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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Res Judicata Bars NHA From Relitigating Bad Faith in Land Expropriation Case
The Supreme Court rules that conclusiveness of judgment prevents the NHA from re-arguing ownership and bad faith issues already settled in prior final cases.
Ensuring Complete Representation: The Mandatory Nature of Party-List Nominee Requirements in Philippine Electi
The Supreme Court affirms that submitting at least five nominees is a mandatory requirement for party-list groups, not a mere procedural detail.
When a Lawyer Buys His Client’s Land: Double Sale and Bad Faith Under Philippine Law
A lawyer who bought land his clients had already purchased lost the case. The Supreme Court explains double sales, bad faith, and unregistered land rules.
Seafarer Disability Claims: When Injury During a Basketball Game Counts as Work-Related
The Supreme Court ruled that a seafarer injured during a basketball game on board a vessel may still claim total and permanent disability benefits.
When a Lawyer Buys the Client's Land: Breach of Fiduciary Duty in Property Acquisition
A lawyer who bought property his clients had already purchased breached his fiduciary duty. The Supreme Court explains why.
Appeal Denied: Understanding Timeliness and Binding Counsel in Philippine Law
A look at Mendiola v. Commerz Trading, where the Supreme Court clarified VAT liability and the binding effect of contractual stipulations between parties.
Superior Right Prior Land Decree Prevails Over Tax Declarations in Property Ownership Disputes
In property disputes, a prior decree of registration prevails over tax declarations. The Supreme Court explains why in Heirs of Delfin v. Rabadon.
Jurisdictional Boundaries When Agrarian Disputes Fall Under DAR Secretarys Authority
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when DARAB lacks jurisdiction over CLOA cancellation cases and why the DAR Secretary must resolve them.
Union Security Clauses: Balancing Union Rights and Employee Protection in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on union security clauses, expulsion, due process, and unfair labor practice claims.
Decree of Registration Prevails Over Tax Declarations in Land Ownership Disputes
Supreme Court ruling on why a decree of registration outweighs tax declarations and receipts in land ownership disputes.
Ghost Purchases and Public Trust: When Oversight Reliance Fails in Graft Cases
The Supreme Court affirms graft convictions for ghost purchases, clarifying when public officers cannot rely on subordinates' work to escape liability.
Agency and Authority: When a Deed Does Not Mean a Done Deal in Property Sales
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a deed of sale is void without proper agency authority under the Civil Code.
Demand Is Key: Determining the Prescription Period for Unlawful Detainer in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled that the one-year period for unlawful detainer is counted from the last demand to vacate, not from the date of non-payment.
Conflicting Land Titles in the Philippines: Prior Registration vs. Identity of Property
In VSD Realty v. Uniwide Sales, the Supreme Court remanded a land dispute to settle which of two conflicting titles traced back to the genuine OCT No. 994.
VAT Liability and Contractual Stipulations: Lessons from Mendiola v. Commerz Trading
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who bears VAT liability when a contract shifts tax burden—and who must pay the BIR.
Estate Settlement Venue and Void Marriages: Key Lessons from Quiazon
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies estate settlement venue rules and the right to challenge void marriages after death.
Sheriffs Must Execute Writs Promptly and File Periodic Returns: DBP v. Famero
The Supreme Court clarifies a sheriff's duty to execute writs with dispatch and file Section 14, Rule 39 periodic returns, imposing a fine for neglect.
When a Torrens Title Is Questioned: VSD Realty v. Uniwide and the Remand for Fact-Finding
The Supreme Court remanded a decades-old land dispute to the Court of Appeals to determine which of two conflicting titles traces back to the genuine OCT No. 994.
Eyewitness Testimony in Rape with Homicide Cases: Credibility and the Weight of a Single Witness
How Philippine courts assess the credibility of a single eyewitness in rape with homicide cases, explained through a 2013 Supreme Court ruling.
Writ of Possession Is Ministerial Duty Despite Challenges to Mortgage Validity
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: a pending case questioning mortgage validity does not stop a writ of possession after foreclosure and redemption lapse.
When Judges Err: Administrative Liability vs. Judicial Remedies in the Philippines
Supreme Court clarifies when judges face administrative sanctions for errors, misconduct, and delay in deciding cases, and when judicial remedies apply instead.
Indispensable Parties: Why Government Agencies Must Be Included in Correction of Public Record Cases
The Supreme Court nullified a correction of birth date ruling because government agencies were not impleaded as indispensable parties. Learn the rules.
Receivership: A Harsh Remedy That Requires Imminent Danger of Loss
The Supreme Court clarifies that receivership is an extreme remedy, requiring proof of imminent danger of loss, not mere financial need.
Voluntary Resignation Defense in Illegal Dismissal Cases: The Burden on Employers
When can an employer rely on a resignation letter? The Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases involving claims of voluntary resignation.