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.
Speedy Trial Dismissal Is an Acquittal: Double Jeopardy and Finality in Criminal Cases
A dismissal for violation of the right to speedy trial is an acquittal that bars re-prosecution. Learn the rules and practical lessons from this case.
Public Use Prevails: Water System Properties Cannot Be Seized for Private Debts
Supreme Court rules water works systems devoted to public use are property of public dominion, exempt from levy and auction sale.
Foreclosure Sales Strict Compliance With Publication Requirements
Philippine Supreme Court rules that failure to strictly comply with publication requirements in extrajudicial foreclosure sales invalidates the sale and makes the notary public liable for damages.
Strict Rules on Foreclosure Notice Publication: What Philippine Mortgagors Should Know
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on strict compliance with foreclosure notice publication requirements and consequences of defective notices.
Civil Service Exam Fraud: Forged Signatures and Dishonesty in Public Service
Supreme Court ruling on Civil Service exam fraud, forged signatures, and the consequences of dishonesty in public service employment.
Regular vs. Fixed-Term Employment: Security of Tenure Under Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when fixed-term employment is valid and when it violates a worker's security of tenure under Philippine labor law.
Upholding Competence and Diligence: Attorney Suspended for Neglect of Client's Case
A lawyer's suspension from practice does not end his duty to clients. The Supreme Court suspends Atty. Baterina for gross negligence.
Psychological Incapacity and Marriage Nullity: Proving Grave and Incurable Conditions
The Supreme Court clarifies what evidence proves psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code, requiring grave, incurable, and juridically antecedent conditions.
Notarizing Without a Commission: Supreme Court Upholds Strict Notarial Rules
The Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for two years and permanently bars him from notarial practice for notarizing documents without a valid commission.
Venue Stipulations and Contract Validity: When a Forgery Claim Overrides an Exclusive Venue Clause
The Supreme Court rules that a complaint assailing a contract's validity—like forgery—is not bound by its exclusive venue stipulation.
Rescission of Contracts in Philippine Law: The Wellex v. U-Land Case
Learn how Philippine courts handle rescission of contracts through the Wellex v. U-Land case, including fraud, breach, and restitution obligations.
Right of Way: Balancing Dominant Estate Needs and Servient Estate Rights in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how to determine the extent and indemnity for a legal easement of right of way under the Civil Code.
Seafarers Disability Claims: Why Following POEA-SEC and CBA Procedures Matters
SC ruling explains why seafarers must follow POEA-SEC and CBA procedures, including third-doctor referral, before filing disability claims.
Pregnancy and Employment: Protecting Women's Rights in the Philippine Workplace
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Saudia's pregnancy termination policy affirms that women cannot be dismissed for becoming pregnant.
Employer Liability for Vehicular Accidents: Proving Due Diligence in Hiring Drivers
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies employer liability for driver negligence, emphasizing documentary proof of due diligence in hiring and supervision.
HLURB Jurisdiction in Subdivision Disputes: Residential Use vs Religious Worship
Supreme Court rules HLURB has jurisdiction over subdivision disputes involving residential use violations, including church operations in residential lots.
When Apology and Self-Incrimination Collide: Defining Willful Disobedience in Labor Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when an employee's refusal to apologize is not willful disobedience justifying dismissal under the Labor Code.
Upholding Corporate Governance: The Limits of Status Quo Orders in Intra-Corporate Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies the strict rules for status quo orders in intra-corporate disputes, emphasizing due process, bonds, and the limits of provisional relief.
Security of Tenure: Regular Employment and Illegal Dismissal in Fixed-Term Contracts
When does a fixed-term employee become regular? The Supreme Court clarifies security of tenure, illegal dismissal, and employer burden of proof.
Title Registration as Proof of Prior Possession in Forcible Entry Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when a Torrens title can prove prior physical possession in forcible entry cases, protecting landowners from intruders.
Missed Appeal Deadlines in Agrarian Cases: When Negligence Costs the Right to Appeal
The Supreme Court rules on missed appeal deadlines in agrarian disputes, explaining when a motion for reconsideration suspends the period and why certiorari cannot replace a lost appeal.
Sheriffs' Duty to Enforce Writs Promptly: A Lesson in Administrative Liability
When a sheriff repeatedly fails to implement a writ of execution, the Court steps in. Learn the rules on sheriffs' duties and penalties for neglect.
B.P. 22 Defense: Payment Before Information Filing Can Defeat Dishonored Check Charges
The Supreme Court explains when paying a dishonored check before charges are filed can defeat a B.P. 22 prosecution.
Balancing Public Safety and Private Property Access Rights on Limited Access Highways
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on property owners' rights to access limited access highways like NLEX, balancing police power and private interests.