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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Unlocking the Timeline for VAT Refund Claims: A Guide to Navigating Tax Refund Procedures in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified the 120-day and 30-day periods for VAT refund claims, and what documents prove zero-rated sales.
Qualified Trafficking in Persons: Protecting Minor Victims in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of a bar manager for qualified trafficking in persons involving a minor victim.
Ensuring Chain OF Custody THE KEY TO Successful Drug Related Prosecutions IN THE Philippines
Illegal Dismissal of Seafarers: Due Process and Contract Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the twin notice rule and monetary awards for illegally dismissed seafarers under Philippine law.
Understanding Regular Employment: How the Nature of Work Determines Employee Status in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when construction workers become regular employees entitled to security of tenure, not merely project-based hires.
Regular vs Fixed-Term Employment: Know Your Rights as a Philippine Employee
Understand the difference between regular and fixed-term employment in the Philippines, and learn how courts protect employees from illegal dismissal.
Understanding Redundancy In Employment Legal Grounds And Employer Obligations In The Philippines
Learn the legal grounds for redundancy in the Philippines, employer obligations, and how courts review these dismissals.
Foreign Bank Foreclosures in the Philippines: Lessons from Parcon-Song v. Parcon
A 2020 Supreme Court ruling clarifies when foreign banks may foreclose on Philippine property and why the timing of the foreclosure matters.
When an Acquittal Does Not Bar Damages: Article 33 Civil Actions in the Philippines
An acquittal based on reasonable doubt does not bar a separate civil action for damages under Article 33 of the Civil Code. Learn the rules.
Extrajudicial Ejectment in Philippine Leases: What the CJH v. Aniceto Ruling Means
The Supreme Court clarifies when extrajudicial ejectment clauses in lease agreements are valid and enforceable in the Philippines.
Understanding Lawyer Suspension IN THE Philippines THE Importance OF Professional Responsibility AND Client Trust
Illegal Drug Sales in the Philippines: When Is the Transaction Complete?
The Supreme Court clarifies what completes an illegal drug sale under RA 9165, a key ruling for buy-bust operations and criminal defense.
Understanding Judicial Efficiency: The Consequences of Delaying Case Decisions in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling shows the heavy price judges pay for delaying decisions—and what it means for litigants and the justice system.
Understanding Corporate Liability and Piercing the Corporate Veil in the Philippines
A Philippine Supreme Court case explains when corporate officers can be held personally liable and when courts pierce the corporate veil.
Lawyer Misconduct: The Duty to Return Client Funds in the Philippines
When a lawyer fails to render service and keeps client money, the Supreme Court imposes suspension and restitution. Learn the rules.
Construction Arbitration in the Philippines: Finality of CIAC Awards and Judicial Review Limits
Philippine courts defer to CIAC arbitral findings absent fraud or corruption. Learn the limits of judicial review in construction disputes.
Navigating Work-Related Injuries: Understanding Seafarer Disability Benefits in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts decide seafarer disability claims, work-relatedness presumptions, and the risks of premature fit-to-work declarations.
Bank Liability for Forged Checks: Protecting Your Accounts in the Philippines
When a bank pays a forged check, it bears the loss. Learn the rules on bank liability and depositor rights.
Unlocking Land Ownership: Navigating the Complexities of Land Registration in the Philippines
Learn the strict requirements for land registration in the Philippines, including the crucial proof needed to establish alienable and disposable land.
Fixed-Term Employment in the Philippines: What the Supreme Court Says About Validity and Dismissal
Learn when fixed-term employment contracts are valid in the Philippines, and what the Supreme Court ruled in Tuppil v. LBP Service Corporation.
Proving a Spouse Is Presumptively Dead for Remarriage in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains what it takes to prove a spouse is presumptively dead for remarriage under Article 41 of the Family Code.
Habeas Corpus Limits: When Can You Challenge a Conviction in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when habeas corpus can and cannot be used to challenge a conviction, and why GCTA does not apply to heinous crimes.
Understanding Lawyer Disbarment: How Gross Immorality Ends a Legal Career in the Philippines
The Supreme Court disbarred a lawyer for bigamous marriage and abetting others' bigamy, explaining gross immorality as a ground for disbarment.
Malicious Prosecution in the Philippines: When Filing Criminal Charges Backfires
The Supreme Court clarifies when filing baseless criminal complaints constitutes malicious prosecution, and what damages may be awarded.