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.
Newly Discovered Evidence in Philippine Courts: The Barraquio Case and Rule 37
Learn the strict requirements for newly discovered evidence under Rule 37 and what the Supreme Court's Barraquio ruling means for litigants.
Timely Filing of Just Compensation Claims Under Philippine Agrarian Law
Learn the 10-year prescriptive period for filing just compensation claims with the Special Agrarian Courts under Philippine agrarian reform law.
When Agrarian Disputes Are Really Contract Cases: DAR v. Lapanday Foods
The Supreme Court clarifies when disputes over CARP lands are ordinary contract cases, not agrarian disputes under DAR jurisdiction.
When Can CLOAs Be Cancelled? A Philippine Supreme Court Guide
The Supreme Court explains when agrarian reform titles (CLOAs) can be cancelled despite indefeasibility, and which tribunal has jurisdiction.
When CLOAs Can Be Cancelled: Due Process and Landowner Retention Rights in CARP
The Supreme Court ruled that CLOAs may be cancelled when landowners' due process and retention rights are violated during CARP implementation.
DARAB Jurisdiction Over Annulment of Land Sales Under CARP Coverage
Supreme Court clarifies DARAB jurisdiction over annulment of deeds of sale for agricultural lands covered by CARP, even without notice of coverage.
Missed Appeal Deadlines in Agrarian Cases: When Negligence Costs the Right to Appeal
The Supreme Court rules on missed appeal deadlines in agrarian disputes, explaining when a motion for reconsideration suspends the period and why certiorari cannot replace a lost appeal.
Fair Compensation in Land Reform: Upholding Valuation Standards in Agrarian Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that courts must follow DAR valuation formulas in agrarian reform cases, not subjective judgments.
Defining Agrarian Disputes When Land Ownership Claims Fall Outside DARAB Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court clarifies that ownership disputes over land, absent tenurial arrangements, are not agrarian disputes and belong to regular courts.
Limits of DARAB Jurisdiction: Certiorari Power and Agrarian Dispute Resolution
Supreme Court clarifies DARAB jurisdiction limits, certiorari power, and the finality of agrarian dispute decisions in just compensation cases.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies in CLOA Cancellation Cases: A Property Law Primer
Learn why a landowner's direct appeal to the Court of Appeals failed in a CLOA cancellation case, and the importance of exhausting administrative remedies.
Heirship Rights vs. Execution Sales: Protecting Inherited Property in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court protects heirs' rights when inherited property faces competing claims, and what the Dela Cruz ruling means for Filipino families.
Breach of Trust Establishing Estafa in Financial Misappropriation Cases
Explore when breach of trust constitutes estafa under Philippine law, and why agricultural leasehold tenants cannot be prosecuted for it.
Can an RTC Annul a DARAB Decision? Jurisdiction in Agrarian Disputes
RTCs generally cannot annul DARAB decisions—they are co-equal bodies. Appeals must go to the Court of Appeals.
DARAB Jurisdiction Covers Agrarian Disputes Beyond Landlord-Tenant Relationships
Supreme Court clarifies DARAB jurisdiction extends to all agrarian disputes, including joint production agreements under CARP, not just traditional landlord-tenant cases.
Navigating Agrarian Disputes: DARAB Jurisdiction and Tenancy Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when DARAB has jurisdiction over agrarian disputes and what evidence proves tenancy and ownership rights.
When Tenancy Claims Don't Oust MTC Jurisdiction Over Unlawful Detainer
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that raising tenancy as a defense doesn't automatically strip MTC jurisdiction over unlawful detainer cases involving structures.
Tenancy Disputes and Jurisdiction: Courts vs. Agrarian Reform Boards
Understanding when courts or DARAB have jurisdiction over agrarian disputes, based on a recent Supreme Court ruling.
DARAB Jurisdiction Explained: Filing Agrarian Disputes in the Philippines
Learn where to file agrarian disputes in the Philippines—DARAB vs. PARAD jurisdiction clarified under R.A. 6657 and the DARAB rules.