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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When Can a Foreign Corporation Sue in Philippine Courts? The Monsanto Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when an unlicensed foreign corporation can sue in the Philippines, focusing on transactions through local indentors.
Upholding SEC Authority: Courts Cannot Enjoin SEC Orders on Investment Contracts
The Supreme Court holds a judge liable for gross ignorance of the law for issuing injunctions against an SEC cease and desist order.
Agrarian Reform Land Classification and Just Compensation for Expropriated Lands
Supreme Court clarifies when sloping lands are exempt from CARP coverage and how courts compute just compensation for expropriated properties.
When Courts Can Approve Plea Bargains Over Prosecution Objection in Drug Cases
Explains when trial courts may approve plea bargains in drug cases despite prosecution objection, citing People v. Esma.
Primary Jurisdiction: When Courts Defer to Specialized Agencies in Media Disputes
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on when courts must defer to the NTC in media ownership and competition disputes.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: Supreme Court Upholds Judicial Discretion Over DOJ Guidelines
The Supreme Court clarifies that trial courts must resolve plea bargaining proposals in drug cases based on evidence, not just DOJ guidelines.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: DOJ Guidelines and Court Discretion in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when trial courts may approve plea bargaining in drug cases and the role of evidence in resolving objections.
Piercing the Corporate Veil in Labor Cases: The Toledo Construction Ruling
When courts ignore corporate structures to enforce labor judgments, protecting workers from fraudulent asset transfers and evasion.
Ombudsmans Discretion When CAN Courts Intervene IN Probable Cause Determinations
Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Criminal Cases: Proving Guilt Without Eyewitnesses
How Philippine courts use circumstantial evidence to convict in murder and arson cases, explained through the Camarse ruling.
Speedy Justice Delayed: The Right to Timely Disposition in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies when delay violates the right to speedy disposition of cases and why accused persons must timely assert this right.
Proving Filing by Registered Mail: Timely Submission of Pleadings in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies how to prove the filing date of pleadings sent by registered mail, and why a postmaster's certification may not suffice.
Liberalizing Amendments Safeguarding Justice AND Preventing Delay IN Philippine Courts
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when courts must liberally allow amended pleadings, balancing justice against procedural delay.
Freeze Orders in the Philippines: Probable Cause and Asset Protection Under AMLA
Learn how Philippine courts protect assets from unjustified freeze orders, and why probable cause is essential under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Upholding Honesty in Court: Attorney Suspended for Misleading Statements
A lawyer's false denial of a compromise agreement led to a one-month suspension, reaffirming that candor to courts is non-negotiable.
Foreign Adoption Recognition in the Philippines: What the Yuta Hayashi Case Means
Philippine courts can recognize foreign adoption decrees involving Filipino citizens if proven as fact and not contrary to public policy.
Interest on Overdue Accounts: Clarifying the Scope of Legal Interest and Unconscionability in Sales of Goods
The Supreme Court clarifies when legal interest applies to stipulated interest and how courts determine unconscionable rates in sales transactions.
Navigating Estate Settlements: Understanding the Limits of Intervention in Probate Proceedings
Learn when courts allow intervention in probate cases, the legal standards applied, and practical tips for protecting estate interests.
Mootness Doctrine: When Supervening Events Make Court Rulings Irrelevant
Philippine Veterans Bank v. CA explains when a case becomes moot and academic due to supervening events and why courts dismiss such petitions.
Just Compensation in Expropriation: Lessons from the NGCP v. Gaite Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies how courts determine just compensation in eminent domain cases, emphasizing verifiable data over speculative land reclassifications.
Ancestral Land Disputes and the NCIP's Jurisdictional Limits in the Philippines
Understand when the NCIP has jurisdiction over ancestral land disputes and when courts or other agencies must hear the case.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: Jurisdiction First, Liability Later
Supreme Court clarifies that courts must first acquire jurisdiction over a corporation before applying the piercing the corporate veil doctrine to hold owners liable.
Venue vs Jurisdiction: When Courts Cannot Dismiss Probate Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that improper venue is not a ground for motu proprio dismissal of probate cases, distinguishing venue from jurisdiction.
Probable Cause and the Ombudsman: When Courts Defer to Prosecutorial Discretion
The Supreme Court affirms the Ombudsman's probable cause findings in public official cases, reinforcing judicial restraint absent grave abuse of discretion.