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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Defiance and Dismissal: Understanding Illegal Strikes and Return-to-Work Orders in the Philippines
When pilots defied a return-to-work order, the Supreme Court upheld their dismissal. Learn the legal consequences of illegal strikes.
Legal Interest on Loans: When Courts Impose Compensatory Interest in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when legal interest applies to unpaid loans, distinguishing monetary from compensatory interest under Nacar guidelines.
Trust Receipt Breach: When Failure to Deliver Constitutes Estafa in the Philippines
Explore when failure to deliver under a trust receipt agreement constitutes estafa, based on a 2018 Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Possession vs Ownership: Resolving Church Property Disputes in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that in unlawful detainer cases, physical possession—not ownership—determines who has the better right to church property.
Seafarer Disability Claims: The Mandatory Third Doctor Rule and Compensation
Learn how the mandatory third doctor rule under the POEA-SEC affects seafarer disability claims and compensation in the Philippines.
Breach of Trust When Reallocating Funds Leads to Dismissal in the Philippines
When does an employee's fund reallocation justify dismissal? The Supreme Court explains serious misconduct and loss of trust and confidence.
Zero-Rated VAT on International Air Transport Services: Invoicing Rules Clarified
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies zero-rated VAT for international air transport services and invoicing requirements in CIR v. Euro-Philippines Airline Services.
Breach of Trust, Intrafamilial Rape, and the Erosion of Parental Authority in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between statutory and simple rape when the prosecution fails to prove the victim's exact age.
Foreign Land Ownership Constitutionality Prevails Over Execution Sales
Supreme Court nullifies auction sales to a Canadian citizen, reaffirming the constitutional ban on alien land ownership in the Philippines.
Regular Employment vs Contractual Work: Defining Employer-Employee Relationships in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts determine regular employment, labor-only contracting, and employer liability using the Coca-Cola bottlers case.
Entrapment vs Instigation: Defining the Boundaries of Drug Law Enforcement in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between entrapment and instigation in drug cases, upholding a buy-bust conviction under RA 9165.
Ransom and Restraint: Defining Kidnapping for Extortion in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the elements of kidnapping for ransom under Article 267, showing how extortion and deprivation of liberty define the crime.
Mortgage in Good Faith: How Banks Are Protected in Registered Land Transactions in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a bank-mortgagee in good faith is protected even if the mortgagor's title came from a forged deed.
Quo Warranto Challenging the Eligibility of Impeachable Officers in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains why quo warranto, not just impeachment, can oust an ineligible impeachable officer like the Chief Justice.
Ouster by Quo Warranto Challenging the Eligibility of an Impeachable Officer in the Philippines
Explaining the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling that quo warranto, not just impeachment, can oust an ineligible impeachable officer.
Exploitation of Minors: Upholding the Anti-Trafficking Law in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms life imprisonment for trafficking a minor into prostitution, clarifying that a child's consent or voluntary act does not negate liability under RA 9208.
Protecting Children Moral Ascendancy AND Criminal Liability FOR Sexual Abuse IN THE Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms robbery with rape conviction, clarifying out-of-court identification rules and damages for sexual abuse victims.
Chain of Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence and Ensuring Fair Trials in the Philippines
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect when police fail to justify non-compliance with Section 21's chain of custody rule.
Project Employment in Construction: Defining Scope and Tenure in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when construction workers are project employees, not regular employees, and what benefits they retain.
Res Judicata and Litis Pendentia: Ending Endless Property Litigation in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court applied res judicata and litis pendentia to bar a second property case, preventing endless litigation over the same land.
Third Party Interference: Protecting Exclusive Distributorship Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when third parties can be liable for interfering with exclusive distributorship contracts under Philippine law.
Checkpoint Searches in the Philippines: Balancing Public Safety and Individual Rights
The Supreme Court explains when checkpoint and bus searches are valid under the Constitution, and what makes them reasonable.
Upholding Ethical Standards: Consequences for Judicial and Notarial Misconduct in the Philippines
The Supreme Court dismisses a judge for gross immorality and suspends him from law practice, reaffirming strict ethical standards for the judiciary and bar.
Divorce Abroad: Clarifying the Scope of Recognition and Remarriage for Filipinos
The Supreme Court clarifies when a foreign divorce decree is recognized in the Philippines and how a Filipino spouse may remarry.