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.
Cityhood Laws and the Constitutional Criteria for Creating Philippine Cities
The Supreme Court struck down 16 cityhood laws for violating the Constitution's requirement that city creation follow Local Government Code criteria.
Friar Lands and Faulty Signatures: When Government Neglect Jeopardizes Land Ownership
The Supreme Court's Manotok ruling shows how documentary gaps in friar land sales can undermine even long-standing property claims.
Losing the Right to Appeal: Why Timeliness Is Everything in Philippine Law
Timeliness is the lifeblood of appeals in Philippine courts. Learn why missing a deadline can forfeit a litigant's right to be heard.
Sales Invoice Suffices for VAT Refund Claims: Disparity Between Goods and Services Eliminated
Supreme Court rules sales invoices can substantiate VAT refund claims for zero-rated services, not just official receipts.
Beyond Labels: Substance Over Form in Appellate Procedure and Drug Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on buy-bust operations shows how courts prioritize substance over form in procedural compliance and evidence.
Demand Is Key to Rescission Rights in Philippine Contract Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that demand is essential before rescission or foreclosure rights can be exercised under contract law.
Buy-Bust Operations and the Chain of Custody: Ensuring Integrity in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that minor lapses in Section 21 custody procedures do not automatically invalidate drug seizures if evidentiary integrity is preserved.
Navigating Government Procurement: The Imperative of Protest Compliance in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on LRA v. Lanting Security clarifies mandatory protest rules under R.A. 9184 before courts can act.
Illegal Dismissal, Retrenchment, and Redundancy: Key Rules from Lambert Pawnbrokers v. Binamira
Supreme Court clarifies the rules on retrenchment, redundancy, and corporate liability in illegal dismissal cases, and when damages apply.
Maritime Claims: Strict Interpretation of COGSA Prescriptive Period
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the one-year COGSA prescriptive period for maritime cargo claims, emphasizing strict timing rules.
Upholding Government Authority When Public Interest Overrides Private Land Claims In Expropriation
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on expropriation, public interest, and limits of private land claims against government authority.
Authority to Represent: The Limits of Legal Representation for Government-Owned Corporations
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when lawyers may appear for GOCCs, requiring OGCC and COA approval before private counsel can act.
Decoding Independent Contractors When Control Determines Employment Status in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies employer-employee relationship tests and the mandatory certificate of non-forum shopping in NLRC appeals.
Defining the Lines: Independent Contractor vs Employee Status in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between independent contractors and employees, and the fatal consequences of procedural lapses in labor appeals.
Resignation vs Constructive Dismissal: When a Written Resignation Is Not Voluntary
When is a resignation letter not a true resignation? The Supreme Court explains constructive dismissal and employer liability.
When a Client Relieves Counsel: Withdrawal of Appeal and Compromise Agreements
A look at Bautista v. Seraph Management Group, Inc. on withdrawal of appeals, relieving counsel, and the validity of compromise agreements.
Upholding Legislative Intent: The Limits of COMELEC's Rule-Making Power in Party-List Nominations
A look at Lokin v. COMELEC, where the Supreme Court struck down a COMELEC rule expanding the grounds for substituting party-list nominees beyond RA 7941.
Certiorari as a Substitute for Appeal: Navigating Procedural Missteps in Philippine Courts
Learn when certiorari can replace an appeal in Philippine procedure, and how the Supreme Court treats loss of trust and confidence in dismissals.
Island Provinces and the Constitution: The Dinagat Islands Creation Case
The Supreme Court struck down Republic Act No. 9355 creating Dinagat Islands province for failing population and land area requirements under the Local Government Code.
Agency and Authority: Why a Written Mandate Is Paramount in Real Estate Sales
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why an agent's authority to sell land must be in writing, or the sale is void.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Preserving Evidence Integrity for a Fair Trial
How the Supreme Court in Balarbar v. People clarified that minor gaps in drug evidence handling do not automatically void a conviction.
Equality in Representation: Population Requirements for Legislative Districts in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that the Constitution does not require a 250,000 population minimum for provincial legislative districts.
Retrenchment Validity: Balancing Employer Rights and Employee Protection in Downturns
The Supreme Court clarifies when retrenchment is valid, the role of quitclaims, and the limits of procedural due process in labor dismissals.
Lifting Sequestration Orders Protecting Assets From Mismanagement
When can a sequestration order be lifted for mismanagement? The Supreme Court explains the limits in YKR Corporation v. Sandiganbayan.