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.
Voluntary Appearance and Proper Service of Summons in Philippine Courts
Learn when a defendant's voluntary appearance cures defective summons and why improper service alone does not warrant dismissal.
Property Rights vs Public Use: Resolving Road Access Disputes
When can a government hospital close a road on its titled property? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of preliminary injunctions in access disputes.
Certiorari Filing Deadlines: The 60-Day Rule and Grave Abuse of Discretion
A dismissed employee's appeal was wrongly rejected by the Court of Appeals before the 60-day certiorari period lapsed—what this means for litigants.
Judicial Accountability Balancing Discretion AND Duty IN Search Warrant Issuance
A Supreme Court ruling on administrative liability clarifies the balance between judicial discretion in search warrants and accountability for neglect.
Partnership vs Estafa: When a Partner's Misappropriation Becomes a Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies when a partner's failure to account for funds crosses from civil liability to criminal estafa under Philippine law.
Historical Truth vs National Reconciliation: The Supreme Court Ruling on Marcos' Libingan ng mga Bayani Burial
The Supreme Court upheld President Duterte's decision to bury Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, ruling it a political question beyond judicial review.
SEC Approval Needed to Trade Securities: SC Clarifies Probable Cause in Securities Fraud
Supreme Court clarifies when SEC approval is needed to trade securities and the limits of probable cause review in securities fraud cases.
Traffic Violations and Negligence: When Driving on the Wrong Lane Determines Liability in Collisions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how traffic violations like wrong-lane driving establish negligence and liability in vehicle collisions.
Supreme Court Affirms Negligence Ruling in Vehicle Collision Insurance Subrogation Case
Supreme Court affirms CA ruling holding driver negligent in highway collision, upholding insurer's subrogation claim for vehicle repair costs.
Ombudsman's Discretion Upholding Independence in Graft Case Investigations
SC rules on Ombudsman's discretion in graft investigations, affirming independence and expertise in dismissing cases without grave abuse.
When Can Courts Interfere With Ombudsman Probable Cause Findings
The Supreme Court explains the limits of judicial review over Ombudsman probable cause findings in anti-graft cases against public officers.
When a Prosecutor Files an Information Without the City Prosecutor’s Approval
Learn when a criminal information filed without the city prosecutor’s prior written authority is defective and subject to quashal.
Trademark Infringement and Probable Cause: When the Secretary of Justice Abuses Discretion
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may override the Secretary of Justice's dismissal of trademark infringement complaints for grave abuse of discretion.
Filing Money Claims Against Government: Lessons from a Dismissed Flood Damage Case
The Supreme Court affirms COA's denial of P122-million flood damage claims against DPWH, citing prescription, laches, and the state's immunity from suit.
Corporate Representation: The Necessity of Board Resolutions in Legal Actions
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers need board resolutions to file or defend legal actions, and the limits of derivative suits.
Reinsurance and Attachment Bonds: Upholding Surety Validity Beyond Retention Limits
Supreme Court clarifies that attachment bonds exceeding a surety's retention limit remain valid when the excess is reinsured, explaining reinsurance contracts.
Overcoming Title Presumptions: The Imperative of Clear and Convincing Evidence in Land Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why clear and convincing evidence is required to overturn a free patent and certificate of title.
Accountability Prevails: COA's Power to Discipline and Recover Unlawful Benefits
The Supreme Court affirms COA's authority to discipline its personnel and recover unauthorized benefits received from audited agencies.
Tax Evasion and Prescription: The Statute of Limitations in Philippine Tax Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when the three-year prescriptive period for tax assessment applies, and why fraud must be proven to trigger the ten-year rule.
PDAF Scam: Hearsay Evidence and Probable Cause in Plunder Cases
The Supreme Court upholds the Ombudsman's probable cause findings in the PDAF scam cases, clarifying that hearsay evidence can establish probable cause.
Union Dues Increase: Supreme Court Requires Strict Compliance for Agency Fees
The Supreme Court ruled that increased union agency fees require strict compliance with Labor Code approval and documentation requirements.
Foreign Ownership in Public Utilities: The High Court Defines "Capital"
The Supreme Court clarifies that Under the Constitution
ERC v. Meralco: Only the Supreme Court Can Enjoin EPIRA Implementation
The Supreme Court rules that only it can enjoin EPIRA implementation, clarifying limits on RTC injunctive power over energy regulations.
Mining Rights vs. Indigenous Peoples: Exhaustion of Remedies and Grave Abuse of Discretion
The Supreme Court in Alecha v. Atienza underscores the exhaustion doctrine and limits of grave abuse of discretion in mining disputes.