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.
Project Employee vs Regular Employee: Security of Tenure Under Philippine Labor Law
Learn how the Supreme Court distinguishes project from regular employees and protects workers' security of tenure under Article 280 of the Labor Code.
Overriding Commissions After Retirement: Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether employees can claim commissions earned before retirement but paid after. Learn the rules.
Valid Reorganization vs Constructive Dismissal: Philippine Supreme Court Clarifies Employer Prerogatives
When a valid company reorganization abolishes a position and reassigns an employee without bad faith, no constructive dismissal arises.
Homicide vs Murder: Key Differences Under Philippine Law
Understand the legal distinction between homicide and murder in the Philippines, explained through a Supreme Court ruling on treachery and evident premeditation.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: What Employers Need to Know in the Philippines
Learn the essentials of procedural and substantive due process in Philippine labor law, including key rules and practical compliance tips for employers.
Jurisdiction Over Foreign Corporations: When Philippine Courts Can Hear Your Case
Philippine courts cannot assert jurisdiction over foreign corporations not doing business in the country, even in collection suits involving local parties.
Liability for Dishonored Checks: When Civil Damages Can Be Recovered
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a party can recover civil damages from a check issuer even if criminal liability under B.P. 22 is not established.
Illegal Dismissal Jurisdiction: Government Corporations Without Original Charters
Supreme Court clarifies which government-owned corporations fall under Labor Code jurisdiction versus Civil Service rules in illegal dismissal cases.
Seafarers' Rights: Protecting Overseas Workers From Illegal Dismissal
Supreme Court ruling protects Filipino seafarers from illegal dismissal when they seek ITF or CSR help for labor grievances.
Rape of a Person Deprived of Reason: Consent and Mental Capacity in Philippine Law
Philippine law treats carnal knowledge of a woman deprived of reason as rape, regardless of apparent consent. This case explains why.
Attempted Kidnapping: When Does Intent Fall Short of Completion
Philippine law distinguishes attempted from frustrated kidnapping. This article explains the legal tests courts use to determine criminal liability.
Land Registration in the Philippines: Why Newspaper Publication Is Mandatory
Why newspaper publication is a mandatory requirement in Philippine land registration, and how failing to comply can invalidate your application.
When Can a Seaman Be Dismissed: Understanding Seafarer Rights and Obligations
Learn the legal grounds for dismissing a seaman in the Philippines, plus the rights and obligations of seafarers under Philippine maritime law.
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Employee Rights and Employer Responsibilities in the Philippines
Learn the legal rules on workplace sexual harassment in the Philippines, including employer duties, due process, and employee remedies.
Positive Identification Trumps Alibi: Lessons from People v. Balad
In People v. Balad, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that positive identification by credible witnesses prevails over the defense of alibi in Philippine criminal law.
Retroactivity of Disqualification: When Prior Misconduct Bars Future Elections
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether Section 40(b) of the Local Government Code applies retroactively to disqualify candidates removed from office before 1992.
Confidential Employees and Security of Tenure: What PAGCOR v. Salas Teaches
The Supreme Court clarifies that a position's actual functions, not its legal label, determine if an employee is truly confidential.
Due Process in NLRC Appeals: When Procedural Lapses Don't Erase Just Cause
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on probationary employee dismissal, due process requirements, and NLRC appellate review standards in labor disputes.
When a Judge Reviews His Own Ruling: Due Process in Philippine Labor Appeals
A Supreme Court ruling on why a labor arbiter cannot review his own decision on appeal, and the due process rights of dismissed employees.
SEC Jurisdiction Over Corporate Controversies: The Lozano v. De Los Santos Test
When does the SEC have jurisdiction over corporate disputes? The Supreme Court clarifies the two-element test in Lozano v. De Los Santos.
When a Wage Order Exemption Fails: The Distressed Establishment Rule
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on wage order exemptions for distressed establishments and the cut-off for measuring losses.
When Stockholder Disputes Belong to the SEC: Garcia v. Court of Appeals
A stockholder's damages suit against another stockholder may still be an intra-corporate dispute under SEC jurisdiction, not regular courts.
Solidary Liability Holding Principals Accountable FOR Wage Violations OF Contractors IN THE Philippines
Learn how Philippine labor law holds principals solidarily liable for wage violations of their contractors and the rules on valid dismissal.
Succession and Labor Claims: Can Employee Claims Survive the Death of an Employer
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether employee money claims survive an employer's death and who bears liability.