Legal Insights

Double Sale of Land: Good Faith and Prior Registration Under Philippine Law

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies double sale rules: good faith and registration determine ownership of land sold twice.

Burden of Proof in Firearm-Related Murder: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on proving unlicensed firearm use in murder cases and the prosecution's burden of proof.

Accretion vs. Reclamation: Philippine Supreme Court Rules on Artificial Land Claims

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that artificially filled land is not accretion under Article 457, settling ownership disputes over man-made extensions.

Upholding Management Prerogative Employee Transfers AND Constructive Dismissal IN THE Philippines

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employee transfers and probationary dismissals violate security of tenure and due process.

Illegal Dismissal: Backwages and Separation Pay Computed Until Final Judgment

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that backwages and separation pay for illegally dismissed employees run until the judgment becomes final, regardless of who appealed.

Caveat Venditor: Housing Developers Bear Responsibility for Hidden Defects

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on developer liability for hidden structural defects under Civil Code warranty and PD 957.

Just Compensation for Agrarian Land: The Cut-Off Rule Before RA 9700

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when RA 9700 applies to agrarian land valuation, protecting landowners with claims filed before July 1, 2009.

Overcoming Title Presumptions: The Imperative of Clear and Convincing Evidence in Land Disputes

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why clear and convincing evidence is required to overturn a free patent and certificate of title.

Just Compensation in Agrarian Reform: Balancing Landowner Rights and Valuation Guidelines

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that courts must apply DAR valuation formulas in agrarian just compensation cases, not rely solely on market values.

Construction Contracts Default Rules and Unjust Enrichment in Equipment Leases

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies default rules on minimum contract amounts, quantum meruit, and unjust enrichment in construction equipment lease disputes.

Due Process and Corporate Liability: When Can a Corporate Officer Be Held Personally Liable

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers can be held personally liable for labor judgments and why due process matters.

Union Dues and Agency Fees: When Can Labor Unions Validly Increase Them?

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the documentary requirements for valid union dues and agency fee increases under the Labor Code.

Duty of Disclosure in Insurance Contracts: Insurers Must Prove Concealment

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that insurers bear the burden of proving concealment or misrepresentation by convincing evidence before rescinding policies.

Social Media Speech and Employment: Defining the Boundaries of Loss of Trust in Termination Cases

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when loss of trust justifies dismissal, distinguishing rank-and-file from managerial employees.

Probable Cause Required Before Customs Seizure: Commissioner of Customs v. Singson

Philippine Supreme Court rules customs forfeiture requires probable cause first, not mere suspicion or certification.

Unilateral Lease Termination and Ejectment: Mutuality of Contracts in Philippine Law

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a lessor may unilaterally terminate a lease and file ejectment, and the limits of summary proceedings.

Abandonment Alone Insufficient Psychological Incapacity IN Philippine marriage LAW

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that abandonment alone does not prove psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code.

Real Property Tax Disputes: Why Payment Under Protest Is a Mandatory First Step

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that payment under protest is mandatory before appealing real property tax assessments, even when claiming tax exemption.

Tax Assessments Invalid Notices and Taxpayer Due Process in the Philippines

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on invalid tax assessment notices and taxpayer due process rights explained in plain language.

Loss of Trust and Confidence as Ground for Dismissal: What Employers Must Prove

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when loss of trust and confidence justifies employee dismissal, requiring willful breach proven by substantial evidence.

Conflict of Interest: When Prior Judicial Roles Limit Future Legal Practice

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a lawyer's prior judicial role creates a disqualifying conflict of interest in later practice.

When a "Retainership" Is Really Employment: The Control Test and Security of Tenure

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a retainership agreement masks an employer-employee relationship, applying the control test to protect security of tenure.

Employer Liability for Vehicle Accidents: When Is an Employee Acting Within the Scope of Employment?

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when employers are liable for vehicle accidents caused by employees acting outside their assigned tasks.

Negligence in Supervision: Employer's Right to Terminate for Gross Neglect of Duty

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a supervisor's failure to oversee staff constitutes gross and habitual neglect, justifying dismissal.