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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Just Compensation in Expropriation: How Courts Value Land in Eminent Domain Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how courts determine fair market value and interest in expropriation cases.
Untimely Appeal and Strict Procedural Rules in Agrarian Redemption Cases
Philippine Supreme Court affirms dismissal of an agrarian redemption appeal filed out of time, stressing strict compliance with Rule 43 and Rule 45.
Just Compensation and Legal Interest in Expropriation: What Property Owners Should Know
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies interest rates on unpaid just compensation in expropriation cases, protecting property owners' rights.
Mortgage Foreclosure: When Does the Right to Foreclose Prescribe?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when the prescriptive period for mortgage foreclosure begins, emphasizing the need to allege maturity dates and demand.
Mootness Doctrine: When Final Judgments Render Procedural Issues Irrelevant
Philippine Supreme Court explains how a final and executory judgment in the main case makes procedural disputes moot and academic.
Seafarer Disability Claims: The 120-Day Rule and Timely Medical Assessment
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the 120-day and 240-day periods for company-designated physician assessments in seafarer disability claims, and the burden on employers to justify extensions.
Chain of Custody Breaks: When Drug Evidence Fails in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect after police broke the chain of custody rule under RA 9165, Section 21.
Insanity Defense Clear Proof Required For Exemption From Criminal Liability In The Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that the insanity defense requires clear and convincing proof of cognitive impairment at the time of the crime.
Just Compensation for Improvements in Expropriation: The Replacement Cost Rule
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts must value improvements in expropriation cases, requiring evidence of replacement cost under RA 8974.
Caveat Venditor Upholding Good Faith in Real Estate Transactions
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how good faith and apparent authority negate criminal intent in property takings, protecting honest actors.
Parental Abuse of Authority: When Acts of Lasciviousness Differ from Rape
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a father's lewd acts on a child are acts of lasciviousness under RA 7610 versus qualified rape.
No Illegal Dismissal Without Proof Employee Must First Establish Dismissal Before Employers Burden Arises
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on who bears the burden of proving dismissal in illegal dismissal cases.
Territorial Jurisdiction vs Ownership: Nullifying Land Titles and Resolving Boundary Disputes in the Philippin
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies why territorial jurisdiction claims cannot nullify land titles, and how boundary disputes should be resolved.
Estate vs Individual Liability: Who Can Be Sued in Debt Recovery Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when an estate can be sued and the limits of dismissing cases against individual defendants.
Can Employees Get Attorney's Fees Even If Represented By PAO? Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: employees represented by the Public Attorney's Office can still receive attorney's fees in labor cases.
Abandonment Requires Clear Intent Protecting Employees From Unjust Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that abandonment of work requires clear intent to sever employment, not mere absence from work.
Unlawful Detainer: Tolerance vs. Right of Possession in Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that in unlawful detainer cases, mere tolerance by the owner establishes possession, and ownership issues cannot be collaterally attacked.
When Judges Fall Short: Accountability, Mediation Rules, and Court Personnel Duties
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on judicial accountability, proper mediation referral, and the limits of delegating court personnel duties.
Expiration vs Non-Payment: Demand Letter Requirements in Unlawful Detainer Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a demand letter is required before filing an unlawful detainer case, distinguishing lease expiration from non-payment.
When a Motion for Reconsideration Is Not a Second Bite at the Apple
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a motion for reconsideration of a decision that substantially reverses an earlier ruling is not prohibited.
Breach of Express Warranty When Road Widening Impacts Property Sales in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that express warranties in deeds of sale differ from implied warranty against eviction, entitling buyer to refund.
Misconduct vs Termination: Balancing Employee Rights and Employer Authority in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employee misconduct justifies termination, and when it does not, in Fabricator Philippines v. Estolas.
Baptismal Certificates and Filiation: Proving Legal Parentage in Inheritance Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that baptismal and marriage certificates alone cannot prove filiation for inheritance claims, citing Family Code rules.
Moral Ascendancy AS Substitute FOR Violence Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Recantation
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on moral ascendancy, not physical force, despite victim's recantation.