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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Duty to Bargain Union Representation Despite Pending Cancellation Proceedings
Philippine Supreme Court rules on duty to bargain despite pending union cancellation, labor-only contracting, and illegal dismissal.
Accountability for Band Robbery and Kidnapping: Upholding Victim Rights and Public Safety
Supreme Court affirms convictions for robbery by a band and kidnapping for ransom, clarifying penalties, damages, and the weight of witness credibility.
Norkis Trading v. Buenavista: Labor-Only Contracting and Employer Status
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on labor-only contracting, employer status, and the binding effect of DOLE findings in Norkis Trading v. Buenavista.
Accountability in Armed Robbery and Kidnapping: Defining Roles and Liabilities
A look at how Philippine courts assign criminal liability to each participant in armed robbery and kidnapping-for-ransom, based on a 2012 Supreme Court ruling.
Buy-Bust Operations and Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Key Lessons
A Supreme Court ruling explains why strict compliance with chain of custody rules matters—and when minor lapses won't defeat a drug conviction.
Banks Duty TO Depositors VS Third Party Claims Navigating Conflicting Interests
School Discipline and Due Process: Balancing Rights in Fraternity Membership Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies due process standards in student discipline, affirming schools' authority to penalize fraternity membership.
Heir Exclusion and Property Sale: Validity and Rights in Estate Settlements
Learn how excluding heirs voids an extrajudicial settlement, the sale's partial validity, and heirs' rights in estate distribution.
Perpetual Disqualification: How a Criminal Conviction Affects Candidacy in the Philippines
A criminal conviction can permanently bar a person from running for public office in the Philippines. Learn the rules on disqualification, substitution, and what voters should know.
Can a Second-Placer Win After a Substitute Candidate Is Disqualified? The Talaga Case
A substitute candidate cannot replace a disqualified candidate whose certificate of candidacy was cancelled. Learn what this means for election contests.
Concurrent Jurisdiction: The CSC's Role in Disciplining State University Personnel
The Supreme Court clarifies that the CSC shares original jurisdiction with state university boards of regents over administrative cases against school officials.
CSC Jurisdiction Over Administrative Cases Against State University Officials
Supreme Court rules CSC shares original jurisdiction with state university boards of regents over administrative cases filed directly by any complainant.
Water Rights and Foreign Investment: Protecting Philippine Natural Resources
The Supreme Court clarifies constitutional limits on foreign ownership of water resources and power assets in the Philippines.
Defining Capital: Filipino Control of Public Utilities Under the Constitution
The Supreme Court clarifies that mean in the Constitution's requirement that public utilities be at least 60% Filipino-owned? The answer—that "capital" refers to voting stock, not all outstanding shar
Protecting Realty Installment Buyers Understanding Contract Cancellation AND Legal Recourse
Learn how the Maceda Law protects realty installment buyers from unlawful contract cancellation and what legal recourse they have.
Chain OF Custody IN Drug Cases Ensuring Integrity OF Evidence FOR Conviction 2
Preliminary Injunctions Upholding Foreclosure Rights Absent A Clear Legal Violation
Trust Receipts vs Ordinary Loans: When Debt Restructuring Does Not Erase Criminal Liability
Philippine National Bank v. Soriano clarifies when restructuring a trust receipt loan does not extinguish criminal liability for estafa under PD 115.
When Due Process Is Denied: Judge Fined for Ignoring Indispensable Parties and Legal Procedures
A Supreme Court administrative case shows how a judge was fined for ignoring indispensable parties, skipping summons rules, and violating notice requirements.
Construction Contracts Provisional Approval AND THE Right TO RE Evaluate Work
Upholding Judicial Integrity: Dismissal for Gross Ignorance of the Law in Reopening Finalized Criminal Cases
A judge's dismissal for reopening a final and executory criminal case, and the duty of courts to respect finality of judgment.
Foreclosure vs Rehabilitation: When a Stay Order Takes Effect
A stay order in corporate rehabilitation does not undo a foreclosure completed before the petition. Ownership matters.
Taxation of Non-Profit Hospitals: Balancing Charity and Commerce in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when non-profit hospitals lose income tax exemption and pay the 10% preferential rate under the NIRC.
Tax Amnesty Under RA 9480: Can It Cover Prior Tax Assessments?
The Supreme Court ruled that a taxpayer may avail of the 2007 tax amnesty under RA 9480 even with a pending assessment, settling the scope of the program.