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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Surety Bonds and Arbitration: When Is a Surety Bound by an Arbitration Agreement?
A surety may be bound by an arbitration clause in a construction contract if the bond incorporates that contract by reference.
Appeal Bond for Labor-Only Contractors: Solidary Liability and NLRC Appeals
When must a labor-only contractor post an appeal bond? The Supreme Court clarifies solidary liability and appeal perfection rules.
Standby Letters of Credit vs Counter-Bonds: Safeguarding Preliminary Attachments in Philippine Litigation
A standby letter of credit cannot substitute a counter-bond to discharge a preliminary attachment under Rule 57, per the Supreme Court.
Understanding Suretyship: When Can a Surety Be Released From Liability
The Supreme Court clarifies when a surety may be released from liability and when material alterations to the principal contract do not extinguish the bond.
Understanding Bail Bond Forfeiture When Property Bonds Are at Risk
The Supreme Court clarifies the difference between an order of forfeiture and a judgment on the bond, and when property bonds may be replaced with cash.
Surety Bonds and Written Principal Agreements: What the Supreme Court Says
When is a written principal agreement required before a surety bond can be enforced? The Supreme Court clarifies the rule in Cellpage v. Solid Guaranty.
When a Surety Bond Must Be Honored: Cellpage v. Solid Guaranty Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies when a surety is liable despite no written principal contract, and how bank errors affect obligations.
Employment Bonds and POEA-Approved Contracts: Key Lessons from a Recent Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when employment addenda are void, when resignation is involuntary, and who bears solidary liability for overseas workers' claims.
Estoppel by Silence: When a Surety Cannot Question a Bail Bond's Validity
The Supreme Court rules a surety is estopped from questioning a bail bond's validity after remaining silent despite repeated notices.
Broken Chains: Strict Evidence Rules and Estoppel in Drug Case Bail Forfeitures
The Supreme Court rules that a surety's silence on an agent's unauthorized bail bond can bar claims of invalidity through estoppel.
Government Agencies and Surety Bonds in Real Property Tax Disputes: The PMO v. CTA Ruling
When can a government agency skip the surety bond in real property tax cases? The Supreme Court clarifies in PMO v. CTA.
Surety Bonds in Replevin: When Does a Bond Really Expire?
A surety bond in a replevin case remains valid until the case is finally terminated, even if the stated period has lapsed.
Surety Bonds Liability Extends Until Case Termination Despite NON Renewal
A surety bond stays effective until a case is finally terminated, even without renewal. Learn the rule from Enriquez v. Mercantile Insurance.
Receiving Money from Bondsmen Is Grave Misconduct for Court Personnel
Court employees cannot receive money from litigants, even as voluntary "token" gifts. The Supreme Court explains why in Perez v. Roxas.
Attorney Disbarred for Gross Misconduct and Willful Disobedience to Court Orders
A lawyer's unauthorized use of a client's property for bail bonds, plus defiance of court orders, leads to disbarment.
Contractual Negligence: Defining the Scope of Liability in Service Agreements
A Supreme Court ruling on surety bonds clarifies when a contractor's breach triggers full liability, and how compensation applies.
Execution Pending Appeal: Balancing Justice and Judicial Discretion in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of execution pending appeal and the requirements for claiming injunction bonds in Abenion v. Pilipinas Shell.
Reinsurance and Attachment Bonds: Upholding Surety Validity Beyond Retention Limits
Supreme Court clarifies that attachment bonds exceeding a surety's retention limit remain valid when the excess is reinsured, explaining reinsurance contracts.
Appeal Bonds: Financial Hardship Is Not a Valid Excuse for Non-Compliance
The Supreme Court rules that financial difficulty alone cannot excuse an employer from posting the full appeal bond required under the Labor Code.
Appeal Bonds and Due Process in Labor Dismissal Cases: Key Lessons from the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court clarifies when defective appeal bonds may be excused and how courts may rule on unassigned errors in illegal dismissal cases.
The 20-Lender Rule and Deposit Substitutes in Philippine Bonds Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies the 20-lender rule for deposit substitutes and the 20% final withholding tax on government bonds.
Tax Suspension Bonds: When the CTA Must Hear the Taxpayer First
The Supreme Court clarifies when the Court of Tax Appeals may require a bond to suspend tax collection, and why a preliminary hearing is essential.
Taxation and Due Process: Balancing Government Power and Taxpayer Rights in Deficiency Assessments
The Supreme Court clarifies when the CTA may require a surety bond to suspend tax collection, protecting taxpayer rights.
Breach of Contract and Surety Bonds: When Extensions Don't Discharge a Surety
A contractor's failure to complete works on time triggers liability for breach and its surety's bond, even when extensions are granted.