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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THE Binding Nature OF Undertakings Return OF Excess Payment IN Maritime Employment Disputes
A Chain of Circumstances: Proving Robbery with Homicide Beyond Reasonable Doubt
The Supreme Court upheld a robbery with homicide conviction built on circumstantial evidence after rejecting a flawed line-up and a coerced confession.
Breach of Company Policy in Employee Termination: Due Process Lessons from SURNECO v. Gonzaga
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling shows that violating your own company procedure during dismissal can cost an employer P30,000 in nominal damages even if the dismissal is valid.
Just Cause vs. Due Process: Supreme Court on Employee Dismissal and Company Procedure
When is a dismissal valid despite procedural lapses? The Supreme Court clarifies just cause, due process, and nominal damages in labor cases.
Tax Sales and Due Process: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts protect landowners from defective tax sales and uphold due process in property forfeiture cases.
Moral Ascendancy IN Familial Rape Cases When A Fathers Authority Replaces Physical Force
Teacher Discipline and Due Process: Grave Misconduct in Philippine Schools
A teacher's physical punishment of a student constitutes grave misconduct, but mitigating factors can temper the penalty of dismissal.
Claim Denied Strict Compliance Required FOR Local TAX Refund Claims IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on local tax refund claims, emphasizing strict compliance with procedural requirements and the consequences of non-compliance.
Erosion of Public Trust: Dismissal for Graft and Corruption in the Judiciary
A process server's dismissal for soliciting money from litigants underscores the strict accountability of court personnel in the Philippines.
Waiver of Demand and Interest Rate Limits in Philippine Loan Agreements
The Supreme Court clarifies when demand is unnecessary before default and why courts reduce excessive stipulated interest rates.
Separation Pay and Due Process in Valid Dismissals: Lessons from Unilever v. Rivera
The Supreme Court clarifies when separation pay is due to validly dismissed employees and the procedural due process required in termination cases.
Judicial Overreach Limits on Agrarian Reform Adjudicators and Due Process
A lawyer-adjudicator's suspension for issuing writs of possession before an appealed order became final, violating due process and DARAB rules.
The Writ of Amparo and Enforced Disappearances: Accountability Beyond Criminal Guilt
The Supreme Court clarifies the writ of amparo's preventive and curative roles in enforced disappearance cases, emphasizing the duty to investigate.
Security of Tenure and CES Appointments: Lessons from De Castro v. Carlos
Explaining when a government position belongs to the Career Executive Service and what security of tenure really means for presidential appointees.
Unauthorized Notarization: When a Lawyer’s Integrity Is Put on the Line
A lawyer who notarizes documents without a commission faces suspension and disqualification, as the Supreme Court reminds the bar.
Due Process in Philippine Election Protests: Ensuring Fair Notice and Participation
Philippine election protest rules require due process—fair notice and participation—before any electoral outcome is overturned.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Integrity Over Strict Compliance
The Supreme Court clarifies that substantial compliance with Section 21, RA 9165 suffices when the drug's integrity and evidentiary value are preserved.
Amusement Tax Authority: Defining Places of Amusement Under the Local Government Code
Supreme Court clarifies which venues qualify as "places of amusement" for provincial amusement tax under the Local Government Code.
Upholding Ethical Standards: Infidelity in Public Service and Its Consequences
Court personnel face strict moral standards. A sheriff's 15-year illicit relationship and gun firing led to 12-month suspension.
Amusement Tax and Local Government Authority: Defining "Other Places of Amusement"
Supreme Court rules provinces cannot tax resort admissions as "other places of amusement" under the Local Government Code.
Substantial Compliance Rule in Land Reform Cases: Heirs of Gallardo v. Soliman
The Supreme Court clarifies when substantial compliance with the certification against forum shopping suffices, protecting heirs' rights in land reform disputes.
Incestuous Rape Upholding Victim Testimony AND Parental Responsibility
Breach of Public Trust: When Dismissal in Government Service Fails Due Process
A Supreme Court ruling on why a government employee's dismissal for insubordination was void for violating due process requirements.
Upholding Comelec's Discretion: Balancing Electoral Integrity and Due Process in Special Elections
The Supreme Court affirms Comelec's broad discretion in conducting special elections after failure of elections, balancing integrity against due process concerns.