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.
Construction Subcontractor Rights: Ensuring Timely Payment in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts protect subcontractors' right to timely payment, even when a general contractor claims financial difficulty.
Partial Signatures Full Liability Understanding Contracts To Sell CO Owned Property IN THE Philippines
Learn when a contract to sell co-owned property binds all owners, even with only some signatures, under Philippine law.
Hospital Liability for Doctor Negligence in the Philippines: Corporate Responsibility Explained
When can a Philippine hospital be held liable for a doctor's negligence? The Supreme Court's ruling in Professional Services, Inc. v. Agana clarifies corporate responsibility.
Moonlighting and Misconduct: When a Second Job Leads to Legal Trouble in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on loss of trust and confidence as just cause for dismissing managerial employees who engage in misconduct.
Automatic Contract Cancellation in the Philippines: Grace Periods and Buyer Obligations
Missed payments on a Contract to Sell can trigger automatic cancellation. Learn the rules from Santiago v. Court of Appeals.
Unendorsed Checks and Bank Liability: Depositor Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on unendorsed checks, bank set-off rights, and depositor protection in banking disputes.
Strict Deadlines Matter Navigating SEC Appeals AND Corporate Liability FOR Unlicensed Brokers IN THE Philippin
When is a bank liable for breach of contract in a credit line dispute? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on conditional loan approvals and the duty of banks to exercise prudence in dealing with re
Substantial Evidence Needed for Loss of Trust and Confidence Dismissals in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that loss of trust and confidence requires substantial evidence, not mere suspicion, to justify employee dismissal.
Beyond the Title: Why Philippine Banks Must Investigate Loan Collateral Ownership
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Omengan v. PNB clarifies banks' duty to investigate collateral ownership beyond the certificate of title.
Breach of Trust: When Can a Manager Be Dismissed in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when employers may validly dismiss managerial employees for loss of trust and confidence.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: Salazar v. Philippine Duplicators Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies procedural due process in Salazar v. Philippine Duplicators, Inc., a landmark case on employee termination in the Philippines.
Rescission Rights in Pacto de Retro Sales: When Can a Seller Reclaim Property
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a seller can rescind a pacto de retro sale and reclaim property from a defaulting buyer.
Hidden Defects and Time Limits: Understanding Warranty Claims in the Philippines
Learn the prescriptive periods for implied warranty claims in the Philippines, from the Civil Code and Consumer Act, explained simply.
Security Deposits in Lease Agreements: Clarifying Lessee and Sub-Lessee Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when security deposits must be returned and what lessors must prove to withhold them.
Can an Employee Be Denied Retirement Benefits for Breach of Trust?
The Supreme Court rules on whether a bank manager validly dismissed for breach of trust can still claim retirement benefits after his compulsory retirement date had passed.
Breach of Trust Establishing Estafa Through Misappropriated Funds
Explore how failure to remit collected funds constitutes estafa under Article 315(1)(b) of the Revised Penal Code, as ruled in Pucay v. People.
When Is Employee Termination Illegal? Key Rules from a Supreme Court Ruling
Learn when termination becomes illegal under Philippine labor law, based on a Supreme Court ruling on unjustified dismissal and procedural lapses.
When Can an Employer Dismiss a Managerial Employee in the Philippines? Trust and Breach of Trust
Understand when Philippine employers can validly dismiss managerial employees for breach of trust, including the legal requirements and limits.
Breach of Trust Ownership of Club Shares and Fiduciary Duties in Philippine Law
When a club share is transferred temporarily, a trust is created. The Supreme Court explains ownership, fiduciary duties, and the rules on implied trusts in Philippine law.
Breach of Parental Trust: Rape of a Minor and the Abolition of the Death Penalty
The Supreme Court affirms a father's qualified rape conviction but reduces the death penalty to reclusion perpetua under R.A. 9346.
Breach of Contract: Enforcing Penalty Clauses in Government Projects
Explaining when penalty clauses bind contractors in government projects, based on a Supreme Court ruling on DBP and PD 1594.
Res Judicata: How a Final Judgment Prevents Relitigation of the Same Issue
Learn how res judicata bars relitigation of settled issues, using a Philippine Supreme Court case on a disputed deed of donation.
When a Teacher’s Grade Changes Become Illegal Dismissal: Academic Integrity vs. Discretion
A teacher who altered failing grades was dismissed, but the Supreme Court ruled the dismissal illegal—simple misconduct, not serious misconduct.
Common Carrier Liability in the Philippines: Breach of Contract of Carriage Explained
Philippine common carriers face a presumption of negligence when passengers are injured or killed. Learn the rules and how to rebut them.