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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Breach of Contract in Property Sales: Rights, Interest, and Damages Under Philippine Law
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on unpaid property sale balances clarifies when nominal damages, attorney's fees, and 12% interest apply.
Contractual Obligations Upholding Agreed Upon Interest Rates in Construction Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court affirms 2% monthly interest on unpaid construction balance, enforcing contractual stipulations between owner and contractor.
Culpa Contractual vs Culpa Criminal: Civil Action Can Proceed Despite Criminal Case Dismissal
A dismissed criminal case does not automatically bar a separate civil action based on breach of contract. Learn the distinction between culpa contractual and culpa criminal.
Independent Civil Actions: Enforcing Contract Obligations Separate From Criminal Liability
The Supreme Court clarifies when a civil collection case can proceed independently of dismissed criminal estafa cases, and why res judicata does not bar it.
When Compadre Ties Cant Rewrite A Mortgage Upholding Contractual Agreements IN Foreclosure Cases
Sale vs Promise to Sell: When Ownership Passes in Real Estate Deals
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the difference between a contract of sale and a promise to sell, and when ownership actually transfers to the buyer.
Government Contracts Void When Bid Exceeds Congressional Appropriation
Supreme Court rules a winning bidder cannot compel a government agency to formalize a contract when the bid exceeds the amount appropriated by Congress.
Breach of Charter Agreement: Contractual Obligations and Remedies in Shipping Law
A Supreme Court ruling on charter party breach, ambiguous contract terms, and the right to rescind under Philippine law.
Employee vs Independent Contractor: How the Control Test Decides Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the control test in distinguishing employees from independent contractors, using a movie theater painter's illegal dismissal case.
Defining Jurisdiction When Specific Performance Claims Outweigh Monetary Demands In Contract Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies RTC jurisdiction over breach of contract cases where specific performance is the main action, not the monetary claim.
Seafarers Are Contractual Employees: The Millares Ruling on Fixed-Term Overseas Work
The Supreme Court clarifies that Filipino seafarers are contractual, not regular, employees under Philippine law, and explains the limits of Article 280.
Seafarers' Employment Status: Contractual, Not Regular, Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that seafarers are contractual employees, not regular employees under Article 280 of the Labor Code.
When Employment Contracts Expire: Protecting Security of Tenure in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when contract expiration becomes illegal dismissal, and why employees cannot be forced into early retirement before age 65.
Interest Rate Agreements and Freedom of Contract: When Courts Uphold Agreed Rates
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on freedom of contract in interest rate agreements, and when courts will uphold stipulated rates despite claims of excessiveness.
Usury Law Suspension, Freedom to Contract, and Unconscionable Interest Rates in Loan Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether courts can reduce interest rates agreed upon by parties after the Usury Law suspension.
Venue in Philippine Breach of Contract Cases: The DAPCO v. Dole Lesson
Learn how Philippine courts determine venue in lease disputes, and why filing in the wrong place can get your case dismissed.
Automatic Membership in Property Associations: Upholding Contractual Obligations and Property Rights
Philippine Supreme Court rules that automatic membership clauses in deeds of sale bind successors-in-interest, who must pay association dues.
Challenging Contract Validity: Proving Simulation in Property Sales Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proving simulated contracts in property sales, emphasizing that mere family relations do not prove simulation.
Right of First Refusal Enforceability Hinges on Conduct, Not Just Contractual Terms
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lease contracts, forgery, and ejectment—how conduct and evidence determine enforceability of rights.
The Binding Force of a Signed Affidavit of Full Payment and the Absence of Fraud in Subcontracting Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on the binding effect of a signed affidavit of full payment and the absence of fraud in subcontracting agreements.
Health Care Agreements vs Insurance Contracts: The Incontestability Clause Explained
The Supreme Court ruled that health care agreements are insurance contracts, so the incontestability clause applies to HMOs.
Lease Renewal Rights: Mutual Agreement Required for Contract Extension
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that lease renewal options are reciprocal—both lessor and lessee must agree to extend a lease contract.
When a Contractor Becomes a Condominium Buyer: HLURB Jurisdiction Explained
Supreme Court clarifies that contractors receiving condominium units as payment are or "purchase" includes any contract to buy, purchase, or otherwise acquire for valuable consideration a condominium
Moral Damages in Breach of Contract: Proof of Loss and Bad Faith Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court in BPI v. Leobrera explains why moral damages require proof of bad faith and a pleaded amount, and why courts cannot award what was never claimed.