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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
Acquisitive Prescription and Double Sales: When Long-Term Possession Confirms Ownership
A Supreme Court ruling on how prior possession and good faith determine ownership in double sales of land.
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.
Cooperatives No Longer Exempt From Court Fees: The 2012 Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court denied cooperatives' exemption from court and sheriff's fees, reaffirming judicial independence and fiscal autonomy.
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.
Breach of Trust: The Price of Corruption for Court Personnel in the Philippines
A look at a Supreme Court ruling on estafa by abuse of confidence, explaining the crime, penalties, and why deceit need not be proven.
Rescission of Share Sale: When Broken Promises Do Not Justify Annulment
A Supreme Court ruling on when disappointed investors can—and cannot—rescind a stock sale for fraud or breach.
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.
Lost on Technicalities: Why Missing Deadlines Can Doom Your Philippine Tax Appeal
A Supreme Court ruling shows how procedural lapses and missed deadlines can derail appeals, even on the merits. Learn the rules.
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.
Ethical Boundaries for Court Employees: Simple Misconduct in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling on simple misconduct shows why court employees face exacting moral standards even in private life.
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 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.
Breach of Contract in Construction: Completion, Damages, and Mutual Breach Under Philippine Law
When both contractor and client breach a construction contract, Philippine courts equitably adjust damages. Learn the rules from a 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.
Partial Redemption in Philippine Foreclosure: Can You Redeem Select Properties?
Philippine law allows partial redemption of foreclosed properties. Learn the rules, limits, and practical implications from a key Supreme Court ruling.
Reckless Driving and Road Accidents: Understanding Liability in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling on reckless imprudence clarifies when a driver is criminally liable for a road accident. Learn the rules.
Why Correct Docket Fees Are Crucial for Jurisdiction in Philippine Property Disputes
Learn how docket fees affect court jurisdiction in property cases, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on estate disputes.
Breach of Seafarer Employment Contracts: POEA Rules and the Risk of Suspension
A Supreme Court ruling on a seafarer's refusal to join a vessel clarifies POEA breach rules and the proper appeal route.
No Intent, No Crime: Illegal Possession of Counterfeit Money in the Philippines
Philippine law requires intent to use for counterfeit money possession to be a crime. Learn the rules from a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Dishonesty in Public Service: Sheriff Suspended for Auction Manipulation
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on sheriff's dishonesty in auction bidding, explaining consequences for public servants who manipulate official processes.
Credibility of Child Witnesses in Rape Cases: Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court reinstates a rape conviction, clarifying when child abuse under RA 7610 applies instead of rape.
Circumstantial Evidence in Murder and Kidnapping Convictions: People v. Anticamara
How circumstantial evidence can prove murder and kidnapping beyond reasonable doubt, explained through a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.