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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Property Disputes: Jurisdiction and Estoppel in Free Patent Repurchase Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on RTC jurisdiction over free patent repurchase actions and the principle of jurisdiction by estoppel.
Repurchase Rights Under the Public Land Act: When Can Heirs Reclaim Free Patent Lands
A free patent holder's heirs may repurchase conveyed land within five years. This case clarifies the nature of such actions and jurisdictional rules.
Client Neglect and Conflict of Interest: Attorney Suspended for Six Months
Philippine Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for neglecting a client's land titling case and appearing against the client without consent.
Lawyer Suspended for Negligence and Conflict of Interest in Client Matter
A lawyer who neglected a client's case for five years and appeared against the client without consent was suspended for six months.
Default Judgments: Excusable Negligence and Timely Remedies in Philippine Courts
Understand default judgments in Philippine courts, the strict rules on excusable negligence, and the timely remedies available to defendants.
Perfecting Land Titles: The Imperative of Proving Possession Since June 12, 1945
Learn the strict requirements for land registration in the Philippines, including proving possession since June 12, 1945, based on a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Labor Appeals and the Appeal Bond: Strict Rules on Timely Perfection in Philippine Law
A surety bond issued but not received on time means no perfected appeal—what employers must know about the 10-day rule.
Protecting Workers Rights Employer Interference AND Unfair Labor Practices
Supreme Court clarifies the proper remedy for challenging the Labor Secretary's assumption of jurisdiction over strikes in industries vital to national interest.
Revival of Judgment Equity Prevails Over Strict Procedural Rules in Land Dispute
Supreme Court allows revival of judgment beyond prescriptive period where strict rules would cause injustice to blameless litigants.
VAT Refund Claims: The Mandatory 120+30 Day Rule and Why Timing Matters
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that VAT refund claims must strictly follow the mandatory 120+30 day period under the NIRC.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Credibility of Testimony and Indeterminate Sentence Law in Child Sexual Abuse Cases
Supreme Court affirms father's rape conviction, clarifies proper indeterminate penalty and damages in child sexual assault cases.
Upholding Convictions in Drug Cases: Balancing Evidence and Constitutional Rights
Learn how the Supreme Court balances evidence and constitutional rights in drug cases, and what this means for accused persons.
Land Registration Proof: Beyond DENR Certification and the Burden of Incontrovertible Evidence
A DENR certification alone won't secure land title. The Supreme Court clarifies the strict proof required for judicial confirmation of title.
Parental Authority and Rape: When Rubbing the Penis Is Not Consummated Rape
A father's conviction for rape is modified by the Supreme Court, which distinguishes sexual assault from consummated rape and attempted rape.
Untimely VAT Refund Claims: Strict Prescriptive Periods and the San Roque Exception
Learn how the Supreme Court applied the San Roque doctrine on the 120-day waiting period for VAT refund claims in Procter & Gamble.
When Rape Claims Fail the Test of Credibility: People v. Patentes
The Supreme Court acquits a rape convict, showing how inconsistent testimony and doubtful conduct can create reasonable doubt.
Breach of Warranty Against Eviction: A Seller's Duty to Defend Property Title
When a seller's gross negligence in defending title causes the buyer's eviction, the seller acts in bad faith and must pay damages under Article 1555 of the Civil Code.
Agrarian Reform Jurisdiction: DAR, Not Courts, Hears Landowner Disputes
Supreme Court clarifies that agrarian reform disputes, even with constitutional questions, belong to the DAR, not the RTC.
Defining Corporate Officers Jurisdiction IN Illegal Dismissal Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when a corporate officer is a regular employee entitled to security of tenure and the due process requirements in termination.
Treachery Defined: Ensuring Justice for Victims of Calculated Attacks in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, ensuring calculated attacks receive just punishment.
Premature Filing of Tax Refund Claims: Strict Compliance with the 120-Day Rule
The Supreme Court clarifies that taxpayers must wait for the 120-day period before filing judicial claims for VAT refunds.
Enforced Disappearance and the Writ of Amparo: Balancing Rights and Remedies
The Burgos case shows how the writ of amparo protects victims of enforced disappearance and holds state agents accountable.
CTA Jurisdiction Over Local Tax Disputes: The City of Manila v. Grecia-Cuerdo Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies that the Court of Tax Appeals has jurisdiction over certiorari petitions questioning RTC interlocutory orders in local tax cases.
Certiorari Deadlines: No Extensions Without Compelling Reasons in the Philippines
Learn the strict rule on certiorari deadlines under Rule 45, including when extensions may be granted and the limits of court discretion.