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.
Immorality as Ground for Suspension: Court Personnel Held to High Moral Standards
Court employees face discipline for immoral conduct. Learn how a process server's extramarital affair led to suspension.
When Court Employees Fail Their Duty: The Madolaria Administrative Case
A deputy sheriff's repeated failures to serve court processes led to a one-year suspension, reinforcing the strict standards for judicial employees.
Partnership vs Loan: Proving the True Nature of Money Transfers in Family Business Disputes
When is a transfer of funds a loan rather than a share of profits? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules of evidence in family business disputes.
Right to Counsel in Criminal Appeals: Due Process Beyond the Trial Court
The Supreme Court rules that the right to counsel extends to appeals, and gross lawyer negligence can excuse a missed appeal.
Proving Just Cause in Retrenchment and Redundancy: Lessons from AMA Computer College
Learn what employers must prove for valid retrenchment or redundancy dismissals, and why AMA Computer College's termination of two employees was ruled illegal.
Dismissal for Dishonesty: Courts Demand Accountability in Public Funds Management
Court personnel who willfully fail to pay just debts face administrative liability, even if complainants withdraw their cases. Learn the rules.
Insurer's Inaction on Insurance Application: When Silence Means Approval
Supreme Court rules insurer's prolonged inaction on a group life insurance application amounts to approval, protecting insured parties from prejudice.
Certiorari vs Appeal: Choosing the Proper Remedy in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains why appeal and certiorari are mutually exclusive remedies, and why procedural rules matter in extraordinary actions.
Illegal Dismissal of OFW: When Tardiness Is Not a Valid Ground for Termination
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a single act of tardiness cannot justify dismissing an overseas Filipino worker, and how illegal dismissal damages are computed.
When Attached Property May Be Sold Before Judgment: China Banking Corp. v. Asian Construction
The Supreme Court clarifies when attached properties may be sold before final judgment under Rule 57, Section 11 of the Rules of Court.
Ethical Standards for Judges and Lawyers: Dismissal and Suspension for Gross Immorality
Supreme Court dismisses judge and suspends him from law practice for extramarital affair, reaffirming strict ethical standards for the judiciary and bar.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Statutory Rape and the Weight of a Child's Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, explaining why a six-year-old victim's testimony can suffice despite minor inconsistencies.
Self Defense Claim Fails Why Intent AND Evidence Matter IN Murder Cases
Learn why the Supreme Court rejected a self-defense claim in a murder case, emphasizing intent and evidence.
Void Marriage: Falsifying Cohabitation to Bypass Marriage License Requirements
Supreme Court rules a false affidavit of five-year cohabitation cannot replace a marriage license, making the marriage void.
Safeguarding Free Speech: The Imperative of Stating a Cause of Action in Libel Cases
Philippine Daily Inquirer v. Alameda clarifies that libel complaints must allege specific facts, protecting press freedom from vague claims.
Protecting Land Titles: Limits of Agrarian Reform Jurisdiction and Ancestral Land Claims
Supreme Court ruling on DARAB jurisdiction, Torrens title protection, and ancestral land claims under RA 8371.
Reconstitution of Lost Titles: Evidence Standards and Safeguarding the Torrens System
Explains Republic v. Verzosa on judicial reconstitution of lost titles, evidence rules, and balancing diligence with the Torrens system's integrity.
Just Cause Without Due Process: When Dismissal Stands But Damages Follow
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a valid cause for dismissal does not excuse an employer from the two-notice rule, imposing nominal damages.
Lis Pendens Cancellation: Final Judgments and Property Rights Under Biglang-Awa
Learn when a notice of lis pendens can be cancelled after a final judgment, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Biglang-Awa v. Philippine Trust Company.
Compromise Agreements Prevail Over Final Judgments in Philippine Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how compromise agreements can supersede final judgments, explained for lay readers.
Explosives Intent and Complex Crimes: Murder, Frustrated Murder, and Attempted Murder in the Philippines
A single explosive act can yield one complex crime—murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder—under Philippine law.
Shareholder Rights vs Corporate Autonomy: When Can a Stockholder Intervene in a Corporate Dispute
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when stockholders may intervene in corporate disputes, emphasizing the separate legal personality of corporations.
Ombudsman’s Authority to Impose Administrative Sanctions on Erring Officials
The Supreme Court affirms the Ombudsman's power to directly impose administrative penalties, not just recommend them, on erring public officials.
Public Funds, Private Gain: Unpacking the Unconstitutional Levy on Fertilizer Sales
The Supreme Court struck down a fertilizer levy that funneled public funds to a private company, reaffirming that taxes must serve a public purpose.