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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Elections Held Despite a TRO Are Not Automatically Void: Supreme Court Clarifies
The Supreme Court explains when an election held in defiance of a temporary restraining order may be annulled, and when it may stand.
Losing the Right to Appeal: The Importance of Following Election Rules in Electric Cooperatives
A Supreme Court ruling on election contests shows why strict compliance with procedural rules in electric cooperative elections is non-negotiable.
Union Elections: Due Process and Membership Rights in Internal Disputes
The Supreme Court rules on due process in union elections, BLR jurisdiction over intra-union disputes, and members' rights.
Manifest Error or Falsification: The Scope of Pre-Proclamation Controversies in Philippine Elections
The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of pre-proclamation controversies, distinguishing correctible manifest errors from election protests requiring evidence aliunde.
Three-Term Limit: Contested Elections Don't Break Consecutive Service
Philippine Supreme Court rules that serving a full term despite a voided proclamation still counts toward the three-term limit for local officials.
COMELEC’s Decisive Power: Ensuring Fair Elections Beyond Procedural Technicalities
The Supreme Court affirms COMELEC’s broad authority to act decisively on election irregularities, prioritizing credible elections over procedural technicalities.
Ballot Integrity and Fair Elections: Lessons from Juan v. COMELEC on Post-Election Tampering
How the Supreme Court handled claims of post-election tampering and marked ballots in a barangay election protest, and what it means for ballot integrity.
Disqualification Before Election Day: Final Judgments in Philippine Electoral Law
When a candidate is disqualified by final judgment before elections, votes cast for them are not counted. Learn the rule from Cayat v. COMELEC.
Electoral Tribunals Exclusive Jurisdiction Challenging Congressional Elections After Proclamation
The Supreme Court clarifies the boundary between COMELEC's jurisdiction over election annulment and the exclusive authority of electoral tribunals over election contests.
Failure of Elections vs Election Protest: Jurisdiction and Pleading Requirements
Supreme Court clarifies when election annulment petitions fall under COMELEC En Banc jurisdiction and why fraud allegations need an election protest.
Respecting Voters' Intent: The Importance of Liberal Ballot Interpretation in Philippine Elections
How Philippine election law favors liberal ballot appreciation to protect voters' intent, and why courts defer to COMELEC's expertise.
Decoding Stray Votes: How Philippine Courts Validate Ballots With Misplaced Candidate Names
The Supreme Court explains the "neighborhood rule" for misplaced votes in barangay elections, and where the line is drawn.
Upholding Electoral Integrity: Failure of Elections and Hold-Over Principles in Barangay Governance
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on failure of elections, void proclamations, and hold-over principles under RA 9164 in barangay governance.
Commingling and Certification Elections: Navigating Union Affiliations in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when commingling of rank-and-file and supervisory union officers bars separate certification elections.
Premature Campaigning: Defining Candidate Status Before the Election Period
The Supreme Court clarifies when a candidate is deemed to have campaigned prematurely and the rules on disqualification cases filed before elections.
Accountability in Public Office: Canvassers' Duty of Care in Elections
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on election canvassers' liability for certifying padded votes, and the ethical duties of lawyers in public service.
Disqualification and Succession in Local Elections: The Sinsuat Case
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on disqualification of winning candidates, ballot appreciation, and succession rules in Philippine local elections.
Lost Votes Lost Mandates: Why Proper Comelec Rehearing Procedures Matter in Philippine Elections
A tied Comelec vote on a mayoral proclamation was resolved by "re-consultation" instead of a rehearing. The Supreme Court explains why procedure matters.
Comelec Jurisdiction Over Plebiscites Ensuring Electoral Integrity Beyond Elections
The Supreme Court affirms Comelec’s exclusive jurisdiction over plebiscite disputes, upholding its authority to revise ballots and declare results.
Intra-Union Disputes: Jurisdiction Lies With the Bureau of Labor Relations
The Supreme Court clarifies that the Bureau of Labor Relations has exclusive jurisdiction over intra-union disputes, including elections of officers in government employee organizations.
Taxing Electoral Contributions: Clarifying Gift Tax Law in Philippine Elections
Supreme Court ruling that political contributions are taxable gifts under the NIRC, absent an express exemption.
Upholding Union Democracy: Illegal Suspensions, Elections, and Financial Transparency
Supreme Court affirms penalties for union officers who suspended members without due process, held premature elections, and failed to render financial reports.
Nickname Recognition in Philippine Elections: Upholding Voters' Intent Despite Technicalities
Learn how Philippine election law treats nicknames on ballots, the idem sonans rule, and why procedural remedies matter in election contests.
COMELEC's Duty to Hold Special Barangay Elections After a Failed Poll: The Sambarani Doctrine
The Supreme Court ruled that COMELEC cannot refuse to hold special barangay elections after a failure of election, and that incumbent officials hold over until successors are elected.