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.
Breach of Contract of Carriage: When Moral Damages Require Fraud or Bad Faith
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when injured bus passengers may recover moral damages for breach of contract of carriage—only upon proof of fraud or bad faith.
Dismissal for Misconduct: When Employee Disrespect Justifies Termination
Explaining when an employee's disrespectful conduct toward a superior constitutes serious misconduct justifying dismissal under Philippine labor law.
Public Use Prevails Over Private Claims in Road Right-of-Way Dispute
Supreme Court rules that road rights-of-way are public dominion property, and private claimants cannot demand just compensation for land never validly acquired.
Upholding Client Trust Attorney Suspended For Neglect And Mismanagement Of Funds
A lawyer’s failure to update a client and mishandling of client funds leads to suspension, affirming strict duties under the Code of Professional Responsibility.
SEC Approval Needed to Trade Securities: SC Clarifies Probable Cause in Securities Fraud
Supreme Court clarifies when SEC approval is needed to trade securities and the limits of probable cause review in securities fraud cases.
Defense of a Stranger: How Courts Assess Reasonableness in Repelling Aggression
The Supreme Court clarifies how to assess reasonable means in defense of a stranger, acquitting an accused who stabbed an aggressor twice.
Tax Assessment Waivers Must Strictly Comply With BIR Rules or Prescription Applies
Learn how defective tax waivers fail to extend the BIR's three-year assessment period, from the Supreme Court's ruling in CIR v. Systems Technology Institute.
Unauthorized Absences and Dismissal: The Medical Certificate Requirement in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court upheld a dismissal for unauthorized absences, ruling that a vague medical certificate cannot excuse habitual absenteeism.
Judicial Conduct: Moral Integrity and Public Trust in the Judiciary
A Supreme Court ruling on dismissing a judge for immorality and gross misconduct, reaffirming that judges must uphold moral integrity.
Judicial Conduct: Moral Standards and Accountability in the Philippine Judiciary
The Supreme Court dismisses a judge for immorality and gross misconduct, reaffirming that judges must uphold the highest moral standards.
Buy-Bust Operations: Entrapment vs Instigation in Illegal Drug Sales
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between entrapment and instigation in buy-bust operations, affirming a drug sale conviction.
Annulment of Free Patents vs. Reversion: Real Party in Interest Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between annulment of free patents and reversion, and who may file each action.
Easement Rights and Property Development: Clarifying Limits and Obligations in Construction Projects
Understand how the Supreme Court distinguishes reversion from annulment of titles, and what this means for property owners and developers.
Lease Perfection vs Performance: Hilltop Market Case on Conditions and Estoppel
When does a lease begin? The Supreme Court clarifies the difference between conditions for perfection and performance in Hilltop Market.
Separation of Church and State: Civil Courts Have Jurisdiction Over Marital Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that civil courts, not church tribunals, have jurisdiction over petitions for declaration of nullity of marriage.
SC Upholds Rape Conviction Based on Victim's Credible Testimony Despite Inconsistencies
The Supreme Court affirms rape convictions, ruling that minor inconsistencies in a victim's testimony do not undermine credibility when the account is coherent and believable.
Courts Have Jurisdiction Over Church Marriages: Tilar v. Republic
The Supreme Court clarifies that civil courts have jurisdiction to declare church marriages void under the Family Code, rejecting the separation of Church and State argument.
Forged Signatures and Imprescriptibility in Co-Ownership Property Disputes
Forged deed transfers property by fraud; co-owner in possession can file imprescriptible quieting of title action.
Protecting the Vulnerable: The Duty of Moral Ascendancy in Familial Rape Cases
How the Supreme Court affirmed a father's rape conviction, explaining why moral ascendancy replaces force in incestuous abuse.
Protecting Press Freedom: Actual Malice and Libel in Public Interest Reporting
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on actual malice, qualified privilege, and libel in reporting on public officials' conduct.
Treachery Defined: The Element of Surprise in Philippine Murder Law
A Supreme Court ruling explains what makes a killing treacherous under Philippine law—and why sudden, unexpected attacks qualify as murder.
Surrender of Owner's Duplicate Title: Buyers Cannot Withhold It Indefinitely
Buyers who hold an owner's duplicate title after a partial sale must register promptly; co-owners can compel surrender if registration is unreasonably delayed.
Procedural Due Process in Administrative Cases: When a Show Cause Memorandum Suffices
The Supreme Court clarifies when a show cause memorandum satisfies procedural due process in administrative disciplinary proceedings against government employees.
Constructive Dismissal: Proving Unbearable Working Conditions in Philippine Labor Law
When do employer actions become constructive dismissal? The Supreme Court clarifies the test in Borja v. Miñoza.