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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Right of Way Cannot Be Acquired by Continuous Use Alone; Title or Written Agreement Required
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: easement of right of way is discontinuous, cannot be acquired by prescription or mere continuous use.
Abandonment of Duty, Unauthorized Absences, and the Doctrine of Dropping From the Rolls
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a court employee may be dropped from the rolls for AWOL and unauthorized foreign travel.
Temperate Damages in Construction Breach: When Proof of Loss Falls Short
Philippine Supreme Court explains when courts award temperate damages instead of actual damages in construction contract breaches.
Government Contracts and Eminent Domain: Scrutinizing Good Faith in Land Acquisition
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that just compensation in agrarian reform must follow RA 6657 and DAR formulas, not market data alone.
Illegal Dismissal: Employer Must Prove Abandonment With Clear Intent to Sever Employment
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that employers must prove both absence and clear intent to sever employment to establish abandonment.
When Illness Leads to Dismissal: Proving Abandonment in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal, abandonment of work, and employer's burden of proof in termination cases.
Speedy Trial vs Demurrer to Evidence: Protecting the Accused's Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between a motion to dismiss for speedy trial violation and a demurrer to evidence, protecting accused rights.
Positive Identification Prevails: Police Blotter Discrepancies Do Not Nullify Witness Testimony
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that minor inconsistencies in police blotter entries do not automatically destroy a victim's credible, positive identification of the accused.
Basketball Governance Validating Membership FOR Voting Rights IN Sports Associations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on membership validation as prerequisite to voting rights in sports associations, citing the BAP-SBP case.
Breach of Contract Assignees Rights and Developer Liability for Erroneous Construction
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on developer liability for erroneous construction and the rights of lot buyers as assignees.
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.
Squatters Rights vs Absentee Landlords: Resolving Land Disputes in Urban Reform
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on absentee landowners vs renters in urban land reform, explaining who qualifies for lot awards under the Zonal Improvement Program.
Foreclosure Rights vs BP 22: Understanding Creditors' Remedies and Their Limits
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that annulment of judgment is only for civil cases, not criminal convictions like swindling.
Jurisdiction in Swindling Cases: How Penalties Determine the Proper Court
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains how penalties and fines determine which court hears swindling cases under the Revised Penal Code.
Compromise Agreements and Illegitimate Filiation: When Settlements Violate Public Policy
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: compromise agreements on filiation and civil status are void. Learn the public policy limits on settlements.
Burden of Proof in Cargo Shortage Claims: Proving Loss and Valid Insurance Coverage
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on cargo shortage claims: insurer must prove actual loss and valid policy coverage to recover from carriers.
Kidnapping for Ransom: Conspiracy and the Element of Deprivation of Liberty
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies kidnapping for ransom elements, conspiracy liability, and what counts as deprivation of liberty.
Tax Sales and Due Process: Why Registered Owners Must Be Notified in Philippine Property Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on tax sales, due process, and the registered owner's responsibility in property taxation.
Possession by Tolerance and Unlawful Detainer: Jurisdiction in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when possession by tolerance triggers unlawful detainer jurisdiction in the MTC, not the RTC.
Retrenchment Proving Business Losses To Justify Employee Termination Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the stringent standards employers must meet to validly retrench employees under Article 283 of the Labor Code.
Drug Bust Conviction Upheld: Chain of Custody and Informant Rules in Philippine Drug Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies chain of custody and informant rules in drug cases, upholding a buy-bust conviction under RA 9165.
Redundancy and Management Prerogative: Safeguarding Employee Rights in Corporate Restructuring
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies redundancy termination rules, management prerogative limits, and employee rights in corporate restructuring.
Collective Bargaining in Education: Balancing Tuition Hikes and Employee Benefits
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how RA 6728 tuition fee increments fund employee benefits in collective bargaining disputes.
Implied Consent and Jurisdiction: When Unpleaded Issues Become Part of a Case
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how unpleaded issues tried with implied consent become part of a case under Rule 10.