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.
Reconstitution Denied: Insufficient Evidence Fails to Restore Lost Land Title
Philippine Supreme Court denies reconstitution of lost land title due to insufficient evidence, clarifying strict requirements under RA 26.
Breach of Duty Accountability for Negligence in Bank Appraisal
Court personnel must avoid any act that diminishes public faith in the judiciary; misuse of office warrants dismissal.
Bail in Drug Cases: Judges Must Follow Due Process and Know the Law
Supreme Court disciplines a judge for granting bail without hearing in drug cases, stressing judicial competence and mandatory bail hearings.
Administrative Complaints Against Judges: When Errors Are Not Enough for Sanctions
The Supreme Court explains when a judge's errors warrant administrative sanctions, and when they do not.
Res Judicata: The Bar Against Relitigating Claims in Philippine Courts
Understand the doctrine of res judicata in Philippine courts, its requirements, and practical implications for litigants and lawyers.
Breach of Trust and Employee Dismissal: When Is It Justified in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employee dismissal for breach of trust is justified, and why procedural rules yield to substantial justice in labor cases.
Breach of Public Trust: Court Clerk Dismissed for Extortion and Dishonesty
A court clerk's dismissal for issuing fake subpoenas to extort money shows why public office is a public trust.
Court Dismisses Clerk of Court for Misusing Judicial Office to Harass Private Individuals
Supreme Court dismisses court clerk who used court letterhead to summon persons with no pending cases, ruling the acts constitute gross misconduct.
Property Rights vs Self-Help: Landowners Cannot Evict Holdover Tenants Without Due Process
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on accion reinvindicatoria, property identification, and the limits of self-help in land disputes.
Third-Party Complaints: When Can a Defendant Implead Another Party?
Learn when Philippine courts allow third-party complaints and why a mere business connection between transactions is not enough.
Compromise Agreements and Illegitimate Filiation: When Courts Nullify Judgments
When can a court decision be nullified? Learn from a landmark case on compromise agreements, illegitimate filiation, and extrinsic fraud.
When Redundancy Becomes Illegal Dismissal: Lessons from Lopez Sugar Corporation
The Supreme Court clarifies when a redundancy program is a valid management prerogative and when it becomes an illegal dismissal.
Quitclaims and Continued Employment: Can Post-Termination Actions Revoke Redundancy?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when quitclaims are valid and whether post-termination tasks revoke a redundancy dismissal.
Notice of Lis Pendens: When a Contract to Sell Justifies Annotation on Title
Learn when a notice of lis pendens may be annotated on a property title, even in a contract to sell dispute, based on Romero v. Court of Appeals.
Untangling Land Titles, Prescription, and the Rights of Heirs in Property Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when heirs can recover property sold without their consent, and how prescription applies to constructive trusts.
Vehicular Homicide vs. Murder: Intent and the Use of a Motor Vehicle
When does a fatal vehicular incident become murder? The Mallari case shows how intent and the use of a motor vehicle elevate the crime.
When Counsel's Negligence Binds the Client: Due Diligence in Appeals
The Supreme Court clarifies when a lawyer's failure to act diligently on an appeal binds the client, and what counts as notice of a decision.
IBP Dues: Why Non-Practicing Lawyers Must Still Pay Membership Fees
The Supreme Court rules that IBP membership dues are mandatory for all lawyers, regardless of active practice status.
Perfecting Appeals in Labor Cases: The Strict Rule on Posting an Appeal Bond
A look at the Supreme Court's ruling that an employer's failure to post an appeal bond on time is fatal to an appeal, even if other requirements were met.
Termination vs Rescission: Lease Contract Disputes and Penalties in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the legal difference between terminating and rescinding a lease contract, and when penalties apply.
Upholding Client Trust Attorney Suspended for Misappropriating Settlement Funds
Lawyer suspended six months for misappropriating client's P50,000 settlement funds, violating Canon 16 of the Code of Professional Responsibility.
Court Clerk Dismissed for Misappropriating Judiciary Funds: Lessons on Fiduciary Duty
Supreme Court dismisses court clerk for misappropriating P171,450 in judiciary funds, underscoring strict accountability for court personnel.
Assessed Value vs Market Value: Key to Court Jurisdiction in Property Disputes
Philippine courts decide jurisdiction over property cases by assessed value, not market value. Learn the rule from Hilario v. Salvador.
Clerk of Court Dismissed for Misappropriating Judiciary Funds: Sollesta v. Mission
Supreme Court dismisses a clerk of court for converting P171,450 in judiciary funds, ruling restitution does not erase administrative liability.