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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Burden of Proof in Sexual Harassment Cases: Substantial Evidence Required
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that sexual harassment complaints must be proven by substantial evidence, not bare allegations, in administrative cases.
Can Co-Owned Property Be Sold When One Owner Refuses? A Philippine Case Study
Explore when co-owned property can be sold against an owner's wishes, plus key lessons from a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on ownership disputes.
Docket Fees and Delayed Justice: Perfecting Appeals Despite Poverty
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that poverty excuses late payment of docket fees in appeals, ensuring access to justice for indigent litigants.
Abandonment vs Illegal Dismissal: Proving Intent to Abandon Employment
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the two requisites for valid dismissal due to abandonment, emphasizing employer's burden of proof.
Valid Service of Court Orders: When a Security Guard's Receipt Counts in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when service of court orders on a security guard counts as valid receipt, affecting deadlines for appeals.
Prescription Period in Illegal Dismissal Cases: When Does the Clock Start Ticking
Learn when the prescriptive period for illegal dismissal claims begins, based on Philippine Supreme Court rulings and the Labor Code.
Credit Card Dishonor and Damages: The Rule from Aznar v. Citibank
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether credit card dishonor alone can make a bank liable for damages, and what a cardholder must prove.
Substantial Compliance Protecting Workers in Corporate Restructuring
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on substantial compliance in corporate restructuring and its impact on worker protections and employment security.
Tax Refund Claims: Strict Compliance With Documentary Requirements for Creditable Withholding Taxes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on strict documentary requirements for tax refund claims involving creditable withholding taxes, citing Banco Filipino case.
When Can a Court Reinstate a Dismissed Appeal: Procedural Lapses in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains when procedural lapses in appeals may be overlooked to serve substantial justice, with rules on prescription of mortgage actions.
Prescription in Mortgage Foreclosure: When the Clock Starts Ticking in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that the 10-year prescriptive period for mortgage foreclosure runs from default, not from the mortgage date.
Preliminary Injunctions: Why Courts Must Hear Both Sides Before Issuing One
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a judge commits grave abuse of discretion by issuing a preliminary injunction without letting the opposing party finish presenting evidence.
Ballot Box Integrity is Key: Safeguarding Election Results in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Rosal v. Comelec: ballots must be proven untampered before they can overturn election returns.
Judges' Duty and Consequences of Undue Delay in Rendering Decisions in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on judges' duty to decide cases promptly and the administrative penalties for undue delay in rendering decisions.
Lump Sum Land Sales: Boundaries vs. Area Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on land sales, tenancy, and why property boundaries matter more than area in lump sum transactions.
Lease Purchase Agreements Ownership Rights and Remedies in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a writ of possession may issue in lease-purchase disputes, explained for lay readers.
Rape Conviction Based on Circumstantial Evidence Protecting Victims of Unconscious Assault
Philippine Supreme Court affirms qualified rape conviction, ruling that a sleeping victim's testimony and medical evidence suffice to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Redemption Denied: Why Tender of Payment Is Crucial in Philippine Foreclosure Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains why a borrower must actually tender payment to redeem foreclosed property—not just file a case.
Judicial Redemption in Philippine Foreclosures: Why Tender of Payment Matters
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that filing a judicial redemption case without tendering payment may forfeit the right to redeem foreclosed property.
Double Sale and Estafa: When a Land Transaction Can Lead to Criminal Charges
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a double sale of land becomes estafa, requiring deceit and damage, not mere breach of contract.
Contract to Sell vs Contract of Sale: Key Differences and Buyer Protections in Philippine Real Estate
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between a contract to sell and a contract of sale, and what it means for buyers and sellers.
Unlock Loan Restructuring Benefits: Why Application Is Key Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on RA 7202 shows why filing an application is essential to claim loan restructuring and condonation benefits.
Employee Transfers and Constructive Dismissal: The Rural Bank of Cantilan Case
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a job transfer becomes constructive dismissal, using the Rural Bank of Cantilan v. Julve ruling.
Double Sale of Land in the Philippines: Bad Faith Registration and Ejectment Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on double sale of land: bad faith registration cannot defeat the first buyer's right to possession.