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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Balancing Justice AND Procedure When Substantial Rights Prevail Over Technical Delays
The Supreme Court rules that technical procedural lapses should not defeat substantive rights in illegal dismissal cases, clarifying redundancy requirements.
Upholding Agrarian Reform When Final Judgments Yield to Supervening Social Justice
When a final ejectment judgment clashes with agrarian reform awards, the Supreme Court clarifies when execution may yield to supervening events.
Redundancy Requisites: Burden of Proof on Employers in Philippine Labor Disputes
Philippine Clearing House Corp. v. Magtaan clarifies redundancy requisites, employer burden of proof, and quitclaim validity in illegal dismissal cases.
Deception and Exploitation: Defining Human Trafficking in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms a trafficking conviction, clarifying how fraud, deception, and vulnerability define the crime under RA 9208.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Construction Firms Are Liable for Labor Violations
Supreme Court holds construction firms solidarily liable for worker's retirement pay, backwages, and damages after piercing the corporate veil.
Forum Shopping in Nullity Cases: One Action for Property Settlement
Filing a separate property case while a nullity case is pending constitutes forum shopping. The Supreme Court explains why.
Righting A Name Overcoming Bureaucratic Inertia IN Change OF Name Petitions
A look at how Philippine courts handle petitions for change of name and the standards for granting them.
Navigating Medical Negligence in the Philippines: Understanding Liability and Damages
Learn how Philippine courts determine medical negligence liability and damages, and what patients must prove in malpractice claims.
Immutability of Judgments When Finality Prevails Over Claims of Minority in Criminal Cases
When does a final judgment yield to supervening events? The Supreme Court clarifies the exceptions to immutability of judgment.
Whistleblower Testimony Upholding Administrative Findings in Philippine Corruption Cases
Supreme Court rules a credible whistleblower's lone testimony can support administrative liability in corruption cases against public officers.
Overcoming Inheritance Disputes: How Courts Decide Property Sales Among Heirs
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a sale of inherited property among heirs may be voided and the land partitioned equally.
Substantial Justice Prevails When Courts May Relax Procedural Rules on Appeal
Philippine Clearing House Corp. v. Magtaan clarifies when courts may relax procedural rules, redundancy dismissal requirements, and quitclaims.
Loan Agreements and Dacion en Pago: Key Insights from a Landmark Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when a loan settlement agreement becomes a dacion en pago and what it means for borrowers and banks.
Dacion en Pago: How to Properly Extinguish Loan Obligations in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains how dacion en pago works, when loan obligations are extinguished, and the pitfalls lenders must avoid.
Forum Shopping Dismissal of Property Case Due to Pending Nullity Proceedings
Filing a separate property case while a nullity of marriage case is pending constitutes forum shopping, explains the Supreme Court in Tanyag v. Tanyag.
Upholding Agrarian Reform: Supervening CLOA Justifies Deviation from Immutability of Judgment
When a final judgment becomes inequitable due to a supervening event like a CLOA issuance, courts may relax the doctrine of immutability of judgment.
Theft vs. Estafa in the Philippines: Key Distinctions and the Horca Case
Theft and estafa differ in possession and deceit. The Horca ruling shows why the distinction matters and how acquittal can still leave civil liability.
Upholding Academic Freedom: Supreme Court Limits State Control Over Law School Admissions
The Supreme Court strikes down the PhiLSAT requirement as an unconstitutional intrusion on law schools' academic freedom to admit students.
Term Limits and Reelection: What the Constitution Actually Allows
The Supreme Court clarifies that term limits bar only consecutive terms, not reelection after a break.
Understanding the Legal Boundaries of Employee Incentives in Government Agencies: Insights from Recent Supreme
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that government agencies, including GOCCs like PhilHealth, must secure presidential approval before granting employee allowances and benefits.
Falsification and Misconduct by Court Officials: Lessons from a Clerk of Court's Dismissal
A clerk of court was dismissed for falsely certifying a document and mishandling demolition funds. Learn the rules and consequences.
Financial Support and VAWC Intent: When Denial of Support Is a Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies that mere failure to provide financial support is not enough for conviction under RA 9262; willful intent matters.
When Can a Mother Challenge Child Legitimacy in the Philippines? The Ordoña Ruling
A mother cannot collaterally attack her child's legitimacy under Philippine law. The Supreme Court's Ordoña ruling explains why.
Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: When Facebook Posts Become Crimes
The Supreme Court clarifies when social media posts constitute psychological abuse under RA 9262 and how the Cybercrime Prevention Act raises the penalty.