, and why theft bars such an award.
Closure Due to Serious Losses: When Separation Pay Is Not Required
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when business closure due to serious losses exempts employers from separation pay, but still requires proper notice.
When Public Funds Meet Private Entities: The Boundaries of the Anti-Graft Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when government financial assistance to private organizations may or may not violate Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft Law.
No Separation Pay for Employees Dismissed for Cause: Key Labor Ruling
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that employees validly dismissed for just causes like breach of trust are not entitled to separation pay.
Breach of Trust vs Due Process: When Dismissed Employees Get Separation Pay in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when validly dismissed employees may receive separation pay, distinguishing just causes under Article 282 of the Labor Code.
Balancing Justice and Procedure When Attorney Negligence Threatens a Client's Appeal
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may relax procedural rules, holding that a counsel's ordinary negligence binds the client and cannot justify a late appeal.
SSS Death Benefits: Does Legal Separation Bar a Spouse’s Claim?
Legal marriage alone does not guarantee SSS death benefits—surviving spouses must prove actual dependency, especially after separation.
Regular vs Project Employees: Security of Tenure in Philippine Labor Law
Supreme Court clarifies when project employees become regular employees entitled to security of tenure under Philippine labor law.
Illegal Dismissal: Employer Must Prove Abandonment With Clear Intent to Sever Employment
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that employers must prove both absence and clear intent to sever employment to establish abandonment.
Equitable Reduction of Liquidated Damages in Construction Delays: Balancing Contractual Obligations and Fairne
Philippine Supreme Court explains when courts may reduce liquidated damages in construction delay cases, balancing contract terms with equity.
Resignation With Assurance: Enforceability of Separation Pay Agreements in Voluntary Resignations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a voluntary resignation with a promised separation pay creates an enforceable obligation on the employer.
Revocability of Irrevocable Powers of Attorney: Agrarian Reform Limits on Tenant Rights
Supreme Court clarifies when an irrevocable power of attorney over agrarian reform land may still be challenged and revoked.
Victory Liner v. Race: Good Faith Can Limit Backwages in Illegal Dismissal Cases
When an employer acts in good faith, an illegally dismissed employee may receive limited backwages instead of full backwages.
Government Employee Benefits Unauthorized Allowances Violate Standardization Laws
Supreme Court affirms COA disallowance of P10,000 food basket allowance to BFAR employees for lack of legal basis.
Perfecting Appeals: Strict Observance of Timelines in Labor Disputes
Learn how the Supreme Court enforces strict appeal deadlines in labor cases and why missing them is fatal to a party's cause.
Jurisdiction Over Labor Disputes: The Decisive Moment of Filing Claims
A Supreme Court ruling on why filing the wrong remedy — or the right one too late — can end a labor case before the merits are ever reached.