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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Voluntary Resignation Bars Seafarers Claims Understanding Contractual Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how voluntary resignation affects seafarers' claims for sickness allowance and disability benefits under POEA contracts.
Sheriff Dismissed for Grave Misconduct and Dishonesty Over Bail Bond Dealings
Supreme Court dismisses a sheriff for grave misconduct and dishonesty after he pocketed money meant for a complainant's bail bond.
Philippine Supreme Court Upholds Cigarette Tax Classification and Uniformity
The Court upholds the constitutionality of the cigarette excise tax classification system under RA 9334, rejecting equal protection, uniformity, and unfair competition challenges.
Enforcing a Final Disbarment Ruling: The Doctrine of Immutability of Judgment in A.C. No. 12880
The Supreme Court enforces a final disbarment decision, citing the doctrine of immutability of judgment and holding a lawyer in contempt for defiance.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Imprecise Dates in Information
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction despite vague dates in information, clarifying that exact date is not essential element of rape.
Due Process in Dismissal: What the Supreme Court Really Requires
A 2009 Supreme Court ruling clarifies that a formal hearing is not always required before an employee is dismissed — only a genuine chance to be heard.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: The Meaning of "Ample Opportunity to Be Heard"
The Supreme Court clarifies that a formal hearing is not always required before dismissing an employee—what matters is a meaningful opportunity to be heard.
Liability on Roads When Foresight Falls Short
When a bank manager treated a personal check as cash in the vault, the Supreme Court clarified liability under the Anti-Graft Law.
Homestead Patents and Mortgage Restrictions: Protecting Family Lands From Encumbrances
The Supreme Court voids mortgages on homestead lands made within five years of patent issuance, protecting family properties from premature encumbrances.
Judicial Conduct: Premature Archiving of Criminal Cases and the Bounds of Ignorance of the Law
The Supreme Court fined a judge for gross ignorance of the law after prematurely archiving a criminal case, clarifying rules on trial in absentia.
Missed Deadlines and Denied Probation: Understanding Appeal Periods in Philippine Law
Learn how the Supreme Court's fresh period rule affects appeal deadlines, using a landmark insurance liability case as guide.
Upholding Ethical Conduct When Court Employees Lie, Cheat, or Defraud
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on dismissing employees for dishonesty and loss of trust, and what it means for due process in termination cases.
NTC Cannot Cancel Broadcast CPCs: The Dual Franchise and License Regime Explained
The Supreme Court rules the NTC has no power to cancel broadcast licenses issued to legislative franchise holders, clarifying the dual regulatory regime.
When a Bank’s “Warehousing” Trust Fails: Lessons from Tala Realty v. Banco Filipino
A look at Tala Realty v. Banco Filipino, where the Supreme Court struck down a bank’s secret trust scheme to evade real estate limits.
Condominium Rights: Exclusive Use vs Unrestricted Construction on Common Areas
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that exclusive use of a condominium limited common area does not permit unrestricted construction or leasing to third persons.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails Safeguarding Individual Rights In Drug Cases
Supreme Court acquits drug suspect where police testimony was improbable and chain of custody was broken.
Probable Cause vs DOJ Secretary's Discretion in Parricide Cases: Key Lessons from Asetre v. Asetre
The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of judicial review over the DOJ Secretary's finding of probable cause in parricide and murder cases.
Loss of Confidence in Philippine Labor Law: When Employers Must Prove Just Cause
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers may dismiss for loss of confidence and what due process requires in termination cases.
Probable Cause vs Prosecutorial Discretion: The Metrobank v. Gonzales Ruling on Trust Receipt Estafa
The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of the Secretary of Justice's power to reverse probable cause findings in trust receipt estafa cases.
Original Proponent Rights in BOT Projects: The NAIA Terminal 3 Case
Learn what the Supreme Court said about original proponent rights in BOT projects, using the NAIA Terminal 3 case as a guide.
Trust Receipts and Estafa: What Philippine Businesses Should Know
Supreme Court clarifies probable cause standards in trust receipt violations under PD 115, safeguarding financial transactions in the Philippines.
Deceptive Recruitment: When Promises of Overseas Jobs Lead to Criminal Liability
The Supreme Court holds recruitment agencies liable for moral damages when they abandon distressed OFWs and make baseless claims of suicide.
Land Ownership Disputes: Grounds for Dismissal in Property Recovery Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when dismissal is improper in property recovery cases, emphasizing that prescription, laches, and res judicata require proof.
Protecting Your Property Purchase: The Innocent Purchaser for Value Doctrine in Philippine Law
Learn how the Supreme Court protects innocent purchasers for value under Philippine property law, and what buyers must do to secure their titles.