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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Curfew Laws and Minors' Rights: Balancing State Protection and Individual Freedoms
The Supreme Court upholds juvenile curfew ordinances in Quezon City, Manila, and Navotas, balancing state protection with minors' rights.
Seafarer Rights Illegal Dismissal and the Importance of Due Process
A seafarer's dismissal requires just cause and due process. The Supreme Court explains both in this landmark ruling.
Dismissal Based on Uncorroborated Report Violates Due Process in Seafarer Cases
Supreme Court rules a seafarer's dismissal based on an uncorroborated captain's report violates due process and just cause requirements.
Upholding Court Authority: The Limits of Defiance in Intra-Corporate Disputes
When can a party defy a court order in an intra-corporate dispute? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of defiance and the consequences of disobedience.
Upholding Notarial Duties: Consequences for Negligence in Document Notarization
A notary's failure to verify documents and record notarizations leads to commission revocation and disqualification in this Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Marital Fidelity and Fatal Consequences: Establishing Guilt in Parricide Cases
When jealousy turns deadly, Philippine law holds spouses accountable. This case clarifies parricide, penalties, and why infidelity never justifies violence.
Preventive Suspension by the Ombudsman: The Purisima Case and Due Process
The Supreme Court clarifies the Ombudsman's power to preventively suspend officials and the limits of due process in administrative cases.
Unauthorized Absences and Dismissal: The Medical Certificate Requirement in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court upheld a dismissal for unauthorized absences, ruling that a vague medical certificate cannot excuse habitual absenteeism.
Attorney Neglect and Falsehood: Disciplining Lawyers for Breaching Professional Responsibility
A lawyer who fails to file a client's position paper and notarizes a perjured affidavit faces suspension and loss of notarial commission.
Upholding Court Discretion in Denying Postponements and Imposing Sanctions for Unjustified Absences
The Supreme Court affirms trial court discretion to deny postponements and impose fines for unjustified absences, emphasizing prompt case disposition.
When Lawyers Fail Clients: Negligence, Falsehood, and Notarial Misconduct
A lawyer who neglects a client's case and notarizes a perjured affidavit faces suspension and loss of notarial commission.
Attorney Neglect and Falsehood: Disciplinary Action for Violating Professional Responsibility
A lawyer who fails to file a client's position paper and notarizes a perjured affidavit faces suspension and revocation of notarial commission.
Upholding Workers Rights Wage Increases AND Unfair Labor Practices IN Collective Bargaining
A Supreme Court ruling explains when a wage increase outside a CBA is demandable, and how employers' waiver schemes constitute unfair labor practice.
Finality of Agrarian Reform Orders: Due Process and Timeliness in Land Disputes
The Supreme Court affirms that DAR orders become final when landowners fail to timely appeal, even if service was imperfect.
Protecting the Vulnerable: The Duty of Moral Ascendancy in Familial Rape Cases
How the Supreme Court affirmed a father's rape conviction, explaining why moral ascendancy replaces force in incestuous abuse.
Finality of DAR Orders: Due Process in Agrarian Reform Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court upholds the finality of DAR orders, the rules on land reclassification, and due process in agrarian reform.
Procedural Due Process in Administrative Cases: When a Show Cause Memorandum Suffices
The Supreme Court clarifies when a show cause memorandum satisfies procedural due process in administrative disciplinary proceedings against government employees.
When Courts Overstep: The Limits of Relief in Telegraphic Transfer Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that courts cannot award damages on issues never raised in pleadings, reinforcing due process in bank disputes.
Procedural DUE Process THE Indispensable Right TO BE Heard IN Administrative Cases
Premature Filing of VAT Refund Claims: Strict Adherence to the 120-Day Rule
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the mandatory 120-day period for VAT refund claims and the consequences of premature filing.
Simple Neglect of Duty in Public Service: When Efficiency and Mitigating Circumstances Matter
Court stenographer found guilty of simple neglect of duty for delayed transcription; penalty reduced to three months suspension due to mitigating circumstances.
Ethical Boundaries: When a Lawyer's Zeal Violates Due Process and Procedural Fairness
A lawyer's zeal for a client cannot justify violating procedural rules and depriving the opposing party of due process, as this disbarment case shows.
Defective Information Reduces Direct Assault Conviction to Homicide
A missing element in the information reduced a direct assault conviction to homicide, underscoring the constitutional right to be informed of charges.
Stockholder Rights to Corporate Records Survive SEC Revocation, SC Rules
Supreme Court affirms that a stockholder's right to inspect corporate records continues even after SEC registration is revoked, upholding criminal liability of officers who refuse access.