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.
Diminution of Benefits: Government Employee Compensation and PCSO Board Authority
SC ruling on PCSO allowances disallowed by COA: board authority limits, non-diminution of benefits, and officer liability explained.
Prescription in Tax Assessments: Waivers Must Be Strictly Compliant for Validity
Waivers of the tax prescription period are strictly construed. Missing the BIR's date of acceptance voids them, and assessments without due dates fail.
CBA-Protected Benefits: When Management Prerogative Cannot Override the Collective Bargaining Agreement
Philippine Bank of Communications v. PBCOMEA: benefits written into a CBA cannot be unilaterally changed by management without union participation.
Contractor or Employer: Defining the Boundaries of Labor-Only Contracting in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when a contractor is a legitimate job contractor rather than a labor-only contractor, and who is the true employer.
Lawyer Disbarred for Misconduct in Property Transactions: Lessons from BASECO Case
Supreme Court disbars lawyer for failing to account for client funds and neglecting property titling work, highlighting ethical duties in Philippine property law practice.
Corporate Opportunity Doctrine: Directors Cannot Take Business Deals for Themselves
Supreme Court clarifies when corporate directors breach their duty of loyalty by taking business opportunities meant for the corporation.
Equitable Interest: How Liquidating Dividends Impact Foreign Land Ownership in the Philippines
SC ruling on whether a foreign stockholder's liquidating dividends in Philippine land may be levied to satisfy judgment debts.
Upholding Contractual Obligations When Government Actions Lead TO Breached Agreements
Explore how the Supreme Court protects contractual rights when government actions cause breaches, and the legal remedies available to affected parties.
Independent Contractor vs Employee: How Unique Skills Determine Employment Status in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when unique skills and talent make a worker an independent contractor, not an employee, in Philippine labor law.
Tortious Interference vs. Intra-Corporate Dispute: Jurisdiction in Corporate Conflicts
The Supreme Court clarifies when a corporate conflict is a civil tort case or an intra-corporate dispute, and which court has jurisdiction.
Res Judicata Bars Relitigation of Contract Validity in Loan Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when a dismissal order bars a second lawsuit on the same loan contract under res judicata.
Protecting Your Brand Online: Trademark Rights and Domain Names in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court protects trademark rights in domain names, and what the Kolin case means for your brand's online presence.
Conflict of Interest and Public Funds: When Cooperative Membership Does Not Equal Graft
Supreme Court clarifies that mere cooperative membership or past affiliation does not prove graft under the Anti-Graft Law.
Government Contracts: Due Process in Hiring Legal Retainers and COA Disallowances
SC ruling on PhilRice legal retainer case clarifies due process, concurrence requirements, and liability for disallowed government contract payments.
Corporate Veil and Judgment Execution: Can a Successor Corporation Be Held Liable?
When a judgment debtor's assets pass to another corporation, can the winner enforce the judgment against the successor? The Supreme Court explains.
Double Titling in the Philippines: How to Protect Your Property Rights
Learn how Philippine courts handle double titling disputes and what property owners can do to protect their rights and avoid legal conflicts.
Proving Cargo Damage Claims: Evidence Rules and Res Ipsa Loquitur
The Supreme Court clarifies the evidence needed to prove cargo damage claims and when res ipsa loquitur applies.
Constructive Dismissal and Contract Ambiguity: Lessons from Esico v. Alphaland
The Supreme Court's ruling in Esico v. Alphaland clarifies constructive dismissal claims and the consequences of ambiguous employment contracts.
Power Lines and Public Lands: Supreme Court Clarifies Easements and Just Compensation
The Supreme Court ruled that power lines fall under "similar works" in the Public Land Act, allowing easements on free patent lands with compensation rules.
Writ of Kalikasan and Environmental Permits: PTK2 H2O Corp. v. Court of Appeals
The Supreme Court affirms the writ of kalikasan, applying the precautionary principle and upholding the revocation of water permits and ECCs issued without proper environmental assessment.
Protecting the Environment: The Writ of Kalikasan and Environmental Impact Assessments
The Supreme Court explains how the writ of kalikasan protects the right to a balanced ecology and why Environmental Impact Statements are crucial.
Product Imperfection Liability: How Consumers Can Demand Replacement Under the Consumer Act
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when defective products must be replaced under the Consumer Act and who bears liability.
Understanding Share Redemption in Public Utilities: Insights from Philippine Legal Precedents
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling on share redemption in public utilities, examining PLDT's preferred share buyback and its legal implications.
Novation Requires Unequivocal Terms: Asian Construction vs Mero Structures
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when letters between parties create novation, and when an obligation remains unchanged.