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.
Dismissal Denied: Why Properly Stating Your Cause of Action Matters in Philippine Courts
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on constructive dismissal in a security guard's case and why precise legal claims are crucial.
Forum Shopping One Bite at the Apple in Philippine Courts
Learn how the Supreme Court barred a co-owner's legal redemption claim for being filed seven years after actual knowledge of the sale, applying laches and the relaxed written notice rule.
Res Ipsa Loquitur: When Negligence Speaks for Itself in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains how the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur allows accident victims to prove negligence through circumstantial evidence.
Upholding Ethical Boundaries: Attorney-Client Privilege and Conflict of Interest in Disbarment Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when lawyers may be disciplined for representing conflicting interests, even across different cases and clients.
Falsification of Private Documents: Intent to Damage Is Key in Philippine Law
Philippine law requires proof of intent to cause damage for falsification of private documents. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Tenant Rights in the Philippines: Proving Agricultural Tenancy and Its Implications
Learn how Philippine courts determine agricultural tenancy, tenant rights to redemption, and what a Certificate of Land Transfer means for landowners and lessees.
Bigamy and Presumptive Death: When a Second Marriage Becomes a Crime
The Supreme Court explains why a judicial declaration of presumptive death is required before remarrying, and when bigamy applies.
Contract to Sell Cancellation: Maceda Law Rules and Novation Explained
Learn the Maceda Law rules on cancelling a contract to sell, when a new contract can replace the old one, and key takeaways from Fabrigas v. San Francisco Del Monte.
POEA Contract or Labor Code: Which Governs Seafarer Rights in Domestic Waters?
Supreme Court clarifies when a POEA-approved seafarer contract ends and the Labor Code takes over for domestic voyages.
Prescription Prevails: Acquiring Ownership Despite Shared Inheritance
When a co-heir openly claims inherited land as their own for decades, prescription can defeat the right to partition.
Prescription of Claims in Maritime Employment: Time Limits and Legal Recourse
When POEA contracts expire, seafarers may fall under Labor Code rules. Learn how Delos Santos v. Jebsen Maritime clarifies rights.
Probationary Employment and Employer Prerogative: When Clearance Requirements Justify Non-Regularization
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on probationary employment, employer prerogative, and reasonable pre-employment requirements for regularization.
Forcible Entry: Possession by Tolerance vs. Undue Deprivation Through Force
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that owners cannot use force to evict occupants, even if possession is by tolerance, without filing the proper ejectment case.
Barangay Conciliation: Why a Settlement Agreement Cannot Replace the Lupon Requirement
Learn from Berba v. Pablo why a barangay settlement with one party does not excuse mandatory conciliation before filing an ejectment suit.
When Are Clients Bound by Their Lawyer’s Actions? Philippine Supreme Court Explains
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains when a client is bound by a lawyer's negligence or refusal to receive court notices.
Separate Legal Claims WHY Improper Case Consolidation Violates DUE Process
Why the Supreme Court ruled that separate libel complaints against a publisher cannot be consolidated against one defendant without violating due process.
Habitual Absenteeism and Neglect of Duty: When Is Termination Justified in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when habitual absenteeism and neglect of duty justify dismissal, and the price employers pay for skipping due process.
Overcoming Technicalities in Employees Compensation for Associated Illnesses
How the Supreme Court ruled that a worker's death from a non-listed illness may still be compensable if associated with a compensable disease.
Tenancy Rights: How to Prove Agricultural Tenancy in Philippine Agrarian Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that a tenancy relationship cannot be presumed—all six elements must be proven by evidence.
The Weight of Witness Testimony and Identity in Homicide Convictions
How Philippine courts assess eyewitness identification and credibility in homicide cases, and why knowing a face matters more than knowing a name.
Injunctions in Ejectment: Balancing Immediate Execution With Equitable Considerations
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may issue preliminary injunctions despite the immediately executory nature of ejectment judgments.
Reopening Inquiry Service Provider Rights and Due Process in Airport Terminal Agreements
Court rules Ombudsman committed grave abuse of discretion in dismissing service operators' complaint without complete preliminary investigation.
Contract to Sell vs. Sale: What Buyers Must Know Under Philippine Law
A buyer who stops paying installments in a contract to sell may lose ownership rights. Learn the key differences and protections.
Mutual Life Insurance Companies Tax Exemption as Cooperatives Explained
Supreme Court ruling on Sun Life clarifies tax exemption for mutual life insurance companies as cooperatives under Philippine tax law.