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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Lost Land Title Replacement: RTC, Not DARAB, Has Jurisdiction Over CLOA Titles
Supreme Court clarifies that the RTC, not the DARAB, has jurisdiction over petitions to replace lost owner's duplicate certificates of title, even if the title originated from a CLOA.
Ethical Limits on Filing Graft Complaints: Lessons from Diaz v. Atty. Mandagan
A lawyer's duty to avoid frivolous cases: Supreme Court suspends counsel for filing unsubstantiated graft charges against a former mayor.
Unveiling Simulated Contracts When Loans Mask True Intentions in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when credit line agreements are simulated contracts, and how courts uncover the true intent behind loan documents.
Understanding Employee Entitlements: The Right to 13th Month Pay for Commission-Based Workers in the Philippin
A clear guide to the 13th month pay rule for commission-based employees, citing the latest Supreme Court interpretation.
Understanding the Limits of Preliminary Injunctions in Property Disputes: A Guide for Property Owners and Lend
Learn how Philippine courts determine just compensation in agrarian reform cases, including the role of DAR formulas and the time of taking.
Legal Redemption in the Philippines: Timely Action, Actual Notice, and the Power of Waiver
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies legal redemption rules: actual notice, 30-day period, and when failure to consign the price may be waived.
Oral Contracts of Sale: Validity and Enforceability Under Philippine Law
When is a verbal sale agreement binding in the Philippines? Learn the rules on validity, enforceability, and vitiated consent from a recent Supreme Court ruling.
When Just Compensation Is Valued: The Time of Taking in Agrarian Land Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that just compensation for agrarian reform lands must be valued at the time of taking, not at later dates.
Child Sexual Abuse Under RA 7610: Key Ruling on Section 5(b) vs. 10(a)
The Supreme Court clarifies when sexual abuse of a child falls under Section 5(b) rather than 10(a) of RA 7610, affecting penalties and prosecution.
Res Judicata in the Philippines: When a Dismissed Case Cannot Be Refiled
Learn when a dismissed case can be refiled in the Philippines and how res judicata bars re-litigation, based on a Supreme Court ruling on failure to prosecute.
Understanding Intent in Child Abuse Cases: The Role of Specific Intent in Philippine Law
Philippine law requires specific intent for child abuse convictions. Learn how courts determine criminal intent in these sensitive cases.
Regulatory Fees vs Taxes: When Local Government Impositions Are Valid
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between regulatory fees and taxes in local ordinances, and the burden of proving invalidity.
Property Partition and Agrarian Reform: When a Final Land Conversion Order Prevails
The Supreme Court explains when a final land conversion order bars agrarian reform coverage, and why finality and estoppel protect landowners.
Foreigners Can File for Marriage Nullity in the Philippines: The Ambrose Case
The Supreme Court clarifies that foreign spouses may file for declaration of nullity of marriage in Philippine courts, applying lex loci celebrationis.
PNCC Ruling Clarifies GOCC Status and Employee Bonus Rules
Supreme Court rules PNCC is a GOCC under RA 10149, allowing it to stop mid-year bonuses without violating non-diminution rules.
Backwages for Premature Dismissal: When Execution Beats Finality
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a government employee dismissed before a decision becomes final can claim backwages despite not being fully exonerated.
Unlocking Inheritance Rights Understanding Illegitimate Childrens Entitlement TO Estate Partition IN THE Phili
The Supreme Court clarifies how illegitimate children inherit from their father's estate and when they can demand partition.
Tuition Fee Increases and Employee Benefits: The Supreme Court's Ruling on Allocation of Incremental Proceeds
The Supreme Court clarifies that retirement plan contributions may be charged against the 70% tuition fee incremental proceeds under RA 6728.
Illegal Arrests and the Ombudsman's Role: What the Somira Drug Case Teaches
A 2021 Supreme Court ruling clarifies buy-bust arrests, chain of custody, and why the Ombudsman matters in drug cases.
Navigating Disability Benefits for Seafarers: The Supreme Court's Ruling on Medical Assessments
A seafarer's disability claim can fail if the company doctor's assessment is not timely challenged. Learn the rules from a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: A Guide to Ensuring Evidence Integrity
Learn how Philippine courts apply the chain of custody rule in drug cases, using People v. Somira as a guide.
Understanding Penalties and Probation: Key Insights From a Landmark Social Security Fraud Case
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies penalties for SSS fraud, probation disqualification, and why courts cannot impose outdated sentences.
Duty to Account: Belated Compliance Does Not Erase Criminal Liability for Public Officers
The Supreme Court rules that a public officer's belated liquidation of cash advances does not erase criminal liability under Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code.
Understanding Illegal Recruitment and Human Trafficking: Insights From a Landmark Philippine Supreme Court Cas
The Supreme Court explains the elements of illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons in a case involving a worker bound for Beijing.