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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Corporate Rehabilitation Stay Orders: What They Mean for Property Claims
The Supreme Court explains how a stay order in corporate rehabilitation suspends all claims, including demands for specific performance of property sales.
Sales Commissions Are Wages: Supreme Court Ruling on Unpaid Commissions and Unauthorized Deductions
Sales commissions are wages under Philippine law. Learn what the Supreme Court ruled on unpaid commissions and unauthorized car plan deductions.
Unregistered Donations vs Registered Sales: Priority in Land Ownership Disputes
When a donation isn't registered, a later buyer who relies on the Torrens title may win ownership. Learn the rules.
Untangling VAT Refund Claims Navigating Deadlines for Zero-Rated Sales
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified the mandatory deadlines for VAT refund claims on zero-rated sales, and why missing them is fatal.
Upholding Notarized Deeds: Supreme Court on Authenticity and Forgery in Property Sales
The Supreme Court affirms that notarized deeds enjoy a presumption of authenticity, and forgery claims require clear and convincing evidence to overturn them.
Breach of Express Warranty When Road Widening Impacts Property Sales in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that express warranties in deeds of sale differ from implied warranty against eviction, entitling buyer to refund.
Upholding Contract Validity Against Claims of Forgery and Incapacity in Property Sales
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on proving forgery, mental incapacity, and undue influence when challenging notarized property sales.
Res Judicata and Due Process in Tax Sales: Ignacio v. City Treasurer of Quezon City
When a tax sale is challenged for lack of notice, res judicata may not bar the case if the earlier judgment did not rule on the sale's validity.
Res Judicata and Due Process in Tax Sales: When a Prior Case Does Not Bar a New Suit
The Supreme Court clarifies when res judicata applies in tax delinquency sales and protects property owners' right to due process.
Just Compensation in Expropriation: Timing and Evidence Standards
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when just compensation is reckoned and why courts cannot rely on arbitrary or stale comparable sales.
Buy-Bust Operations: Entrapment vs Instigation in Illegal Drug Sales
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between entrapment and instigation in buy-bust operations, affirming a drug sale conviction.
Spousal Consent in Property Sales: Why a Sale Without Written Consent Is Void
Selling conjugal property without the other spouse's written consent is void under Philippine law. Learn the rules and buyer protections.
Filing an Annulment Case Does Not Stop the Redemption Period in Foreclosure Sales
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that filing an annulment case does not toll the one-year redemption period in extrajudicial foreclosure sales.
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.
Replevin and Vehicle Sales: When Entrusting Your Car Makes You Lose Ownership
A Supreme Court ruling on replevin clarifies when entrusting a vehicle to an agent for sale transfers ownership, and what claimants must prove.
VAT Refund Timeliness: The 120-Day Rule, BIR Ruling DA-489-03, and Strict Proof Requirements
Learn how the Supreme Court applied the San Roque doctrine to a prematurely filed VAT refund claim and the strict rules on zero-rated sales and invoicing.
Summary Judgment vs Trial: Protecting Rights in Contract Disputes
How the Supreme Court protects judgment debtors from irregular execution sales in contract disputes, and what it means for your rights.
Improper Levy Voids Execution Sale Protecting Due Process in Debt Recovery
Supreme Court rules labor tribunals cannot hold corporate officers liable without summons, voiding execution sales against them.
Invalid Execution Sales: The Imperative of Proper Levy on Properties in the Philippines
A lawful levy is a prerequisite to a valid execution sale. Learn the rules from a 2016 Supreme Court ruling.
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.
Upholding Real Estate Sales: The Limits of Unilateral Contract Rescission
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that a seller cannot unilaterally rescind a real estate sale without a court decree or contractual stipulation.
Solidary Liability in Subdivision Sales: AFP Retirement System v. Sanvictores
Supreme Court holds co-sellers jointly liable under Contract to Sell, explaining solidary obligations and apparent authority under Philippine law.
Possession Disputes When Foreclosure Sales Meet Adverse Claims
When can a third-party possessor block a writ of possession after foreclosure? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules in Hernandez v. Ocampo.
Rescission Rights Enforcing Compromise Agreements In Property Sales
When a buyer defaults on a court-approved compromise agreement, the seller may rescind and enforce the original contract without a separate action.