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.
Fiscal Autonomy of the Judiciary: Limits on DBM Control Over Court Positions
The Supreme Court affirms its fiscal autonomy and administrative supervision over court personnel, limiting DBM's power to alter judicial positions.
Discretion in Government Bidding: When Courts Can Intervene
The Supreme Court explains the wide discretion of government agencies in bidding awards and the limits of judicial review.
Bouncing Checks and Lawyer Discipline: When Professional Ethics Extend Beyond Legal Practice
A lawyer who issues bouncing checks for his corporation can be disciplined. The Supreme Court explains why.
Employee vs Stockholder Status: When Managers Are Still Employees Under Philippine Labor Law
Supreme Court clarifies when a manager who may also be a stockholder remains an employee entitled to labor law protections.
Judicial Ethics and Procedural Rules: Lessons from Coca-Cola Bottlers v. Cabalo
A look at the Supreme Court's ruling on strict compliance with procedural rules in certiorari petitions and the importance of judicial ethics in the Philippines.
Clerk of Court's Duty: Why Proper Case Classification Matters in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling on a clerk's duty to classify cases correctly, and why the body of a pleading matters more than its caption.
Sheriff Misconduct and Illegal Demolition: Upholding Due Process in Philippine Law
When can a sheriff demolish structures not named in a writ? The Supreme Court clarifies due process limits on demolition orders.
Intervention in Philippine Courts: Why Legal Interest Is Non-Negotiable
The Supreme Court explains why a woman who married a man whose foreign divorce was void in the Philippines cannot intervene in his annulment case.
Contract Termination and Forum Shopping: Lease Rights and Obligations Explained
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on lease contract termination, subleasing without consent, and forum shopping in Riesenbeck v. Maceren.
The Limits of Judicial Discretion: Understanding Grave Abuse in Philippine Law
When is a judge's error "grave abuse of discretion"? The Supreme Court clarifies the doctrine and its limits in this 2006 ruling.
Protecting Marital Property: Why Proof of Acquisition During Marriage Matters in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that the conjugal presumption requires proof the property was acquired during the marriage. Learn the rules.
Meeting of Minds in Property Sales: Why Price Agreement Is Key in Philippine Contracts
Philippine contract law requires a meeting of minds on price for property sales. Learn from a Supreme Court ruling on consent and judicial ethics.
Integrity in Public Service: Consequences of Dishonest Civil Service Eligibility in the Philippines
Explore the Supreme Court ruling on dismissing a court employee for fraudulently obtaining civil service eligibility, and its implications for public servants.
Upholding Court Orders: Administrative Liability for Judicial Delay in the Philippines
A look at how the Supreme Court penalizes judges for failing to decide cases within the 90-day constitutional period.
Protecting Seafarer Rights When Letters of Indemnity Don't Hold Water in Illegal Dismissal Cases
Philippine Supreme Court rules that seafarers' letters of indemnity are void when coerced, upholding illegal dismissal claims and wage protections.
Philippine Supreme Court Upholds Buyer Rights Subdivision Developer Must Fulfill Obligations Despite Payment S
Buyers may suspend installment payments when a subdivision developer fails to deliver promised improvements, the Supreme Court ruled in Tamayo v. Huang.
Moral Turpitude and Lawyer Disbarment: The Case of Frustrated Homicide in the Philippines
When does a frustrated homicide conviction lead to disbarment? The Supreme Court explains moral turpitude and a lawyer's duty of good character.
Sheriff Accountability: Why Mishandling Court Funds Can Lead to Disciplinary Action
Learn how sheriffs mishandling court funds face administrative liability, and what the Supreme Court's ruling means for public accountability.
Second Chances in the Judiciary: Understanding Judicial Clemency for Court Personnel
The Supreme Court explains when it may grant judicial clemency to dismissed court personnel, citing the case of a sheriff who erred on new procedural rules.
Pledged Shares and Lost Chances: No Right of Redemption in Philippine Pledge Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that pledged personal property, including shares of stock, has no right of redemption after extrajudicial foreclosure.
Dismissed Appeal: Why Timely Docket Fee Payment Is Non-Negotiable in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court affirms that paying appellate docket fees on time is mandatory and jurisdictional—late payment can kill an appeal.
Common vs Private Carrier: Liability for Lost Cargo in Philippine Shipping
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a shipping company remains a common carrier despite a voyage charter, and its liability for lost cargo.
Eyewitness Testimony vs Expert Opinion in Philippine Murder Trials
The Supreme Court explains why eyewitness accounts can outweigh ballistics expert testimony in murder cases, and when courts may disregard expert opinions.
Land Title Registration: Why Government Declassification Is Essential in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains why land must be declassified as alienable before it can be privately owned and registered.