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.
Qualified Theft vs. Simple Theft: When Does Grave Abuse of Confidence Apply?
The Supreme Court clarifies when employee theft becomes qualified theft, requiring proof of special trust beyond ordinary employer-employee relations.
Serious Misconduct and Employee Dismissal in the Philippines: What Employers Must Prove
Philippine law requires wrongful intent, not just a mistake, to dismiss an employee for serious misconduct. Learn what employers must prove.
Illegal Dismissal of Pregnant Employee: SPID Corp. v. Ballesteros Explained
The Supreme Court affirmed that dismissing a pregnant employee without substantial evidence is illegal, reinforcing due process in Philippine labor law.
Illegal Dismissal vs. Voluntary Resignation: Proving Your Case in the Philippines
When is a resignation not voluntary? Learn how Philippine courts distinguish illegal dismissal from resignation and who bears the burden of proof.
Constructive Dismissal vs. Just Cause Termination: Key Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies that constructive dismissal and just cause termination are incompatible, reinforcing due process and security of tenure.
Illegal Dismissal and Substantial Evidence: The Padsing v. Lepanto Case
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Padsing v. Lepanto underscores that employers must prove just cause for dismissal with substantial evidence.
Understanding Illegal Dismissal When Negligence Doesnt Justify Termination
The Supreme Court clarifies when simple negligence or carelessness cannot justify termination, explaining the standards for loss of trust, gross neglect, and abandonment.
Valid Dismissal and Separation Pay: Key Lessons from a 2020 Supreme Court Ruling
A 2020 Supreme Court ruling clarifies when dismissal for willful disobedience is valid and when separation pay may—or may not—be granted.
Plagiarism in Academia: Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal of UE Professors for Misrepresentation
Supreme Court upholds dismissal of professors for plagiarism, misrepresentation, and breach of trust, clarifying stare decisis and waiver rules.
Custodial Investigation and Confessions in Qualified Theft: People v. Cabanada
When does a police interview become custodial investigation? People v. Cabanada clarifies Miranda rights and confession admissibility in theft cases.
Loss of Trust and Confidence as Ground for Dismissal: What Employers Must Prove
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when loss of trust and confidence justifies employee dismissal, requiring willful breach proven by substantial evidence.
Malicious Prosecution: Holding Employers Accountable for Unjust Accusations
When employers file baseless criminal charges against workers, they may face damages for malicious prosecution. Learn from a Supreme Court ruling.
Business Closure vs Illegal Dismissal: Navigating Employee Rights in the Philippines
When is a resignation forced? Learn how Philippine labor law distinguishes voluntary resignation from illegal dismissal, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Mistake vs Misconduct in Employee Dismissal: Due Process in Philippine Labor Law
When is an employee's honest mistake a valid ground for dismissal? The Supreme Court clarifies the line between error and misconduct.
Unraveling Estafa: The Supreme Court's Stance on Misappropriation and Probable Cause
A look at Burgundy Realty v. Reyes, where the Supreme Court clarified the elements of estafa and the low bar for probable cause in preliminary investigations.
Verbal Dismissal in the Philippines: Why Oral Termination Is Illegal Without Due Process
Verbal dismissal alone cannot lawfully end employment in the Philippines. Learn the due process rules from Uy v. Centro Ceramica.
When Supervisors Lose Trust: Dismissal for Misconduct Under Article 282
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a supervisor's unauthorized disposal of company property justifies dismissal for serious misconduct and loss of trust.
Substantial Compliance with Procedural Rules: Certified Xerox Copies in Philippine Law
Supreme Court ruling on certified xerox copies as substantial compliance with Rule 65 requirements for petitions for certiorari.
Attorney Misappropriation of Client Funds: Fiduciary Duty and Ethical Obligations of Lawyers
When a lawyer mishandles client money, the Supreme Court does not take it lightly. Learn the ethical rules and consequences.
Breach of Trust Establishing Estafa in Misappropriated Funds
Supreme Court ruling on when misappropriating advance payments constitutes estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code.
Loss of Trust and Confidence as a Valid Ground for Dismissal: The Vitarich Case
Philippine law requires more than an employer's mere assertion of lost trust to justify dismissal. Learn the rules from Vitarich v. NLRC.
Separation of Church and State: Supreme Court Upholds Labor Rights of Religious Workers
The Supreme Court rules that a pastor's dismissal is a secular employment matter, not an ecclesiastical affair, affirming labor protections.
Proportionality in Employee Discipline: When Dismissal Is Too Harsh in the Philippines
Philippine labor law requires penalties to fit the offense. Learn when dismissal is disproportionate and how the Supreme Court applies this rule.