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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Trademark Cancellation: When Registration Does Not Guarantee Ownership
The Supreme Court explains when a trademark registration can be cancelled despite the prima facie presumption of ownership it grants.
Proving Land Is Alienable and Disposable: Key to Philippine Land Registration
Learn the strict proof required to register land in the Philippines, from the Supreme Court's ruling in Republic v. PNP.
Navigating Docket Fee Challenges: Ensuring Jurisdiction in Philippine Courts
Learn how the Supreme Court protects the right to speedy disposition of cases and prevents inordinate delay in preliminary investigations.
Understanding Lawyer Negligence Duties AND Consequences IN Philippine LAW
The Supreme Court explains when a lawyer's negligence violates the Code of Professional Responsibility and the penalties that follow.
When Can Police Impound Your Vehicle: Unlawful Seizure Explained
Learn when police can legally impound a vehicle in the Philippines and when seizure becomes unlawful, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
When "Not Fit for Duty" Means Total Disability: The Bandico Ruling
A seafarer declared "not fit for duty" but given partial disability grades may still be entitled to total and permanent disability benefits.
Void Contracts and Reimbursement Rights in Vehicle Sales: Lessons from a Graft Case
A mayor's misuse of a municipal bid deposit for personal purchases shows how void contracts and reimbursement rights operate in Philippine law.
Resignation vs. Dismissal: Philippine Supreme Court Clarifies Employee Rights
The Supreme Court explains when resignation bars an illegal dismissal claim and when procedural due process still matters.
Res Judicata in the Philippines: How Final Judgments Bar Endless Litigation
The Supreme Court explains res judicata and why a final judgment on a compromise agreement cannot be relitigated through new petitions.
Understanding Just Compensation in Philippine Expropriation: Landmark Ruling on Interest Rates
The Supreme Court clarifies when legal interest accrues on unpaid just compensation in expropriation cases, citing Republic v. Heirs of Francisco.
Navigating Disability Benefits for Seafarers: Understanding Total and Permanent Disability in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when a seafarer's injury qualifies as total and permanent disability, not just partial, under the POEA-SEC.
Subrogation and Carrier Liability in Maritime Claims: The C.V. Gaspar Case
How the Supreme Court applied subrogation and extraordinary diligence to hold carriers liable for damaged cargo in maritime transport.
Special Administrators in Estate Cases: Residency Matters More Than Citizenship
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that residency, not citizenship, determines who may serve as special administrator in estate proceedings.
Protecting Conjugal Property from a Spouse’s Personal Debts: Cordova v. Ty Explained
Can creditors seize conjugal property for one spouse’s personal debt? The Supreme Court’s ruling in Cordova v. Ty explains the limits.
SALN Violations and Perjury: Prescriptive Periods Explained
Learn the prescriptive periods for SALN violations and perjury in the Philippines, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in the Germar case.
Proving Tolerance in Unlawful Detainer: A Landmark Lesson from the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proving tolerance in unlawful detainer cases. Learn the key evidence rules for ejectment disputes.
Understanding Finality of Audit Decisions: A Guide to Timely Appeals in Philippine Government Audits
Learn how the Supreme Court upheld COA's dismissal of PhilHealth's belated appeal, and why strict deadlines matter in government audit cases.
Good Faith in Government Procurement: When Brand Specification Is Not Graft
The Supreme Court clarifies that procurement irregularities do not automatically prove graft under Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft Law.
Fiscal Autonomy and Performance-Based Bonuses: The PICCI Case
The Supreme Court ruled that GOCCs with fiscal autonomy, like BSP subsidiaries, are not covered by EO 80's PBB rules.
Disclosure in Fire Insurance Policies: Avoiding Forfeiture Under the Other Insurance Clause
A fire insurance claim can be forfeited for failing to disclose other policies covering the same property. Learn the rules.
Navigating Disability Benefits: The Importance of Timely Reporting for Seafarers
A seafarer's disability claim can fail without timely reporting and compliance with the POEA-SEC's mandatory procedures.
Bank Liability and Depositor Rights: Fiduciary Duties in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms that banks owe depositors extraordinary diligence, and a bank cannot escape liability for its employees' unauthorized acts.
Understanding Qualified Trafficking in Persons: The Helen Lapena Case and Its Impact on Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a conviction for qualified trafficking in persons, clarifying how floor managers who maintain minors for prostitution are held liable under RA 9208.