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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Forcible Entry: Prior Possession Matters More Than Land Ownership
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that in forcible entry cases, prior physical possession—not ownership—determines who stays on the property.
Litis Pendentia: When the First-Filed Case Must Yield to a More Appropriate Action
The Supreme Court explains when a first-filed case may be dismissed for litis pendentia in favor of a more appropriate later action.
Upholding Judicial Authority: Dismissal for Sheriff's Misconduct and Disobedience
A sheriff who levied on property not owned by the judgment debtor and defied court orders was dismissed from service for grave misconduct and insubordination.
Ethical Boundaries FOR Lawyers Avoiding Misleading Claims AND Upholding Court Dignity
Illegal Recruitment and Estafa: When Overseas Job Promises Turn Into Crimes
Learn how Philippine courts punish syndicated illegal recruitment and estafa, based on a Supreme Court ruling on fake overseas job schemes.
Syndicated Illegal Recruitment and Estafa: When a Travel Agency Owner Is Liable for Overseas Employment Scams
A travel agency owner's conviction for syndicated illegal recruitment and estafa affirmed by the Supreme Court in People v. Adeser.
Banking Law: Directors Borrowing and the Necessity of Board Approval
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when bank directors and officers may borrow from their own bank and why board approval is mandatory.
Arbitration Prevails: Upholding Agreements Amid Contractual Disputes
The Supreme Court affirms that arbitration clauses survive main contract disputes, reinforcing the doctrine of separability in Philippine law.
Illegal Dismissal The Employers Burden OF Proof AND Ratification OF Unauthorized Actions
The Supreme Court clarifies the employer's burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases and the doctrine of ratification of unauthorized acts.
Dacion en Pago Perfecting Ownership Despite Prior Encumbrances
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on dacion en pago, mortgage liens, and the right to compel surrender of a certificate of title.
Republication of Foreclosure Sale Notices: Protecting Third-Party Rights
When a foreclosure sale is postponed, the notice must be republished and reposted. The Supreme Court explains why in Metrobank v. Nikko Sources.
Just Compensation Under RA 6657: What Landowners Should Know About Agrarian Reform Valuation
Supreme Court clarifies when RA 6657 governs agrarian reform land valuation instead of PD 27 and EO 228, and how just compensation is determined.
SK Candidates and Political Dynasties: What the Calubag Ruling Means
The Supreme Court affirms cancellation of an SK chairperson's COC for misrepresentation under the anti-dynasty rule.
Protecting the Innocent: The Vital Role of Testimony and Medical Evidence in Statutory Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a qualified rape conviction, explaining how a child victim's credible testimony and medical findings secure justice.
Consent Under Threat: Rape, Recantation, and Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies statutory rape, consent, and recantation in People v. Peralta, affirming conviction and damages.
Prescription in Reconveyance: Clarifying the Four-Year Rule for Actions Based on Threat and Intimidation
The Supreme Court clarifies when the four-year prescriptive period runs in reconveyance actions based on threat and intimidation, not fraud.
When Silence Speaks: Convicting on a Child's Testimony in Philippine Rape Cases
In People v. Peralta, the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction based mainly on the child victim's testimony, showing how courts weigh credibility in rape cases.
Protecting Marital Property: The Necessity of Spousal Consent in Property Sales
Learn how the Supreme Court protects conjugal property from unauthorized sales by one spouse, and why buyers must verify spousal consent.
Privatization vs Pending Disciplinary Actions: Navigating Jurisdiction in Employee Cases
When a government bank turns private, does the CSC lose jurisdiction over pending employee disciplinary appeals? The Supreme Court clarifies.
Mortgage Rights Prevail: Protecting Secured Creditors in Labor Disputes
Supreme Court ruling on secured creditors' mortgage rights versus labor judgment execution, and the limits of piercing the corporate veil.
When Property Titles Arent Always What They Seem Understanding Encumbrances AND Conditional Sales
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a reconveyance claim prescribes, distinguishing fraud from intimidation, and the importance of due process in property disputes.
Search Warrants Beyond Territorial Limits: Executive Judge Authority in Drug Cases
When can a Manila judge issue a search warrant for a house in Pampanga? The Supreme Court explains executive judge authority in drug cases.
Safeguarding Election Integrity and Due Process in COMELEC's Ballot Appreciation
The Supreme Court clarifies when COMELEC's internal ballot appreciation requires notice and how due process applies in election contests.
Bereavement Leave and Death Benefits: Protecting Employees' Rights in Times of Loss
The Supreme Court ruled that bereavement leave and death benefits under a CBA cover the death of an unborn child. Learn the legal basis.