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.
Defiance and Dismissal: Upholding Employers' Right to Terminate for Insubordination and Loss of Trust
Supreme Court affirms dismissal of sales supervisor for willful disobedience and loss of trust, clarifying employer rights under Article 282.
Willful Failure to Pay Just Debt: Court Employees and the Duty to Honor Financial Obligations
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that court employees who willfully fail to pay just debts face administrative sanctions, even after full payment.
Can Court Employees Be Disciplined for Private Debts? The Quedancor Case
The Supreme Court ruled that court personnel may be reprimanded for willful failure to pay just debts, even if the debt is purely private and incurred before entering the Judiciary.
Quitclaims Are They Always a Bar to Future Claims? Tagle v. Court of Appeals
Quitclaims do not automatically bar labor claims. Know when waivers are valid and when courts will set them aside.
Court Employee Disciplined for Debt and Disobedience: A Lesson in Judicial Ethics
Court employee reprimanded and fined for willful failure to pay just debts and gross insubordination in an administrative case.
Upholding Ethical Conduct: Disciplinary Action for Failure to Pay Just Debts and Conduct Prejudicial to the Se
Supreme Court holds court employee liable for willful failure to pay just debts and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Substantial Compliance With Attestation Requirements in Will Probate
Philippine Supreme Court explains when defects in a will's attestation clause may still allow probate under the substantial compliance rule.
Academic Freedom vs Individual Rights Upholding University Standards FOR Honors
The Supreme Court affirms that universities have the discretion to set honors criteria, and courts will not interfere absent grave abuse.
Upholding Employee Rights When Supervisor Instructions Shield Against Dismissal for Disobedience
Philippine Supreme Court rules an employee following supervisor orders in good faith cannot be dismissed for willful disobedience.
Failure of Election: When the Electorate's Will Cannot Be Ascertained
The Supreme Court explains when a failure of election may be declared and why mere allegations of irregularities belong in an election protest, not a COMELEC petition.
Upholding Electoral Will: Intervention and Abandonment in Election Protests
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on intervention by non-parties and abandonment of election protests, guided by the will of the people.
Reassignment Without Consent: Security of Tenure for Philippine Civil Servants
When can a government employee be reassigned against their will? The Supreme Court's ruling in Cariño v. Daoas explains the limits of transfer powers.
Failure of Election Petitions: COMELEC Discretion and the Evidentiary Bar
The Supreme Court clarifies when failure of election may be declared, and why mere allegations without evidence will not suffice.
Upholding the Electorate's Will When Technicalities Give Way to True Representation
When a proclamation rests on an incomplete canvass, it is null and void. The Court explains why.
Recounting Votes in Fraudulent Election Returns: Safeguarding the Electorate's Will
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when COMELEC must recount votes instead of excluding fraudulent election returns, protecting voter enfranchisement.
Correcting Manifest Errors in Election Canvass: Dela Llana v. COMELEC
A clerical error in a statement of votes cost a candidate 37 votes. The Supreme Court ruled that COMELEC may correct manifest errors to reflect the true will of the electorate.
Upholding Electoral Integrity: COMELEC's Power to Correct Manifest Errors
The Supreme Court affirms COMELEC's authority to correct manifest errors in vote tabulation, prioritizing the people's will over technical objections.
Moral Ascendancy in Incestuous Rape: How a Father's Power Overcomes a Victim's Will
The Supreme Court explains why moral ascendancy, not just physical force, overcomes a victim's will in incestuous rape cases.
Election Protests Ensuring Voters Will Prevails Despite Procedural Errors
Debt Default by a Sheriff: Ethical Standards in Public Service Through Reprimand
A sheriff's unpaid personal debt leads to reprimand, clarifying that willful failure to pay just debts violates civil service rules.
When Advertising Costs Become Capital Expenditures: Lessons from Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. General F
Supreme Court ruling on when media advertising expenses are deductible business expenses or capital outlays for goodwill.
When Advertising Costs Become Capital Expenditures: Lessons from CIR v. General Foods
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when large advertising expenses are deductible business costs or capital outlays for goodwill.
Upholding Ethical Conduct Court Employee Reprimanded FOR Willful Failure TO Pay Debt
Court employee reprimanded for willful failure to pay just debt; ruling clarifies ethical standards for judiciary personnel.
Court Employee Reprimanded for Willful Failure to Pay Just Debts
Supreme Court rules on administrative liability of court employee who refused to pay cooperative loans, citing ethical standards.