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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Ethical Boundaries for Court Employees: Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
A court stenographer was fined for processing land titles for litigants. Learn the ethical rules for court personnel.
Understanding Insubordination in the Workplace: When Can an Employee Be Dismissed?
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when refusal to obey orders justifies dismissal for insubordination, with practical guidance for employers and employees.
Immediate Reinstatement Pending Appeal: What Philippine Employees Should Know
Philippine Airlines v. NLRC explains the immediate executory nature of reinstatement orders pending appeal under Article 223 of the Labor Code.
Breach of Trust in Employment: When Can an Employer Dismiss an Employee?
Learn when Philippine employers may validly dismiss employees for breach of trust, and why due process still matters.
When Is a Police Officer Considered On-Duty? Compensation Under Philippine Law
Philippine law treats police officers as on duty 24 hours a day for compensation purposes. Learn how this affects claims under the Employees' Compensation Program.
Independent Contractor vs Employee: Key Differences and Liabilities in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between independent contractors and employees, and the liabilities that follow.
Workplace Misconduct: When Court Employees Cross the Line
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on sheriff's misconduct, discourtesy, and threats in the workplace, setting standards for judicial personnel behavior.
Habitual Tardiness and Absences: Consequences for Government Employees in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine civil service rules penalize habitual tardiness and unauthorized absences, and what the Supreme Court says about accountability.
Dismissal for Gross Insubordination and AWOL: A Lesson in Judicial Accountability
A Supreme Court ruling on gross insubordination and AWOL shows why court employees must obey lawful orders and report for duty.
Falsification of Time Records: Penalties and Considerations for Government Employees in the Philippines
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on falsified daily time records by a government employee, the penalties involved, and mitigating factors considered.
Regular vs Probationary Employment: What the Supreme Court Says About Employee Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when probationary employees become regular employees and their right to backwages in illegal dismissal cases.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Understanding Employee Rights and Employer Responsibilities
Learn what constitutes illegal dismissal in the Philippines, the twin due process requirements, and the remedies available to employees.
Illegal Dismissal Burden of Proof on Employers and Quitclaims in the Philippines
In illegal dismissal cases, the employer bears the burden of proving valid termination, and quitclaims do not automatically bar employees from pursuing claims.
Illegal Dismissal: Understanding Backwages and Separation Pay in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine law computes backwages and separation pay for illegally dismissed employees, based on a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Back Wages vs. Separation Pay: Employee Rights When a Business Closes in the Philippines
Learn when Philippine employees get separation pay but not back wages after business closure, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Project Employee vs Regular Employee: What the Supreme Court Says
Learn how Philippine courts distinguish project employees from regular employees, and what the Samson ruling means for workers' security of tenure.
Retrenchment in Bad Faith: Limits on Employer Discretion and Employee Rights to Backwages
When is retrenchment illegal? The Supreme Court explains bad faith, backwages, and separation pay for dismissed employees.
Sick Leave and Security of Tenure: Supreme Court Upholds Employee Rights in Illegal Dismissal Case
The Supreme Court ruled that a janitor's dismissal for absences due to illness was illegal, affirming security of tenure protections for all employees.
Probationary Employees, Security of Tenure, and Illegal Dismissal: The Anderson Case
The Supreme Court clarifies that vague claims of "loss of confidence" cannot justify dismissing a probationary employee without just cause.