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.
Mental Health at Sea: Employer Liability for a Seafarer's Bipolar Disorder
A Supreme Court ruling on when a seafarer's bipolar disorder is compensable under the POEA contract and what employers must prove to avoid liability.
Judicial Accountability vs Vexatious Litigation: Balancing Rights in Administrative Complaints
The Supreme Court clarifies when judges may be held administratively liable and when complainants cross the line into contempt.
Stroke Compensation Claims: When Work Stress Meets Employee Welfare
Supreme Court clarifies when stroke and hypertension are compensable under PD 626, emphasizing probability over certainty in employee claims.
Voluntary Resignation vs Illegal Dismissal: What Corporate Restructuring Means for Employee Rights
When is a resignation truly voluntary? The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction in Malixi v. Mexicali Philippines.
Safeguarding Judicial Independence: Dismissal of Baseless Complaints Against Judges
The Supreme Court dismisses baseless administrative complaints against CA justices, reinforcing that adverse rulings alone do not prove judicial bias or partiality.
Tax Sales and Due Process: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on tax sales, due process, and property rights protection for landowners and buyers.
Constructive Dismissal Claims: When Resignation Is Voluntary and Not Forced
The Supreme Court clarifies when a resignation is voluntary rather than constructive dismissal, and which money claims belong in labor courts.
Resignation vs. Constructive Dismissal: When Leaving a Job Is Not Forced
The Supreme Court clarifies when a resignation is voluntary and not constructive dismissal, and which money claims belong in labor courts.
Falsification of Private Documents: Where Venue Lies Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that venue for falsification of private documents is where the falsification occurred, not where the document was used.
Workplace Boundaries: When Misconduct Crosses Into Sexual Harassment
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a supervisor's unwanted kiss is grave misconduct, not simple misconduct, in Philippine administrative law.
When Sexual Harassment Claims Against Judges Fail: The Substantial Evidence Standard
The Supreme Court exonerated a judge accused of sexual harassment, clarifying the substantial evidence standard in administrative cases against members of the judiciary.
Unbearable Conditions Defining Constructive Dismissal in the Workplace
When employer hostility becomes unbearable, an employee may be constructively dismissed. The Supreme Court explains the test and remedies.
Protecting Local Autonomy Upholding Environmental Stewardship Over Business Interests
The Supreme Court dismissed a disbarment case against local officials, affirming their power to enforce environmental laws over business interests.
When Performance Goals Lead to Disputes: Constructive Dismissal in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when unmet performance targets amount to constructive dismissal, explaining the employee's burden of proof.
Sexual Harassment by a Lawyer: When Misconduct Erodes Client Trust
A lawyer who sexually harasses a client faces suspension. The Supreme Court explains why such conduct betrays the profession's core values.
Accountability Endures: Fiscal Responsibility in the Philippine Judiciary Even Post Mortem
A lawyer who sexually harasses a client faces suspension. The Court clarifies accountability and professional conduct standards.
Voluntary Resignation vs Constructive Dismissal: What Employees Must Prove
The Supreme Court clarifies when a resignation is voluntary and not constructive dismissal, and what evidence employees must present.
Litis Pendentia When Two Courts Collide Over Amusement Taxes
When two courts hear the same dispute over amusement tax rewards, litis pendentia allows dismissal of the later suit.
Consumer Rights vs Electric Utilities: Supreme Court Upholds Damages for Breach of Compromise Agreement
Supreme Court rules electric cooperatives must honor compromise agreements, awarding damages to consumers for repeated billing harassment and disconnection threats.
Balancing Zealous Advocacy AND Honest Conduct Limits TO Protecting Client Interests
A lawyer’s duty to protect a client has limits: the Supreme Court reprimands counsel for using false statements in demand letters.
RA 9262 Violence Against Women Extends Beyond Ongoing Relationships
Supreme Court clarifies that RA 9262 applies even after a dating relationship ends, protecting women from former partners' violence.
Tenant Rights vs Landowner Rights in the Philippines: Understanding Tenancy and Agricultural Land Law
A look at Philippine tenancy law, balancing tenant rights and landowner rights under agricultural land reform and related statutes.
Sheriffs' Ministerial Duty: Implementing Court Orders Correctly to Avoid Misconduct Charges
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies sheriffs' ministerial duty in enforcing writs and how to properly address alleged irregularities in implementation.
When Prohibition Fails: Understanding the Limits of Extraordinary Writs in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies when certiorari may be used despite a pending information, and how fair reporting protects the press from libel.