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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Unjustified Refusal of Transcript Release: When Can a School Withhold Records
The Supreme Court clarifies when schools may withhold transcripts and why CHED cannot award damages in disputes over student records.
Contractual Obligations Upholding Interest Rates AND Attorneys Fees IN Commercial Agreements
Mining firm's sand and gravel extraction taxed despite mining lease; SC clarifies permit exemptions and tax liability.
Unliquidated Claims When Repair Costs Cannot Offset Rental Payments IN Lease Agreements
When can a lessee offset repair costs against unpaid rent? The Supreme Court explains the rule on legal compensation in lease disputes.
Rescission Rights When Leased Property Becomes Unusable Due to Natural Disasters
When a leased property becomes unusable due to floods or other natural causes, lessees may have the right to rescind the lease. The Supreme Court explains the rules.
Retrenchment and Release: Balancing Employer Rights and Employee Protection in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies valid retrenchment requirements, the role of quitclaims, and when nominal damages apply in labor cases.
Right of First Refusal in Lease Agreements: What Lessees Should Know
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that right of first refusal in lease contracts survives expiration and binds the lessor to offer the property first.
Docket Fees and Estoppel in Lease Termination: Metrobank v. Perez
Supreme Court clarifies when late payment of docket fees is allowed and when a party is barred from raising jurisdiction.
When a Lessor Evicts Sublessees Before the Lease Ends: Sunbanun v. Go
The Supreme Court held a lessor liable for damages after ejecting her tenant's lodgers months before the lease expired, because the contract allowed a lodging house.
Waiver by Acquiescence: The Perils of Delay in Lease Agreement Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling shows how failing to promptly contest a lease violation can waive contractual rights — a cautionary tale for landlords and tenants.
Advertising Rights vs Public Authority: MMDA's Power Over MRT3 Advertisements
Supreme Court ruling on whether MMDA could dismantle billboards on MRT3, a private property under a build-lease-transfer agreement.
Upholding Integrity: Dismissal of Court Personnel for Fraudulent Retirement Benefit Release
The Supreme Court dismissed and disciplined court personnel who facilitated the fraudulent release of a dismissed judge's P1.55-million retirement gratuity.
Eviction and Urban Land Reform: When Prior Rights Yield to New Ordinances
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when month-to-month leases end, and why new city ordinances and PD 1517 protections cannot stop a valid ejectment.
Deposit Refunds Lease Obligations AND Interest Rates Under Philippine LAW
Leasehold Improvements: Understanding Reimbursement Rights and Obligations in Philippine Law
Learn how Philippine courts handle leasehold improvement reimbursement rights, obligations, and settlement through compromise agreements.
When Lawyers Draft Illegal Lease Contracts: The Hontanosas Case on Foreign Land Leases
A lawyer who drafts and notarizes lease contracts exceeding legal limits for aliens faces suspension, as the Supreme Court ruled in Kupers v. Hontanosas.
Attorney Suspended for Drafting Illegal Lease Agreements: Ethics in Legal Practice
A lawyer's six-month suspension for drafting lease contracts exceeding legal limits for aliens—a lesson in professional responsibility.
Supreme Court Upholds Ejectment for Lease Violation Despite Late Position Paper
SC rules on unlawful detainer, late position papers under summary procedure, and damages recoverable in ejectment cases.
Demolishing a Leased Property Without Consent: Ejectment and Damages in Philippine Law
A lessee who demolished a leased house without the lessor's consent was validly ejected. Learn the rules on lease violations, damages, and summary procedure.
Land Conversion and Tenant Rights: How Reclassification Impacts Agricultural Leases
When land is reclassified for urban use, tenant rights shift from land ownership under PD 27 to disturbance compensation. Learn the rules.
When a Lease Lapses: A Lesson on Property Rights, Renewal Options, and Fraud Claims
Supreme Court ruling explains when a lease ends, how renewal options work, and why proving fraud requires solid evidence.
Lease vs. Sale: When a Property Owner Can Sell Leased Land in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lease rights, option to renew, and when a lessor can sell property.
Month TO Month Lease When CAN A Landlord Eject A Tenant
Importation vs Transshipment: When Seized Goods Cannot Be Released Under Bond
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when transshipment claims fail and seized goods cannot be released under bond due to fraud.
Lease vs. Good Faith: When Hotel Improvements Don't Mean Ownership Rights
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that lessees are not builders in good faith, limiting their rights to Article 1678 reimbursement.