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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Intelligence and Confidential Funds: Limits on Local Government Spending
The Supreme Court clarifies when local governments may use intelligence and confidential funds, and the liability of officials who misuse them.
Understanding Due Process in Government Audits: Lessons from a Landmark Philippine Supreme Court Case
Learn how the Supreme Court's ruling on an administrative case clarifies due process, misconduct, and penalties for government employees.
Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: Higher Penalty When Committed via Social Media
The Supreme Court clarifies when a Facebook post constitutes psychological abuse under RA 9262, and imposes a higher penalty when the offense is committed through ICT.
Navigating Mootness in Labor Disputes: The Impact of Union Dissolution on Legal Proceedings
When a labor union dissolves mid-litigation, the case may become moot. The Supreme Court explains the doctrine in New World v. New World Renaissance Hotel Labor Union.
When Does a Job Cause a Heart Attack? Work-Related Heart Conditions in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when heart attacks are compensable as work-related diseases under PD 626, using a messenger's death as the guide.
Protecting Homebuyers: Supreme Court on Foreclosure and Third-Party Rights
The Supreme Court rules that condominium buyers in actual possession may be excluded from writs of possession after foreclosure, protecting them from summary eviction.
Res Judicata and Prescription in Banking Disputes: Key Lessons from Metrobank v. Spouses Uy
The Supreme Court clarifies when a prior judgment bars a later case and how prescription runs in collection suits involving dishonored checks.
Seafarers' Disability Benefits: When a Company Doctor's Report Falls Short
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a seafarer's illness is presumed work-related and why a company doctor's bare conclusion may not defeat a disability claim.
Can Laches Bar a Registered Owner’s Right to Recover Property in the Philippines?
The Supreme Court rules that laches cannot defeat a registered owner’s right to recover property under the Torrens system.
Defending Against Bigamy Charges: Void Marriages and Judicial Declarations
When can a void marriage be a defense in bigamy cases? The Supreme Court clarifies the rule on judicial declarations of nullity.
Understanding Interest on Final Judgments: A Guide for Property Owners and Legal Professionals
The Supreme Court clarifies when legal interest begins to run on final money judgments against government agencies, protecting property owners' rights.
Presidential Approval for GOCC Employee Benefits: Lessons from the PMDC Case
The Supreme Court ruled that GOCCs must secure presidential approval for employee benefits under PD 1597, regardless of charter status.
Understanding the Limits of Medical Benefits for Government Employees in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when government-owned corporations may grant medical benefits to employees—and why presidential approval matters.
Navigating Tax Refund Claims: The Two-Year Rule and Its Implications for Businesses in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the two-year prescriptive period for tax refund claims, allowing judicial claims even without the BIR's prior ruling.
Judicial Efficiency and the Consequences of Delayed Case Decisions
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge dismissed for delayed decisions and false certificates of service, and what it means for judicial accountability.
Navigating Government Allowances and Disallowances: Key Insights From the Supreme Court's Ruling on SSS vs COA
The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on government allowances and disallowances, offering key insights for public officers and employees.
Understanding Serious Dishonesty in Civil Service Exams: The Impact of Impersonation on Government Employment
The Supreme Court rules that impersonation in civil service exams constitutes serious dishonesty, resulting in dismissal from government service.
Understanding Estoppel by Laches: When Silence Can Cost You Your Case
Learn how the Supreme Court applied estoppel by laches to bar a party from questioning a court's jurisdiction after years of silence and active participation.
Rehabilitation Courts and Tax Disputes: The Power to Resolve Claims Tied to the Rehabilitation Plan
The Supreme Court clarifies when a rehabilitation court may resolve claims involving local tax disputes, distinguishing incidental claims from those requiring separate actions.
What a Notarized Deed Must Have: Lessons from a Philippine Property Dispute
A Supreme Court ruling on notarization requirements in a family property dispute, and what it means for heirs and property owners.
Seafarer Disability Claims: The Presumption of Work-Relatedness and Compensability
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a seafarer's illness is presumed work-related and compensable under the POEA-SEC.
Bank Liquidation and Bounced Checks: When Receivership Suspends Criminal Liability
The Supreme Court explains how bank receivership and liquidation affect criminal liability for bounced checks under B.P. 22.
When Eyewitness Identification Fails: Reasonable Doubt and the Burden of Proof in Philippine Criminal Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a robbery-homicide accused, ruling that unreliable eyewitness identification creates reasonable doubt. Learn the legal standards.
Psychological Incapacity Under Article 36: The Quilpan Ruling and the Totality of Evidence Standard
The Supreme Court clarifies psychological incapacity under Article 36, emphasizing totality of evidence over psychiatric examination requirements.