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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Solidary Liability in Labor Disputes: When Principals and Contractors Share Responsibility
The Supreme Court clarifies when a principal is solidarily liable with an independent contractor for labor claims, and when it is not.
Writ of Possession in Foreclosure: Ministerial Duty vs Equitable Considerations
When can a court refuse to issue a writ of possession after foreclosure? The Supreme Court clarifies the ministerial duty rule and its exceptions.
Dishonesty in the Workplace: Gauging Sufficient Evidence for Employee Termination
The Supreme Court clarifies the evidentiary standard for dismissing employees for dishonesty, distinguishing valid termination from illegal dismissal.
Upholding Due Process: The Limits of Retroactive Application in Behest Loan Cases
Supreme Court affirms Ombudsman's dismissal of behest loan charges, clarifying that administrative orders defining behest loans are not penal laws and cannot retroactively criminalize past transaction
Negligence in Public Service: Distinguishing Gross from Simple Neglect and the Right to Backwages
Explains the Supreme Court's distinction between gross and simple neglect of duty in public service, and when backwages may be awarded.
Pre-Proclamation Controversies in Senatorial Races: Pimentel v. COMELEC Explained
The Supreme Court in Pimentel v. COMELEC limits pre-proclamation challenges in senatorial races, directing disputes to election protests instead.
Land Title Registration: Proving Open Continuous Possession Since June 12, 1945
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on what evidence is needed to register land title based on possession since June 12, 1945.
Disputes on Barangay Existence: Supreme Court Upholds Comelec Authority on Election Matters
The Supreme Court affirms Comelec's authority to resolve questions on barangay existence in election disputes, settling the Sangcopan case.
Official Duty vs. Discourtesy: When Public Officials Cross the Line
The Supreme Court clarifies that public officials cannot hide behind official duty to justify discourtesy, reaffirming public office as a public trust.
Quantum Meruit and COA Disallowances: What Contractors Must Know
The Supreme Court affirms COA's power to determine overpayments to government contractors under quantum meruit, and explains when belated jurisdictional challenges are barred.
When Social Media Abuse Qualifies for Higher Penalties Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies how Facebook posts can prove psychological abuse under RA 9262 and why ICT use raises the penalty.
Attorneys Conflict OF Interest Upholding Client Loyalty AND Confidentiality
Determining Just Compensation in Agrarian Reform: Balancing Legal Factors and Fair Valuation
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts should determine just compensation for agrarian reform lands under R.A. 6657 and DAR formula.
Labor-Only Contracting: When a Principal Becomes the True Employer
Explaining labor-only contracting under Philippine law, and when a principal employer is liable as the true employer of contractor-supplied workers.
Pilotage Fees and Government Share: PPA Can Collect Directly from Shipping Lines
Supreme Court ruling on PPA's authority to collect the 10% government share on pilotage fees directly from shipping companies.
Defining Abandonment And Insubordination Employee Rights VS Employer Authority
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on employee abandonment and insubordination, balancing worker rights against employer authority in termination disputes.
Tenant Rights and Fraud Claims in Agrarian Disputes: Quitoriano v. DARAB
The Supreme Court affirms that emancipation patents stand unless fraud is proven by clear and convincing evidence in agrarian disputes.
Abandonment in Agricultural Tenancy: When Hiring Help Costs Cultivation Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a tenant's surrender of cultivation to another amounts to abandonment and loss of tenancy rights.
Upholding Court Authority: Contempt for Baseless Administrative Complaints
Filing baseless administrative complaints against judges and court personnel can result in indirect contempt. Learn the rules and consequences.
Courts Hold Sole Power to Remove Elective Local Officials, High Court Rules
Supreme Court affirms only courts can remove elective local officials like barangay captains, limiting sanggunian disciplinary powers.
Vasectomy and Mutilation: Defining the Boundaries of Reproductive Rights Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between lawful vasectomy and criminal mutilation, affirming reproductive rights under Philippine law.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Corporate Officers Can Be Held Personally Liable
The Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers may be personally liable for labor claims, and why final judgments cannot be altered to pierce the corporate veil.
Upholding Contractual Obligations: The Binding Force of Agreed Interest Rates in Credit Transactions
Supreme Court ruling on agreed interest rates in credit sales, party autonomy, and limits on unconscionable charges.
Clerks of Court Upholding Fiscal Responsibility and Public Trust in Handling Court Funds
A clerk of court fined for collecting transportation allowance without issuing official receipts, violating Rule 141 and Supreme Court Circular No. 26-97.