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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Illegal Dismissal vs AWOL: When a Security Guard's Absence Is Not Abandonment
Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a worker's absence is illegal dismissal, not AWOL or abandonment, and the rules on off-detail status.
Mining Rights and Corporate Authorization: The Crucial Role of Proper Board Authority in Legal Actions
A Supreme Court ruling on why corporations must secure proper board authorization for legal certifications, and the strict rules on mining disputes.
When Retirement Moots a Disapproved Appointment: CSC vs. Tahanlangit
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling that optional retirement during the appeal period renders a CSC appointment disapproval moot.
Prescription and Land Ownership: Protecting the Rights of Long-Term Land Possessors
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how the right to repurchase land works, when acceptance of a contract benefit is valid, and why builders on their own land need no protection.
Retirement Rights Prevail Resolving Appointment Disputes IN Philippine Civil Service
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how retirement moots appointment disputes in civil service reorganization cases.
Spousal Consent in Real Estate Sales: When a Sale Without It Is Void
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why selling conjugal property without the wife's consent makes the sale void, explained in plain language.
Civil Liability Survives Acquittal: Negligence by Preponderance of Evidence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: an acquittal in a criminal case does not automatically erase civil liability if negligence is proven by preponderance of evidence.
Philippine Red Cross Private Status and Constitutional Limits on Lawmakers
Supreme Court ruling on whether the Philippine Red Cross is a government corporation and the constitutional ban on lawmakers holding public office.
Standing to Sue: Who Can Challenge a Property Sale in the Philippines
Learn who has legal standing to challenge a property sale in the Philippines, based on a Supreme Court ruling on agrarian reform land.
Probationary Employment: Employers Must Inform Workers of Regularization Standards
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on probationary employment: employers must inform workers of regularization standards at the start of engagement.
When Banks Must Answer: BSP Decisions Appealable to Court of Appeals
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling that BSP Monetary Board decisions on bank administrative complaints may be appealed to the Court of Appeals.
Notarial Misconduct: Lawyers Bound by Commissioned Territory and Responsibilities
A lawyer's notarial commission is territorial and personal. Learn the limits from a Supreme Court ruling on a notary's misconduct.
Ejectment or Agrarian Dispute? How Philippine Courts Decide Who Has Jurisdiction
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a land dispute was treated as an ejectment case, not an agrarian matter, and how jurisdiction is determined.
Constitutional Limits on Land Ownership: Aliens Cannot Indirectly Control Philippine Land Through Filipino Spo
Philippine Supreme Court ruling that alien spouses cannot claim rights over land titled to Filipino wives, citing constitutional prohibitions.
Laches and Diligence: The Duty to Prosecute Appeals in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on dismissing appeals for failure to file briefs, and the duty of counsel to prosecute appeals diligently.
Redemption Rights in Foreclosure: Consignation of Redemption Price Is Mandatory
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: filing a judicial redemption action does not stop a writ of possession unless the redemption price is paid or consigned.
Dismissal for Loss of Trust and Confidence: Clear Proof and Due Process Are Essential
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when loss of trust and confidence justifies employee dismissal, requiring clear evidence and proper procedure.
Resignation With Assurance: Enforceability of Separation Pay Agreements in Voluntary Resignations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a voluntary resignation with a promised separation pay creates an enforceable obligation on the employer.
Breach of Trust Justifies Dismissal Safeguarding Employer Confidence in Managerial Roles
Learn when loss of trust and confidence justifies dismissing managerial employees under Philippine labor law, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Breach of Contract and Delay Damages in Construction Projects: Uy v. Public Estates Authority
A Supreme Court ruling on contractor claims for delay damages, standby equipment costs, and the strict written-change-order rule under Article 1724.
Redemption Rights Strict Tender Of Full Payment Required In Foreclosure Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on strict tender of full payment for property redemption after extrajudicial foreclosure.
Judicial Accountability: The Consequences of Undue Delay in Case Resolution
A Supreme Court ruling shows how a trial court's disregard of the Rules of Court on promulgation of judgment led to the annulment of an acquittal and a judicial investigation.
Family Home Exemption in the Philippines: Limits on Execution and the Duty to Prove Claims
A Supreme Court ruling shows that the family home exemption from levy is not automatic—the person claiming it must substantiate that the property is still a family home.
Constructive Dismissal When Unpaid Wages Create an Unjust Working Environment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on procedural rules in labor cases, backwages, and reinstatement obligations of employers pending appeal.