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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Election Overspending: When Party Membership Limits Campaign Spending in the Philippines
Supreme Court clarifies that party membership alone restricts candidates to the P3.00 per voter spending cap under RA 7166.
Perfecting Imperfect Titles: Open Possession and Land Registration in the Philippines
How the Supreme Court ruled that long, open possession of land can be confirmed as title, even without a DENR certification.
CO Ownership AND THE Right TO Alienate Understanding Property Partition IN THE Philippines
Perfecting Imperfect Titles: Possessory Rights and Land Registration in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when long possession can confirm imperfect titles, even without a DENR certification, in Republic v. Noval.
The 10-Day Rule for Appealing Voluntary Arbitrator Decisions in the Philippines
Learn the strict 10-day deadline for appealing voluntary arbitrator decisions in Philippine labor cases, based on a 2017 Supreme Court ruling.
Proving an Agrarian Tenancy Relationship: Key Elements Under Philippine Law
Learn the six elements required to prove an agrarian tenancy relationship in the Philippines, and why consent and harvest sharing are crucial.
Trademark vs Copyright: Protecting Business Names in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the difference between trademarks and copyrights in business name disputes under Philippine IP law.
Illegitimate Children’s Rights: Mother’s Surname and Parental Authority in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that illegitimate children use their mother’s surname and are under her sole parental authority, voiding a father’s unilateral birth registration.
Barangay Conciliation Residency Requirements FOR Filing Court Cases IN THE Philippines
Understand the residency requirements for barangay conciliation before filing court cases in the Philippines, explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Disobeying Orders: When Does It Justify Dismissal in the Philippines?
Philippine labor law on insubordination: when defiance of company orders warrants dismissal, and when it does not.
Upholding Client Trust: Attorney Negligence and the Duty to Refund Unearned Fees in the Philippines
A lawyer who neglects a client's case must refund unearned acceptance fees. The Supreme Court explains the rules on attorney negligence and quantum meruit.
Civil Courts, Not Church Tribunals, Decide Marriage Nullity Cases in the Philippines
Philippine civil courts, not church tribunals, have jurisdiction over marriage nullity cases. The Supreme Court clarifies this in Tilar v. Republic.
Breach OF Trust Dismissal FOR Court Personnel Extorting Litigants IN THE Philippines
Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding Conviction in Child Sexual Abuse Cases in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of a man for two counts of rape, clarifying conspiracy liability and the weight given to a minor victim's credible testimony.
Security of Tenure, Constructive Dismissal, and the Floating Status of Security Guards in the Philippines
When does a security guard's floating status become constructive dismissal? The Supreme Court clarifies the six-month rule.
Protecting Children Parental Authority AND THE Crime OF Qualified Rape IN THE Philippines
Navigating Term Limits: Interruptions and Candidacy Eligibility in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the three-term limit rule, what counts as a full term, and the proper remedy for challenging a candidate's eligibility.
Sheriffs Must Enforce Court Orders: Ministerial Duty and Accountability in the Philippines
When a sheriff refuses to enforce a writ, the judgment becomes a hollow victory. This case clarifies the sheriff's ministerial duty and the consequences of failing to perform it.
Perfecting Land Sales Understanding Contractual Obligations AND Legal Timelines IN Philippine Property LAW
Learn the legal rules on perfecting land sales in the Philippines, including contractual obligations and critical timelines under property law.
Contempt of Court for Defying a Corporate Rehabilitation Order in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms contempt charges against BIR officials who pursued deficiency tax claims despite a corporate rehabilitation Commencement Order.
Project vs Regular Employment: Defining Boundaries of Fixed-Term Contracts in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when project-based employees become regular employees and the validity of fixed-term contracts in Philippine labor law.
Good Faith and Land Titles: The Limits of Torrens System Protection in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a buyer's failure to pay full price under a Contract to Sell prevents enforcement, and the limits of good faith claims.
Torrens Title vs Prior Possession: Resolving Ejectment Disputes in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a Torrens title holder can eject occupants who claim prior possession and ownership.
Right of Way in the Philippines: Balancing Property Rights and Legal Easements
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a landowner can demand a legal easement of right of way and how courts balance property rights.