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.
Extinguishment of Criminal Liability: How Death Before Final Judgment Impacts Guilt and Civil Obligations
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how an accused's death before final judgment extinguishes criminal liability and affects civil damages.
Grave Abuse of Discretion Clarifying Reconveyance Obligations in Property Disputes
Supreme Court clarifies that a spouse's written consent is essential to a valid mortgage of conjugal property, and explains the two-bidder rule.
PAGCOR Tax Landscape: Franchise Tax vs Income Tax Obligations Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies PAGCOR's tax liabilities: 5% franchise tax on gaming income, income tax on related services, and FBT obligations.
PAGCOR Tax Ruling Clarifies Income Tax, VAT, and Fringe Benefit Liability
Supreme Court ruling clarifies PAGCOR's tax liability: 5% franchise tax on gaming income, income tax on related services, and FBT obligations.
Timely Claims and Limited Liability: Arrastre Operator Obligations in Cargo Damage Cases
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when cargo damage claims against arrastre operators are timely filed and how liability limits apply.
Medical Abandonment in Seafarer Disability Claims: Upholding Treatment Obligations
Filing a disability claim while still under treatment can backfire. The Supreme Court explains medical abandonment in seafarer cases.
Mutual Termination of a Construction Contract Does Not Erase Unpaid Obligations
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that mutually terminating a government construction contract does not waive the contractor's right to collect payment for work already completed.
Withholding Tax Obligations: When Final Withholding Tax Becomes Due
Learn when final withholding tax obligations arise under Philippine tax law, based on a Supreme Court ruling on interest payments.
Right of Way vs Contractual Obligations: Enforcing Compromise Agreements in Property Development
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when courts may review factual findings and how contractual penalties are reduced in breach cases.
Bank Closure Suspends Obligations: Impact on B.P. 22 Cases
When a bank is closed by the Monetary Board, obligations are suspended. This ruling explains why B.P. 22 charges may fail.
Easement Rights and Property Development: Clarifying Limits and Obligations in Construction Projects
Understand how the Supreme Court distinguishes reversion from annulment of titles, and what this means for property owners and developers.
Perfecting Land Sales Understanding Contractual Obligations AND Legal Timelines IN Philippine Property LAW
Learn the legal rules on perfecting land sales in the Philippines, including contractual obligations and critical timelines under property law.
Insurance Proceeds AND Corporate Rehabilitation Land Banks Obligation TO Reimburse
Lease Agreements and Assignment of Rights: Clarifying Obligations and Remedies
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how assignment of rights affects lease agreements, including rescission rules and payment obligations.
Acknowledgment of Debt and the Best Evidence Rule: BPI v. Mendoza
The Supreme Court clarifies when a photocopy of a document may be admitted as evidence, and how a debtor's own acts can prove an obligation.
Timely Disability Claims: Seafarers' Rights and Employer Obligations Under POEA-SEC
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified seafarers' disability claims, the 120/240-day rule, and why timely filing matters under POEA-SEC.
Successor Government Agencies Bound by Prior Lease Agreements: Key Lessons from PMO v. PIC
When a government agency takes over another's assets, it also inherits lease obligations. The Supreme Court explains why.
Upholding Contractual Obligations: The Duty to Remit Funds in Agency Agreements
When can an agent withhold funds from a principal? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of an agent's right of retention and the duty to remit.
Insurance Policy Incontestability Clarifying Reinstatement Dates And Insurer Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when the incontestability period starts after policy reinstatement, and what insurers must prove to deny claims.
Supreme Court: A Signed Check Creates a Presumption of Debt Even Without Written Contract
The Supreme Court rules that a signed, dishonored check is enough to prove an obligation, even without a written contract or delivery receipts.
Voluntary Prevention Doctrine When a Party Frustrates Contractual Obligations
When a party blocks a condition precedent, the law treats it as fulfilled, making the obligation demandable.
Surety’s Liability: The Extent and Limits Under Philippine Law
Understand the scope of a surety’s obligations in the Philippines, including liability limits, defenses, and key legal principles.
Treaty Obligations vs Domestic Law: Enforceability of UN Human Rights Committee Views in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court rules that UN Human Rights Committee views are recommendatory, not enforceable through mandamus in Philippine courts.
When a Right to Top Fails: Severability and Conditional Obligations in Share Sales
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how severability clauses and conditional obligations determine bidder rights when a preferential right is voided.