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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Defective Verification and Forum Shopping Certification: Why Court Petitions Can Be Dismissed
Learn why defective verification and certification of non-forum shopping can lead to dismissal of court petitions, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Uninterrupted Possession Acquiring Property Rights Through Acquisitive Prescription
Explore how extraordinary acquisitive prescription works under Philippine law, using a Supreme Court ruling on adverse possession.
Possession vs Ownership: Resolving Land Disputes in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on land disputes, possession, accretion, and Torrens title conclusiveness explained in plain language.
Ejectment Cases and Land Ownership: When Prior Possession Does Not Bar Unlawful Detainer
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on unlawful detainer, COSLAP jurisdiction, and Torrens title imprescriptibility in Cayabyab v. Gomez de Aquino.
Mutuality of Contracts: The Limits of Unilateral Interest Rate Adjustments in Loan Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when banks cannot unilaterally raise loan interest rates without borrower consent, citing mutuality of contracts.
Subleasing Prohibitions: Joint Venture vs Lease Agreement Distinctions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a sublease violates a lease contract's prohibition, and why labeling an agreement a "joint venture" may not save it.
Candor and Fairness: A Lawyer's Duty to the Court and Fellow Counsel
A lawyer's entry of appearance must be candid and accurate. Learn the ethics rules from this Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Gambling in the Workplace: Defining Ethical Conduct for Public Servants
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when gambling during office hours becomes a dismissible offense for public employees and sets ethical standards.
Estafa by Misappropriation of Goods Held in Trust: The Ceniza-Manantan Ruling
A Supreme Court ruling explains when failing to return jewelry or goods received on commission becomes estafa, and why a lawyer's mistakes rarely win a new trial.
When Counsel's Negligence Binds the Client: Lessons from Pfizer v. Galan
A 2007 Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a lawyer's procedural lapse binds the client in labor disputes and when courts may relax the rules.
Revival of Judgment and Venue: When Real Property Interests Determine the Proper Court
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on where to file an action to revive a judgment involving real property, and why venue depends on the nature of the underlying action.
Upholding Labor Rights: The Limits of Loss of Trust in Employee Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that loss of trust and confidence cannot justify employee dismissal without clear, proven basis.
Election Protests and the Five-Day Rule: Why Timely Appeals Matter in Barangay Election Cases
A Supreme Court ruling shows why a late motion for reconsideration in a barangay election protest can be fatal, even when the merits seem strong.
Unlawful Detainer: Proving Possession and Ownership Claims in Ejectment Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on unlawful detainer cases, possession vs. ownership claims, and evidence rules in ejectment proceedings.
UCPB Interest Rates, Mutuality of Contracts, and the Truth in Lending Act
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on void interest rates, mutuality of contracts, and Truth in Lending Act violations in bank lending.
Breach of Trust vs Security of Tenure: When Is Dismissal Too Harsh?
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains why loss of trust and confidence does not give employers unlimited power to dismiss, even managerial employees.
Financial Crisis as Fortuitous Event: Real Estate Contract Obligations in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether the 1997 Asian financial crisis excuses a developer's failure to deliver condominium units.
People v. Abulon: Penetration, Consent, and Rape by Sexual Assault in the Family Home
A 2007 Supreme Court ruling on incestuous rape clarifies when tongue insertion counts as rape, when it is acts of lasciviousness, and how a father's moral sway replaces force.
Acting Appointments vs Security of Tenure: Clarifying Employment Rights in Philippine Schools
Understand the Supreme Court ruling on acting appointments in schools—when temporary positions do not ripen into permanent tenure.
Unfreezing Marcos-Era Assets: When Philippine Courts Can Act on Foreign Freeze Orders
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling that allows Philippine courts to hear cases involving foreign freeze orders on Marcos-era assets.
PCGG v. Sandiganbayan: When Delay and Inaction Create a Cause of Action
A look at the Supreme Court ruling that government inaction on requests can itself create a cause of action, and when foreign court rulings do not bar local suits.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Parent Companies Can Be Held Liable for Franchise Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when courts may disregard corporate fiction and hold companies liable for obligations of related entities.
Bail Without Court Order: When a Clerk of Court May Refuse Cash Bond
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a clerk of court may refuse a cash bond and the consequences for lawyers who file baseless administrative complaints.
Flood Damage Liability: Who Pays When Nature and Development Collide
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on developer liability for flood damage when surrounding developments and government inaction cause the flooding.