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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Just Compensation IN Agrarian Reform Valuing Land AT THE Time OF Taking VS Time OF Payment
Fixed-Term Employment: Employers Cannot Terminate Before Contract Expiry Without Just Cause
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on fixed-term employment: employers cannot terminate workers before contract expiry without just cause, even with waiver clauses.
When a Sale Is Valid Despite Defective Notarization: Lessons from a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains when a notarized deed remains valid despite defects, and how courts view claims of forgery and lack of consideration.
Upholding Contractual Obligations: The Validity of a Special Power of Attorney in Property Transfers
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies jurisdiction in property disputes, the statute of frauds, and rights of first refusal in Philippine real estate law.
Possession AND Good Faith Understanding Property Rights IN THE Philippines
Credibility of Witnesses and Inconsistencies Between Affidavits and Court Testimony in Rape Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on witness credibility, affidavit-testimony inconsistencies, and penalties for rape by sexual intercourse and sexual assault.
Prejudicial Question in Philippine Courts: When Civil Cases Suspend Criminal Proceedings
Learn when Philippine courts suspend criminal cases due to prejudicial questions, and why appeal, not certiorari, is the proper remedy.
Court Employees Must Pay Just Debts: Ethical Standards for Judiciary Personnel
Court employees who willfully fail to pay just debts face administrative liability, even after settling obligations. Learn from a 2007 Supreme Court ruling.
Justice Delayed Judicial AND Clerical Accountability IN Prolonged Case Resolution
Beyond Legibility Upholding the Right to Appeal Despite Procedural Technicalities
The Supreme Court ruled that an unreadable copy of a decision justifies relaxing appeal deadlines, protecting the right to appeal.
Possession of Stolen Cattle and Proof of Guilt in Anti-Cattle Rustling Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how possession of stolen cattle establishes guilt beyond reasonable doubt under the Anti-Cattle Rustling Law.
Upholding Diligence: Court Stenographer Accountability in Transcription Accuracy
SC ruling on appeal timeliness when litigants receive unreadable court decisions, and the duty to ensure accurate transcripts.
Prescription AND Implied Trusts When Possession AND Time Determine Land Ownership
Attorney Discipline in Nullity Cases: Due Process and Compliance Standards
Supreme Court clarifies lawyer discipline standards in nullity cases, requiring clear evidence and due process before sanctions.
Judicial Accountability Upholding Timeliness in Case Resolution
Supreme Court rules on appeal timeliness when served unreadable decision copies, prioritizing substantial justice over technicalities.
Willful Failure to Pay Just Debt: Court Employee Discipline and Public Trust
A Supreme Court ruling explains why court employees face administrative liability for unpaid debts, even after full settlement.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Statutory Rape and the Testimony of a Child Witness in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, explaining how a child victim's credible testimony can establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Publication Requirement for Tax Ordinances: A Prerequisite to Enforceability
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that publication of local tax ordinances is a condition precedent to their enforceability and collection.
Constructive Possession in Drug Cases: What Quelnan v. People Teaches
The Supreme Court explains constructive possession of illegal drugs and when a warrantless arrest is valid in drug cases.
Prior Possession Prevails in Forcible Entry: Claudio v. Quebral
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that in forcible entry cases, prior physical possession—not ownership—determines who recovers the property.
Upholding Compromise Agreements: A Pathway to Resolving Disputes in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court recalls a final resolution to approve a compromise agreement, reaffirming that amicable settlements are favored in Philippine law.
Perfecting Your Appeal Understanding Jurisdictional Requirements IN Philippine Courts
A look at how the Supreme Court treats compromise agreements after a petition is denied, and what this means for litigants in the Philippines.
Dismissal of Baseless Administrative Complaints Against Court Personnel
The Supreme Court explains why an Ombudsman decision exonerating a respondent is final and unappealable, and when certiorari may still be used to question it.
Possession Beyond Ownership: Constructive Possession in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court explains constructive possession in drug cases—control and dominion matter more than ownership. Learn the rules from Quelnan v. People.