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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VAT Refund Claims: Strict Deadlines and Proper Documentation Required
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies VAT refund rules: strict 2-year filing deadlines and the necessity of official receipts for zero-rated services.
Navigating SEC Appeals: Understanding the Scope of Review and Due Process
The Supreme Court clarifies when appellate courts may relax procedural rules and the limits of certiorari review in labor appeals.
Compromise Agreements Prevail Resolving Tax Disputes Through Mutual Concessions
When parties settle tax disputes by compromise, courts may set aside prior rulings. The Supreme Court explains the binding effect of such agreements.
When a Corporate Club Member Changes Nominees: Who Pays the Membership Fee?
Supreme Court ruling on whether a golf club can charge new membership fees when a corporate member replaces its designated nominees.
Default Orders and Due Process: Protecting Defendants' Rights in Philippine Courts
Learn how Philippine courts balance default orders with due process, and what defendants must prove to lift a default judgment.
Finality of Judgment vs. Post-Decision Motions: Lessons from a Disbarred Lawyer’s Contempt
A disbarred lawyer’s belated motion fails; Court enforces final judgment, cites indirect contempt for defiance.
Theft and Dishonesty in Public Service: Consequences for Retirement Benefits and Re-Employment
Supreme Court rules on theft, dishonesty in public service, and how retirement does not erase administrative liability or preserve benefits.
Challenging Election Results AND Preserving Voter Intent
Challenging election results is a legal process governed by strict rules. This article explains the requirements for election protests and how courts balance ballot integrity with voter intent.
No-Build Zones and National Permits: What Aquino v. Malay Means for Developers
The Supreme Court ruled that a DENR permit does not override local no-build zone ordinances. Here's what developers must know.
Rehabilitation Proceedings: Balancing Creditor Rights and Corporate Recovery
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies creditor participation rights in corporate rehabilitation appeals, balancing recovery goals with due process.
Due Process in Corporate Rehabilitation: Creditors' Right to Participate on Appeal
Supreme Court ruling on creditors' right to participate in corporate rehabilitation appeals, protecting due process and equal footing principles.
Duplicate Originals as Evidence: When Photocopies Are Admissible in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when duplicate originals are admissible evidence, reversing the Court of Appeals' exclusion of invoices in a collection case.
Indispensable Parties: Due Process in Criminal Appeals Before the CA
The Supreme Court rules on why the People must be impleaded in certiorari petitions before the Court of Appeals.
Upholding Ethical Standards Lawyer Suspended FOR Dishonoring Financial Obligations AND Disrespecting Legal Processes
Good Faith vs Due Diligence: Unmasking the Innocent Purchaser Doctrine
The Supreme Court clarifies that buyers of registered land must go beyond the title when circumstances raise suspicion. Learn the limits of the innocent purchaser defense.
Correcting Civil Registry Entries: Balancing Administrative Efficiency and Due Process
The Supreme Court clarifies when civil registry corrections need courts versus administrative action, protecting legitimacy rights.
Upholding Search Warrants in Copyright Infringement Cases: Balancing Rights and Due Process
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may quash search warrants in software piracy cases, and when they must uphold them.
Moral Damages for Illegal Suspension: Bad Faith and Due Process in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Airlines v. Montinola: illegally suspended employees can recover moral and exemplary damages when the employer acts in bad faith or denies due process.
Unfair Competition Copying and Employee Recruitment As Unjust Business Practices
When does copying a rival's products and hiring its employees become unfair competition under Philippine law? The Supreme Court explains.
Due Process Rights in JBC Proceedings: Ensuring Fairness in Judicial Appointments
The Supreme Court's 2014 ruling in Jardeleza v. Sereno clarifies due process and the integrity challenge rule in Judicial and Bar Council nomination proceedings.
Upholding Procedural Rules: The Necessity of Complete Documentation in Appeals
The Supreme Court reminds litigants that appeals demand strict compliance with documentation rules under Rule 42.
Usurious Interest and Foreclosure: When Unconscionable Loan Terms Void a Foreclosure Sale
A Supreme Court ruling on how excessive interest rates can invalidate a foreclosure sale, and what borrowers and lenders must know.
Habitual Absenteeism in Public Service: Upholding Efficiency and Accountability
The Supreme Court dismisses a process server for habitual absenteeism, reaffirming that public office is a public trust demanding efficiency and accountability.
SEC Authority Over Pre-Need Plan Sales: Due Process and Cease and Desist Orders
The Supreme Court upheld the SEC's power to issue cease and desist orders against unregistered pre-need plan sales without a prior hearing in Primanila Plans v. SEC.