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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Negligence Beyond Contract: Recovering Damages From Third Parties in Philippine Carriage Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how passengers can recover damages from third-party tortfeasors in breach of carriage cases.
Drug Testing in the Workplace: Employer Rights vs Employee Rights and Due Process
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on drug testing in the workplace, balancing employer rights, employee rights, and due process in dismissal cases.
Probationary Employment: Employers Must Inform Employees of Regularization Standards
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on probationary employment: employers must inform employees of regularization standards at the time of engagement.
Control Test Decides Employer-Employee Relationship in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Charlie Jao v. BCC Products Sales Inc. explains the control test and four elements determining employer-employee relationship.
Seafarer Disability Claims: The 240-Day Rule and Company-Designated Physicians
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the 240-day rule on seafarer disability claims and the binding weight of company-designated physician assessments.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: HLURB Primary Jurisdiction in Land Use Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that land use permit disputes must first be filed with HLURB before courts can intervene.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, ruling that the victim's positive identification outweighs the accused's weak defense of alibi.
Sound Mind Prevails: Upholding Testamentary Freedom in Will Probate
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that forgetfulness does not equal unsound mind, and oppositors bear the burden in will probate cases.
Upholding Integrity: Consequences of Misconduct for Court Employees in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on grave misconduct by court employees, explaining penalties, ethical standards, and why resignation does not erase liability.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: When Loss of Trust and Confidence Doesn't Justify Termination
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that loss of trust and confidence requires willful breach by employee; poor sales performance alone is not enough.
Perfected Contracts and Procedural Rules in Philippine Joint Venture Disputes
A Philippine Supreme Court case clarifies when oral joint venture agreements are perfected and why procedural rules matter in appeals.
When Is a Bus Company Liable for Accidents? Employer Liability in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on bus company liability for driver negligence, damages, and employer responsibility under civil law.
When Judges Ignore Court Directives: Administrative Consequences in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court rulings show judges who disregard court directives face administrative liability, including fines, suspension, or dismissal from service.
Union Security Clauses and the Freedom Period: When Dismissal for Disloyalty Fails
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that signing a certification election petition during the freedom period is not union disloyalty justifying dismissal.
When Strikes Go Wrong: Illegal Dismissals and Union Security Clauses in the Philippines
Learn when terminating employees for union disloyalty is illegal, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on certification elections and union security.
Just Compensation in Expropriation: Upholding Fair Market Value for Property Owners
Philippine Supreme Court affirms that just compensation in expropriation is based on fair market value, not tax or zonal valuations alone.
Personal Liability of Corporate Officers: When Are They Responsible for Company Debts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers and directors can be held personally liable for corporate obligations and debts.
Reconveyance Action Is Imprescriptible When Owner Remains in Possession
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when an action for reconveyance of property does not prescribe—key exception for owners in possession.
When Void Government Contracts Still Get Paid: Quantum Meruit Explained
Philippine Supreme Court explains when contractors can recover payment for void government contracts through quantum meruit, citing DPWH v. Quiwa.
Bouncing Checks Law: When Acquittal Does Not Erase Civil Liability
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that acquittal in a B.P. 22 case does not automatically extinguish civil liability for dishonored checks.
When Lawyers Face Discipline: The Tan v. Gumba Case and Professional Responsibility in the Philippines
A lawyer who deceived a client into a loan through false documents was suspended for six months. Learn the ethical rules and lessons from this Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Eminent Domain Just Compensation: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on just compensation for underground tunnel taking under eminent domain, protecting landowners' constitutional rights.
Reconveyance Claims: Proving Land Identity Under Article 434 of the Civil Code
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on reconveyance actions: claimants must prove land identity and title. Learn the requirements under Article 434.
Voluntary Retirement: Why Employee Consent Is Key to Valid Retirement Plans
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on voluntary retirement plans, employee consent, and the validity of retirement agreements in labor law.