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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Cohabitation and Ethical Standards: Defining Immorality in the Judiciary
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when cohabitation by court employees amounts to grossly immoral conduct warranting administrative discipline.
Credibility of Witness Testimony in Rape Cases: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how victim credibility determines guilt beyond reasonable doubt in statutory rape cases.
Burden of Proof: Uncorroborated Testimony Insufficient to Establish Liability in Damages Claim
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why a plaintiff's sole, uncorroborated testimony cannot establish liability in a damages claim.
Rehabilitation Proceedings: The "Serious Financial Situation" Requirement for Corporate Recovery
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the "serious situation test" for corporate rehabilitation petitions under the Interim Rules, citing Pryce Corporation v. Court of Appeals.
Equitable Mortgage vs Sale With Right of Repurchase: How Courts Classify Real Estate Deals
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a sale with option to repurchase is an equitable mortgage, and how to rebut the legal presumption.
Bidding Required Government Contracts Must Ensure Fair Competition
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when public bidding is mandatory for government service contracts and why negotiated awards violate fair competition.
Due Process in Termination: The Two-Notice Rule and Nominal Damages
Learn the two-notice rule in employee termination and when nominal damages apply, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding Justice for Victims of Parental Rape
Philippine Supreme Court affirms conviction for qualified rape committed by a father against his minor daughter, emphasizing the law's protection for vulnerable victims.
Who Gets SSS Death Benefits When a Member Has Multiple Wives? A Primer on Beneficiary Rules
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who qualifies as primary beneficiary under the SSS Law when a member leaves behind a legal spouse and common-law families.
Lease Termination: Lessors Can Still Collect Rent After Lessee Default and Abandonment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lessor rights when lessee defaults and abandons leased property, clarifying remedies for unpaid rent.
Voiding Land Deals Fraud AND THE Limits OF Good Faith Acquisition IN Philippine Property LAW
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when writs of execution may be void and the limits of procedural due process in property disputes.
Agrarian Reform Coverage of Church Lands: The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Caceres Case
Philippine Supreme Court ruling that church-held agricultural lands are not exempt from agrarian reform coverage under PD 27 and RA 6657.
Absence Due to Unjustified Detention: Employee Protection Against Illegal Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when an employee's absence due to detention does not constitute abandonment, protecting workers from illegal dismissal.
Detention and Absences: When Prolonged AWOL Is Not Abandonment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when an employee's prolonged absence due to detention does not constitute abandonment, and the limits of dismissal.
Bank Negligence and Fiduciary Duty in Handling Foreign Currency Deposits
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on bank liability for negligence in handling foreign currency time deposit pretermination and fiduciary duty.
Delivery Order Compliance: Who Bears the Loss for Unauthorized Fertilizer Withdrawals
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on who bears the loss when goods are released without proper delivery order forms.
Surety Bonds and Reimbursement: When Payment Under Compulsion Is Still Collectible
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a surety can recover from the principal debtor after paying a bond under threat of execution.
Trade Secrets vs Discovery: Balancing Business Confidentiality and Legal Rights in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when trade secrets are privileged from compulsory disclosure in civil discovery proceedings.
Abandonment vs Constructive Dismissal: Protecting Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the fine line between abandonment and constructive dismissal, and what employers must prove to justify termination.
Reversion of Expropriated Land: Who Can Sue and When the Right Arises
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on who may sue for reversion of expropriated land and when the right to challenge an award arises.
Perfected Sale vs Contract to Sell: Distinguishing Ownership Transfer in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the difference between a contract of sale and a contract to sell, and when ownership actually transfers to the buyer.
Upholding Contractual Obligations: Lessee's Duty to Pay Rent and Repair Under Philippine Lease Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Mercury Drug v. Republic Surety clarifies when a lessee may suspend rent payments and the binding effect of contractual repair obligations.
Zoning Compliance Hospital Expansion Rights Under Prior Ordinances
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on hospital expansion rights, non-conforming structures, and the applicable zoning ordinance at time of application.
Union Fund Mismanagement: Substantiation Required for Special Assessments
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on union officers' liability for unsubstantiated special assessments and litigation expenses.