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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Heirs Can Invoke Imprescriptibility of Torrens Titles for Inherited Land
Supreme Court rules heirs inherit the right to claim registered land without prescription, even after long possession by another party.
Trade Secrets vs Discovery: Balancing Business Confidentiality and Legal Rights in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when trade secrets are privileged from compulsory disclosure in civil discovery proceedings.
Protecting Consumers: Illegal Disconnection and Utility Company Liability
Supreme Court ruling on Meralco's liability for illegal disconnection without notice, and the limits of differential billing claims.
Res Judicata and Land Ownership: When Prior Judgments Do Not Bar New Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies when res judicata bars land disputes, protecting property owners from endless litigation.
Surety Bonds and Reimbursement: When Payment Under Compulsion Is Still Collectible
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a surety can recover from the principal debtor after paying a bond under threat of execution.
Abandonment vs Constructive Dismissal: Protecting Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the fine line between abandonment and constructive dismissal, and what employers must prove to justify termination.
Judicial Impartiality When Doubts Warrant Disqualification
A Supreme Court ruling on financial accountability of court personnel and the duty of clerks of court to safeguard judicial funds.
Writ of Possession as Ministerial Duty: Rayo v. Metrobank on Due Process Limits
The Supreme Court affirms that a writ of possession after extrajudicial foreclosure is a ministerial duty, even if issued ex parte. Learn the limits of due process claims.
Credit Card Interest and Penalties: Balancing Contractual Freedom and Unconscionability in Debt Obligations
The Supreme Court clarifies when credit card interest and penalty rates are enforceable and when courts may reduce them as unconscionable.
Family Feuds and Corporate Control: Navigating Share Ownership Disputes in Philippine Corporations
The Supreme Court clarifies how Philippine courts resolve family disputes over corporate shares, trusts, and injunctions.
Amending an Information Before Plea: What Fronda-Baggao v. People Teaches Us
The Supreme Court clarifies when prosecutors may amend or consolidate criminal charges before arraignment, and how this affects an accused's rights.
Jurisdiction Limits When Labor Disputes Overshadow Regular Court Actions In Property Disputes
When can a regular court hear a property dispute that stems from a labor case? The Supreme Court settles the jurisdictional boundary.
Understanding Forum Shopping and Writ of Possession in Philippine Foreclosure Law
The Supreme Court clarifies forum shopping, real party-in-interest rules, and the ministerial nature of writs of possession in extrajudicial foreclosures.
Publication Requirement for Enforceability of NEA Regulations
The Supreme Court ruled on the publication requirement for NEA regulations to be enforceable, clarifying the doctrine of prior publication.
Implied Trust and Prescription: Resolving Property Disputes Among Heirs
A Supreme Court ruling explains how implied trusts arise when a co-heir takes family property and why the right to recover it may not yet be barred.
Due Process in Administrative Cases: Balancing Fairness and Efficiency in Police Disciplinary Actions
The Supreme Court clarifies that administrative due process does not require trial-type hearings, allowing PNP disciplinary actions to proceed on affidavits and position papers.
Falsifying Attendance Records in the Judiciary: A Lesson in Integrity
A sheriff falsified his attendance logbook. The Supreme Court reprimanded him, stressing that dishonesty has no place in the judiciary.
Perfected Sale vs Contract to Sell: Distinguishing Ownership Transfer in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the difference between a contract of sale and a contract to sell, and when ownership actually transfers to the buyer.
Behest Loans and Prescription: When Does the Clock Start Ticking
The Supreme Court clarifies when the prescriptive period for behest loan cases begins, ruling it starts upon discovery, not execution.
Mootness in Administrative Complaints: When Expiration Renders a Case Irrelevant
When a contested position's term expires, the case becomes moot. The Supreme Court explains why.
Work-Related Death and the Presumption of Compensability: Leviste v. SSS
The Supreme Court clarifies when sudden cardiac death is presumed work-related and compensable under PD 626, easing the burden on claimants.
Housing Rights: Actual Occupants Prevail Over Absentee Awardees in Government Projects
Supreme Court rules that absentee awardees cannot keep government housing lots meant for actual occupants, protecting bona fide residents' rights.
Appeal Bond in Labor Cases: Strict Rules on Perfecting Appeals
Learn why missing the appeal bond deadline in labor cases is fatal, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Reversion of Expropriated Land: Who Can Sue and When the Right Arises
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on who may sue for reversion of expropriated land and when the right to challenge an award arises.