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.
Reconstitution of Lost Titles and Agrarian Reform: Strict Compliance and Beneficiary Rights
Explore the Junio v. Garilao ruling on land reclassification, CARP exemptions, and why strict compliance matters in agrarian reform cases.
Laches and Land Rights: Why Delay Can Defeat Property Claims
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how laches and inaction can bar property reconveyance claims even when fraud is alleged.
Due Process and Illegal Dismissal: Why Employers Bear the Burden of Proof in Termination Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies procedural rules on indispensable parties in illegal dismissal cases and the employer's burden of proof.
Sheriff's Duties in Executing Judgments: When Collecting Fees Becomes Misconduct
Learn the proper procedure for sheriff's expenses in executing judgments, and the consequences when sheriffs collect fees without court approval.
Lawyer Advertising Balancing Professional Dignity With Public Access TO Legal Services
The Supreme Court clarifies the line between lawyer advertising and professional dignity, balancing public access to legal services with ethical standards.
Sheriffs Duty Prompt Reporting AND Accountability IN Writ Execution
This case clarifies the duty of sheriffs to promptly report writ execution and their accountability for failure to comply.
Redemption Rights Strict Compliance AND THE Limits OF Repurchase Agreements After Foreclosure
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on strict compliance with statutory redemption periods and limits of repurchase agreements after foreclosure.
Mutuality of Contracts: When One-Sided Termination Clauses in Employment Contracts Are Void
The Supreme Court explains when a termination clause that leaves dismissal to one party's sole judgment violates the mutuality principle under Article 1308 of the Civil Code.
Timely Notice IS KEY Understanding Carrier Liability IN Damaged Goods Claims Under THE Code OF Commerce
When cargo arrives damaged, the clock starts ticking. Learn how Article 366 of the Code of Commerce can bar a claim entirely if notice is late.
When Contracting Turns Into Employment: Defining the True Employer
Learn how Philippine courts determine the real employer in contracting arrangements and what this means for liability in illegal dismissal cases.
Balancing Justice AND Procedure When Courts CAN Relax Rules FOR Fairness
Philippine Supreme Court explains when procedural rules may be relaxed to serve substantial justice, using a forum-shopping case as example.
CBA Scholarship Benefits Resolving Ambiguities IN Favor OF Labor
Security agency loses bid to exempt receivables from garnishment; Court applies labor-friendly rule on execution exemptions.
Reconstitution Denied: Insufficient Evidence Fails to Restore Lost Land Title
Philippine Supreme Court denies reconstitution of lost land title due to insufficient evidence, clarifying strict requirements under RA 26.
Perfecting Appeals in Labor Cases: The Strict Rule on Posting an Appeal Bond
A look at the Supreme Court's ruling that an employer's failure to post an appeal bond on time is fatal to an appeal, even if other requirements were met.
Court Clerk Dismissed for Misappropriating Judiciary Funds: Lessons on Fiduciary Duty
Supreme Court dismisses court clerk for misappropriating P171,450 in judiciary funds, underscoring strict accountability for court personnel.
Onerous Donations and Substantial Breach: Upholding the Purpose of a Gift
When can a donor revoke an onerous donation? The Supreme Court explains the substantial breach rule in C-J Yulo & Sons v. Roman Catholic Bishop of San Pablo.
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.
Foreclosure Validity: Proper Notice and Publication in Extrajudicial Sales
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies posting and publication requirements for valid extrajudicial foreclosure sales under Act No. 3135.
Project Employees vs Regular Employees: Security of Tenure Under the Labor Code
When is a construction worker a project employee rather than a regular one? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on tenure and illegal dismissal.
Extraterritorial Service of Summons: Due Process for Non-Resident Defendants
Philippine courts must strictly comply with rules on extraterritorial service of summons before declaring non-resident defendants in default.
Contractual Obligations Mutuality AND Modification IN Commission Disputes
Learn how the Supreme Court applied the mutuality of contracts principle in a commission dispute, protecting a manager's right to earned franchise fees.
Voiding Contracts With Indigenous Peoples Prior Approval IS Mandatory
Supreme Court clarifies that contracts with indigenous peoples require prior government approval or they are void, protecting ancestral lands.
Letters of Credit and Attorney-in-Fact Duties: Land Bank's Dual Role Explained
Supreme Court clarifies a bank's limited role under letters of credit versus its fiduciary duties as attorney-in-fact in export collections.
When a Judge Goes Too Far: Territorial Limits on Philippine Court Proceedings
A judge held liable for conducting court proceedings in the US without authority, explaining the territorial limits of Philippine courts.