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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Unmasking Land Title Fraud Evidence and Due Diligence in Philippine Property Disputes
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on proving forged deeds, church death certificates as evidence, and due diligence in property disputes.
Carrier Liability in Voyage Charters: Who Is Responsible When the Ship Isn't Yours
A common carrier cannot escape liability for lost cargo by claiming it did not own the vessel used. Philippine Supreme Court ruling explained.
Unendorsed Checks and Bank Liability: Depositor Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on unendorsed checks, bank set-off rights, and depositor protection in banking disputes.
Construction Contract Disputes: Interpreting Amendments and Deduction Clauses in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a contractor can deduct accommodation costs from a subcontractor's billings after a final contract amendment.
Forcible Entry Claims in Philippine Real Estate: Why Prior Physical Possession Matters
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies forcible entry rules: prior physical possession, not paper rights, determines who can sue for ejectment.
Land Reclassification vs Agrarian Reform: When Local Plans Meet National Mandates
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on forcible entry clarifies possession, ownership, and the limits of local land reclassification powers.
Illegal Dismissal: Employer's Burden of Proof and the Defense of Abandonment
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that employers bear the burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases, and abandonment cannot be presumed from mere absence.
Voluntary Retirement vs Illegal Dismissal: When a Resignation Is Truly Voluntary
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a voluntary retirement is valid and not illegal dismissal, using Amkor Technology v. Juangco.
Does Filing a Case Stop the Clock? Prescription in Philippine Land Registration Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that prescription and laches do not bar enforcement of final judgments in land registration cases, explaining why.
Navigating Conflicting Land Titles in the Philippines: Due Diligence and the Doctrine of Indefeasibility
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on land title disputes, due diligence, and why factual findings bind appellate review.
Substantial Evidence Needed for Loss of Trust and Confidence Dismissals in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that loss of trust and confidence requires substantial evidence, not mere suspicion, to justify employee dismissal.
Prescription and Laches in Land Registration Cases: The Sta. Ana Doctrine Affirmed
Philippine Supreme Court affirms that prescription and laches do not bar enforcement of final land registration judgments, protecting property owners' rights.
Beyond the Title: Why Philippine Banks Must Investigate Loan Collateral Ownership
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Omengan v. PNB clarifies banks' duty to investigate collateral ownership beyond the certificate of title.
Surrender of Leased Property: Padlocking Doesn't Always Mean Continued Possession
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when padlocking a surrendered leased unit does not amount to continued possession, and explains the rules on surrender.
Enforcing Arbitration: Why Contract Validity Doesn't Always Matter in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains the separability doctrine: an arbitration clause survives even if the main contract is challenged.
Trademark Territoriality and Bad Faith Registration in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies territoriality principle and bad faith in trademark registration under R.A. 166 in Shangri-La case.
Navigating Sequestration: Why Court Approval Is Mandatory for Disposing of Assets in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why sequestered assets, including dividends, cannot be sold without Sandiganbayan approval.
Breach of Trust: When Can a Manager Be Dismissed in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when employers may validly dismiss managerial employees for loss of trust and confidence.
Scope of a Doctor's Duty: No Administrative Liability for Patient's Departure Against Medical Advice
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that doctors are not administratively liable when a patient leaves against medical advice, defining the scope of medical duty.
Final Judgment IS Final Understanding Immutability IN Philippine Courts
Learn how the doctrine of immutability of judgment prevents courts from altering final decisions, with insights from a Philippine Supreme Court case.
Breach of Trust: A Lawyer's Duty to Client Property in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court suspends lawyers who took a client's car as payment, explaining the fiduciary duty over client property.
When Courts Can Compel Disclosure of Foreign Currency Deposits in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when courts may compel banks to disclose foreign currency deposits despite the secrecy rule under RA 6426.
Leaving Ship for Medical Help Is Not Desertion: Seafarer Rights Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling protects seafarers who leave a vessel for medical treatment, clarifying that such acts do not constitute desertion.
Substituted Service of Summons: When a Security Guard Can Validly Receive It
Philippine Supreme Court rules on substituted service of summons through a subdivision security guard and its effect on court jurisdiction.