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.
Surety’s Liability: The Extent and Limits Under Philippine Law
Understand the scope of a surety’s obligations in the Philippines, including liability limits, defenses, and key legal principles.
Insubordination in the Workplace: Defining the Scope of Employee Duties and Employer Authority
The Supreme Court clarifies when an employee's refusal to follow orders is insubordination and when it is a justified defense against dismissal.
Search Warrant Validity: MTC Authority and Jurisdictional Boundaries
Supreme Court clarifies that a Municipal Trial Court may issue a search warrant even for offenses outside its trial jurisdiction, within the same judicial region.
Illegal Slowdowns and Union Officer Dismissal: The Polyson Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when a work slowdown becomes an illegal strike and justifies dismissal of union officers under Philippine labor law.
Upholding Candor and Fairness: Attorney Suspended for Unconscionable Fees and Deceitful Conduct
A lawyer who deceived elderly clients into signing an unfair fee agreement was suspended for five years. Learn the ethical rules on attorney's fees.
ERC v. Meralco: Only the Supreme Court Can Enjoin EPIRA Implementation
The Supreme Court rules that only it can enjoin EPIRA implementation, clarifying limits on RTC injunctive power over energy regulations.
Franchise Tax vs Real Property Tax: Clarifying NGCP's Tax Liabilities
Supreme Court clarifies when NGCP's franchise tax covers real property taxes and when local governments may still collect them.
Lawyer Disbarred for Misusing Client Funds and Soliciting Bribe
Supreme Court disciplines lawyer for absconding with client money and offering to bribe a judge, reaffirming ethical duties.
Ethical Boundaries: Lawyers' Duty to Avoid Abusive Language in Professional Dealings
The Supreme Court reminds lawyers that demand letters must remain respectful, not abusive or defamatory, under Rule 8.01 of the CPR.
Right of Way Ownership: Servient Estate and Easement Acquisition Rules
Supreme Court clarifies who owns a road right of way and how easements are acquired under Philippine law.
Relocation Surveys in Land Disputes: Why Precise Boundaries Matter
When land titles conflict, courts order relocation surveys to settle boundary disputes. Learn the rules and practical lessons.
Misconduct in the Workplace: Defining the Boundaries of Trust and Employment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when serious misconduct justifies dismissal and the evidentiary standard employers must meet.
Balancing Development and Ecology: The Limits of Environmental Protection Orders in Mining Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when a Writ of Kalikasan may issue in mining disputes, requiring proof of environmental damage of magnitude affecting two or more provinces.
Willful Disobedience as Just Cause for Dismissal: A Cooperative Cashier's Case
Explore when an employee's repeated defiance of board resolutions justifies dismissal under Article 282 of the Labor Code.
Beyond the Letter: Protecting Employee Rights and Personal Choices in Workplace Morality
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on agrarian reform land transfers, void contracts, and the limits of workplace morality enforcement.
COMELEC Authority Over Election Officers and Execution Pending Appeal Rules
Supreme Court clarifies COMELEC's supervisory power over election officers and when courts lose jurisdiction to order execution pending appeal.
When a Court Employee's Side Business Crosses the Line: Moonlighting Rules Explained
Court stenographer's side business processing land titles led to administrative liability for moonlighting. Learn the rules and limits.
Navigating the Shoals of Forum Shopping: Dismissal of Damages Claim Reversed
The Supreme Court clarifies that forum shopping requires identity of causes of action, not just identity of parties.
Demolition Orders and Due Process: Key Lessons from the Alangdeo Case
The Supreme Court invalidated a demolition order in Alangdeo v. City Mayor of Baguio, reinforcing due process and legal safeguards for property owners.
Garbage Fees and Socialized Housing Tax: When Local Levies Go Beyond Legal Limits
The Supreme Court ruled on Quezon City's power to impose garbage fees and socialized housing tax under the Local Government Code.
Prior Possession Is Key in Philippine Forcible Entry Cases
Philippine forcible entry cases hinge on prior physical possession. The Supreme Court explains why in Alcedo v. Sagudang.
Avoiding Forum Shopping in Philippine Construction Disputes: Key Lessons from Dynamic Builders
Learn how the Supreme Court's ruling in Dynamic Builders clarifies forum shopping rules and injunctive relief in Philippine construction disputes.
Treachery and Self-Defense: Defining the Boundaries of Justifiable Homicide in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden attack amounts to treachery and why claiming self-defense requires proving unlawful aggression.
Upholding Stockholder Rights Jurisdiction In Intra Corporate Disputes Involving Sequestered Entities
The Supreme Court clarifies that intra-corporate disputes involving sequestered firms belong to the RTC, not the Sandiganbayan.