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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Falcis v. Civil Registrar General: Why the Supreme Court Declined to Rule on Same-Sex Marriage
The Supreme Court dismissed the petition seeking to legalize same-sex marriage in the Philippines, ruling on procedural grounds without deciding the constitutional merits.
Due Process and Employee Dismissal: Balancing Rights and Employer Authority in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the twin-notice rule in dismissals and when a flawed procedure still yields a valid termination.
Presidential Power vs Community Rights Clarifying Land Disposition in the Philippines
Supreme Court upholds President's power to withdraw public land from disposition, clarifying limits of community rights in land allocation.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Ensuring Evidence Integrity in the Philippines
Why strict compliance with Section 21, RA 9165 is crucial in drug cases, and how broken chains lead to acquittal.
Chain of Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence and Ensuring Fair Trials in the Philippines
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to broken chain of custody, reinforcing the rule that preserves evidence integrity.
Land Registration: Proving Land Is Alienable and Disposable Under Philippine Law
Learn the strict proof required to register land in the Philippines, including DENR certifications, and why possession alone is not enough.
Dishonesty in Public Service: Defining the Boundaries of Misconduct in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the line between simple dishonesty and grave offenses in administrative cases, with practical guidance for public servants.
Indispensable Parties: The Key to Valid Land Title Disputes in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies why indispensable parties must be impleaded in land title disputes, using the Heirs of Dinglasan v. Ayala case.
Unlawful Detainer: Proving Prior Tolerance to Win an Ejectment Case
Learn the four requisites of unlawful detainer and why proving prior tolerance is key to winning an ejectment case in the Philippines.
Land Rights and Oral Sales: Understanding Property Disputes in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when oral sales of land are valid, and why the five-year free patent ban on alienation matters.
Unauthorized Notarization by Public Officials: The Limits of Authority in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when notarization by a government lawyer constitutes unauthorized private practice under R.A. 6713.
Breach of Trust as Just Cause for Dismissal of Managerial Employees in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when loss of trust and confidence justifies dismissing managerial employees, and what happens when due process is not observed.
Emergency vs Employment: Gauging Just Cause for Dismissal in the Philippines
When can an employee be validly dismissed? The Supreme Court explains the elements of just cause and why a single emergency absence was not enough.
Eradicating Exploitation: Trafficking of Minors and the Protective Laws of the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms that confidential informants are not indispensable in trafficking cases, upholding a conviction based on the victim's testimony.
Project vs Regular Employment: Security of Tenure and Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between project and regular employment, and the security of tenure rights of employees.
Ombudsman Decisions: Appealing Criminal vs Administrative Cases in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court distinguishes inordinate delay in Ombudsman criminal cases from administrative proceedings, and what this means for respondents.
Reasonable Doubt Chain OF Custody AND Drug Sale Convictions IN THE Philippines
Upholding Attorneys Duty Substantial Evidence Required IN Negligence Claims Against Lawyers
Learn the evidentiary standard for lawyer negligence complaints in the Philippines, as clarified by the Supreme Court in Zara v. Atty. Joyas.
Government Control vs Corporate Structure: Defining Audit Jurisdiction in the Philippines
The Supreme Court rules that government control, not corporate form, determines COA audit jurisdiction over corporations in the Philippines.
Voluntary Resignation vs Illegal Dismissal: Protecting Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when resignation letters and quitclaims are invalid, protecting employees from forced resignations and illegal dismissal.
When Marital Duty and Psychological Capacity Collide: Understanding Annulment in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies what psychological incapacity truly means under Article 36 of the Family Code, and why a loveless or forced marriage is not automatically void.
Beyond Disappointment: Psychological Incapacity as Grounds for Marriage Nullity in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that marital disappointment is not psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code.
Unpaid Property Resolving Sales When Buyers Fail TO PAY
When buyers fail to pay, sellers may rescind the sale. This article explains the legal rules on unpaid property sales in the Philippines.
Quieting of Title in the Philippines: Direct vs. Collateral Attacks Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies when challenging a land title's validity is a direct attack, not a collateral one, in quieting of title cases.