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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Employee Misconduct and Due Process: When Can Separation Benefits Be Withheld
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on separation pay, quitclaims, and due process in authorized termination cases.
Upholding Banks Right TO Withhold Benefits FOR Employee Misconduct A Case OF DUE Process AND Corporate Ethics
Supreme Court clarifies separation pay rules for business closures, quitclaim validity, and payment by check under Philippine labor law.
Upholding Judicial Efficiency: Consequences for Delay in Rendering Decisions and Issuing Summons
The Supreme Court fined a judge for gross inefficiency, underscoring the 90-day decision rule and the duty to request extensions.
Judicial Responsibility and Mitigating Circumstances in Delayed Case Transmittal
Explains when heavy caseload and isolated oversight can mitigate a judge's liability for delayed transmittal of appeal records.
Eminent Domain and Due Process: Protecting Property Rights in Expropriation Cases
The Supreme Court nullified Cebu City's expropriation ordinance, reaffirming that due process and strict legal compliance limit local governments' power of eminent domain.
Default Orders and Due Process: The SSS Case on Lifting Defaults
A default order isn't automatically lifted by invoking due process. Learn the strict requirements for setting it aside.
Option to Purchase vs Contract to Sell: Understanding Property Rights and Obligations
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between an option to purchase and a contract to sell, and the consequences of failing to comply with their terms.
Funding Source for Judicial Retirement Benefits: General Fund vs Special Allowance Fund
The Supreme Court clarifies that retirement benefits of justices and judges, including amounts based on special allowances, must be sourced from the General Fund.
Forum Shopping and Due Process: When Technical Dismissal Crosses the Line
The Supreme Court clarifies forum shopping elements and warns against rigid technicality that denies substantive justice.
Upholding Work Ethic Consequences for Habitual Tardiness in Public Service
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on habitual tardiness in public service, penalties, and why family excuses don't excuse chronic lateness.
Sandiganbayans Premature Acquittal DUE Process AND THE Limits OF Judicial Discretion
Bouncing Checks Law: When Fear and Necessity Do Not Excuse Issuing Bad Checks
The Supreme Court clarifies when uncontrollable fear and state of necessity cannot excuse liability under the Bouncing Checks Law.
Default Judgments and Due Process: Ensuring Fair Notice in Legal Proceedings
Learn how the Supreme Court protects due process in default judgments, emphasizing fair notice and the proper remedy for appealing decisions.
Upholding Judicial Authority: The Consequences of Unauthorized Court Transfers
A judge and court staff were disciplined for moving a court's station without prior Supreme Court approval. Learn the rules and risks.
Due Process and Appeal Rights in Land Title Disputes: Apuyan v. Haldeman
A look at Apuyan v. Haldeman on appeal perfection, final orders, and free patent requirements in Philippine land disputes.
COMELEC's Duty to Hold Special Barangay Elections After a Failed Poll: The Sambarani Doctrine
The Supreme Court ruled that COMELEC cannot refuse to hold special barangay elections after a failure of election, and that incumbent officials hold over until successors are elected.
Sheriffs Overreach Defining THE Limits OF Property Levy IN Philippine LAW
When can a sheriff's levy on execution be considered excessive? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of property levy in Philippine law.
Judicial Efficiency vs Prosecutorial Overreach: Balancing Justice and Accountability in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling sanctioned both a judge who delayed deciding cases and the prosecutor whose excessive complaints burdened the courts with baseless charges.
Judicial Accountability: Balancing Efficiency and Fairness in Case Resolution
A look at how the Supreme Court balances a judge's duty to decide cases promptly against a prosecutor's duty not to abuse administrative complaints.
Court Employees Cannot Act as Insurance Agents: A Lesson in Judicial Ethics
The Supreme Court fined a process server for facilitating bail bonds through a surety company, reaffirming the ban on court employees engaging in insurance activities.
Limits to Property Rights: Balancing Bank Security and Depositor Access
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a bank may bar a dismissed employee-depositor from its premises without abusing property rights.
Due Process in Administrative Cases: What Velasquez v. Hernandez Teaches About Fair Hearing and Evidence
The Supreme Court clarifies due process and substantial evidence rules in administrative cases, reversing a Court of Appeals ruling that had nullified a CSC dismissal order.
Strikes and Due Process: Balancing Labor Rights and Employer Prerogatives in the Philippines
Explore how Philippine labor law balances workers' right to strike against employer prerogatives, with due process at the core.
Electricity Disconnection and Due Process: Meralco's Duty to Reconnect
When can a power company disconnect service, and what remedies exist? The Igot case explains due process, injunction bonds, and contempt jurisdiction.