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.
When Local Officials Break Procurement Rules: Lessons From Sison v. People
A mayor's conviction for skipping public bidding shows how courts review local procurement and graft cases under Philippine law.
Private Contractors Can Be Held Liable Under the Anti-Graft Law for Conspiring With Public Officers
The Supreme Court affirms that private individuals who conspire with public officers in graft cases can be held liable under Section 3(e) of RA 3019.
Forfeiture of Retirement Benefits for Serious Misconduct: Due Process in Termination Cases
Supreme Court ruling on when employers may forfeit retirement benefits for serious misconduct and what due process requires in termination.
Abuse of Rights Under Article 19: When Business Decisions Are Protected
The Supreme Court clarifies when business decisions like audits and non-renewal of contracts are protected, not abuse of rights.
DST on Deposit on Stock Subscription: When Is It Due?
The Supreme Court clarifies when documentary stamp tax applies to deposits on stock subscription, distinguishing them from actual stock subscriptions.
Dishonesty in Public Office: The Price of False Entries and Delayed Deposits
A cashier's false cashbook entry and delayed bank deposits amount to dishonesty, warranting dismissal from government service.
When 'In Lieu of All Taxes' Does Not Mean Local Tax Exemption: Smart Communications v. City of Davao
The Supreme Court ruled that a franchise's "in lieu of all taxes" clause covers only national taxes, not local franchise taxes.
Breach of Duty and Mitigating Circumstances: Balancing Justice and Compassion in Public Service Misconduct
When a clerk of court faces dismissal for fund shortages, mitigating circumstances can temper the penalty. The Supreme Court explains how.
Mission Orders and Memorandum Receipts: When They Don't Replace a Firearms License
The Supreme Court clarifies that mission orders and memorandum receipts cannot substitute for a valid firearms license, even for confidential agents.
Corporate Rehabilitation, Foreclosure, and Judicial Independence: Key Lessons from Rombe Eximtrade
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when courts may issue injunctions against foreclosure after a rehabilitation case is dismissed.
Military Pension and Citizenship: The Parreño Ruling on PD 1638
Retired AFP officers who lose Filipino citizenship can have their pensions terminated under PD 1638, as upheld in Parreño v. COA.
Judicial Integrity: Misappropriation of Court Funds Leads to Dismissal and Restitution
Supreme Court dismisses two court clerks for misappropriating over P4 million in judiciary funds, ordering joint restitution and forfeiture of benefits.
When Government Salaries Can Be Withheld: The Santiago COA Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when COA may withhold a government employee's salary for an alleged cash shortage, and when it cannot apply the withheld amounts.
Exhausting Administrative Remedies with the COA: A Prerequisite for Money Claims Against Government Agencies
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that money claims against government agencies must first be filed with the COA before going to court.
Malversation of Public Funds in the Philippines: When Reimbursement Does Not Erase Liability
Failure to liquidate public funds can lead to malversation conviction even if the amount is later reimbursed. Learn the rules and key lessons from a Supreme Court case.
Due Process in Retrenchment: Balancing Employer Prerogative and Employee Rights
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between just and authorized causes in dismissal, and the penalties for violating notice requirements.
Hazard Pay Eligibility: Defining Public Health Workers Under Philippine Law
Supreme Court clarifies who qualifies as public health workers for hazard pay under RA 7305, using the GSIS case as example.
When Judges Overstep: The Cash Bond Rule and Simple Misconduct
A judge who personally received a cash bail bond violated Rule 114, but the Court ruled it was simple, not gross, misconduct.
Bank Liability for Forged Checks: When Final Judgments Stand Firm
Supreme Court ruling on bank liability for forged checks, signature verification duties, and why depositors aren't estopped by bank statement notices.
Judicial Efficiency: Sanctions for Undue Delay in Rendering Decisions
A judge's failure to decide cases within 90 days is undue delay, a less serious offense under Rule 140.
When Contractors Overstate Work: COA's Audit Power and Quantum Meruit in Government Projects
The Supreme Court affirms COA's power to determine actual work accomplished and recover overpayments from government contractors under quantum meruit.
Expediting Justice: Holding Judges Accountable for Case Delays
The Supreme Court affirms sanctions against a Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice for gross inefficiency, underscoring that judges must decide cases within 90 days.
Interest on Penalties: The Limits of Compounding in Loan Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when interest may be charged on unpaid penalty charges in loan contracts, and when courts may reduce unconscionable penalties.
GOCC vs. Private Corporation: Labor Jurisdiction and the Philippine National Red Cross Case
Learn how the Supreme Court's charter test determines whether an employer is a GOCC and which tribunal—CSC or NLRC—has jurisdiction over labor disputes.