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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
COSLAP Jurisdiction: When Can the Commission Settle Land Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies the limited jurisdiction of COSLAP over land disputes, distinguishing it from DARAB's agrarian cases.
Employee Termination: Just Cause and Due Process Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the standards for valid employee termination in the Philippines, focusing on just cause and due process requirements.
Dismissal for Dishonesty, Grave Misconduct, and Breach of Public Trust in the Judiciary
The Supreme Court affirms the dismissal of a court employee for dishonesty, grave misconduct, and breach of public trust, underscoring the strict standards of conduct required of judiciary personnel.
Upholding Due Process in Search Warrants: The Kho v. Lanzanas Standard
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies probable cause standards for search warrants and due process in intellectual property cases.
DARAB Jurisdiction Covers Agrarian Disputes Beyond Landlord-Tenant Relationships
Supreme Court clarifies DARAB jurisdiction extends to all agrarian disputes, including joint production agreements under CARP, not just traditional landlord-tenant cases.
Managerial Staff vs Regular Employees: Overtime Pay and Labor Standards in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains why managerial staff, like regular employees, are exempt from overtime pay and other labor standard benefits.
Philippine Mining Disputes: DENR Jurisdiction vs. Court Authority
When do Philippine courts, not the DENR, decide mining contract disputes? The Supreme Court clarifies the boundary in Asaphil v. Tuason.
Boundary-Hulog Agreements and Employer-Employee Relations: What Drivers Should Know
A boundary-hulog agreement does not automatically erase the employer-employee relationship. Control over the driver remains the key test.
Seafarer Disability Claims: Heart Condition and Fitness for Sea Duty After Bypass Surgery
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarer permanent total disability benefits after heart bypass surgery under the 1996 POEA Standard Employment Contract.
Lawyer Fined for Shouting at Court Staff and Defying IBP Orders
Supreme Court imposes fines on lawyer for disrespecting court personnel and disobeying IBP directives, reinforcing ethical standards for attorneys.
Salary Standardization Law: When Allowance Integration Is Valid Under RA 6758
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling that NPC's integration of employee welfare allowance into salaries under RA 6758 was valid, and why mandamus failed.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies in CARP Exemption Cases: Lessons from Santos Development Corp.
A landowner's failure to follow DAR administrative procedures bars judicial relief, even in mandamus petitions. Learn the key rules.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Key in Agrarian Reform Exemption Cases
Landowners must follow DAR procedures before going to court, as shown in Nicanor T. Santos Development Corp. v. DAR.
Navigating Agrarian Disputes: DARAB Jurisdiction and Tenancy Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when DARAB has jurisdiction over agrarian disputes and what evidence proves tenancy and ownership rights.
Defining the Boundaries of Rape When Contact Does Not Constitute Penetration
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when sexual contact without penetration constitutes rape, examining the legal definition and elements of the crime.
Integrity Under Scrutiny: Dismissal for Dishonesty in the Philippine Judiciary
A sheriff's dismissal for dishonesty, grave misconduct, and neglect of duty underscores the high ethical standards demanded of court personnel.
Navigating Anti-Graft Laws in Philippine Government Transactions: Good Faith and Due Diligence
Learn how Philippine courts apply good faith and due diligence standards in government asset sales under the Anti-Graft Law.
Private Misconduct Public Accountability Upholding Ethical Standards FOR Philippine Judicial Employees
Succession in Lease Agreements: Heirs' Obligations and Contractual Liabilities
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lease succession, heirs' obligations, and contractual liabilities in property sales with boundaries.
Area vs Boundaries in Philippine Property Sales: What Buyers Must Know
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when stated land area prevails over boundaries in property sales, and when price adjustments apply.
Sheriff’s Duties and the Boundaries of Conduct in Foreclosure Sales
A sheriff’s fee demand before an auction can breach decorum. The Court fines a sheriff for conduct that put the judiciary in a compromising light.
Agricultural Leasehold Contracts: When Are They Void? Land Ownership and Tenancy Rights Explained
Learn when agricultural leasehold contracts are void under Philippine law, and how land ownership and DARAB jurisdiction affect tenancy rights.
Upholding Ethical Boundaries: Attorney-Client Privilege and Conflict of Interest in Disbarment Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when lawyers may be disciplined for representing conflicting interests, even across different cases and clients.
Probationary Employment in Academia: Ateneo's Right to Set Standards for Faculty Retention
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling that universities may set their own standards for probationary faculty retention, and how the Manual of Regulations for Private Schools applies.