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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Executive Power vs Legislative Authority: The Immigration Overtime Pay Dispute
A look at Tendenilla v. Purisima, where the Supreme Court upheld the executive's shift from airline-funded overtime to a 24/7 government-funded schedule.
Executive Power to End Overtime Pay for Immigration Employees: Tendenilla v. Purisima
Supreme Court ruling on whether the Executive may discontinue overtime pay charged to airlines for Bureau of Immigration employees.
Grave Misconduct in Government Service: When Dismissal Is the Only Penalty
Supreme Court reinstates dismissal of immigration officer for extortion and grave misconduct, ruling first offense cannot mitigate penalty.
Breach of Duty: Immigration Officer Liable for Releasing Aliens Who Used Fraudulent Documents
An immigration officer who releases aliens caught using fake passports without initiating deportation proceedings commits grave misconduct.
Writ of Amparo Not a Shield for Deportation: Mison v. Gallegos
The Supreme Court clarifies that the writ of amparo covers only extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, not ordinary immigration detention.
Lawyer's Neglect of Client's Case Warrants Reprimand, Not Disbarment
Lawyer who failed to file immigration petition for client receives reprimand from Supreme Court for violating professional responsibility rules.
Attorney Suspended for Misrepresentation and Failure to Return Client Funds
Supreme Court suspends lawyer for two years for misrepresenting as immigration lawyer and failing to return P350,000 client funds.
Marriage Validity: Intent vs Motive in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that a marriage entered for immigration purposes is valid if consent is freely given; motive alone does not void it.
Deportation and Drug Convictions: Broadening the Scope of Philippine Immigration Law
The Supreme Court rules that foreign drug convictions justify deportation under Philippine immigration law, rejecting a narrow reading of Section 37(a)(4).
Habeas Corpus and Deportation: When Courts Overstep Immigration Authority
A Supreme Court ruling on when courts may not interfere with Bureau of Immigration deportation orders through habeas corpus petitions.
Breach of Public Trust: The High Cost of Dishonesty for Court Officers in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court affirms direct bribery convictions of immigration officers and a lawyer, emphasizing public trust and accountability.
Due Process and Immigration Law: When a Judge’s Procedural Errors Become Gross Ignorance
A judge’s disregard of the three-day notice rule and immigration law results in administrative liability for gross ignorance of the law.
Serving Time Before Deportation: Criminal and Immigration Law Intersect
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that convicted aliens must serve their prison sentence before deportation under the Immigration Act of 1940.
Deportation and Due Process: Ensuring Fair Treatment for Foreign Nationals
The Supreme Court clarifies deportation rules for foreign nationals, balancing immigration enforcement with due process rights under Philippine law.
Habeas Corpus and Deportation: What Tung Chin Hui v. Rodriguez Means for Aliens in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when habeas corpus is available to aliens facing deportation orders from the Bureau of Immigration.
Deportation and Habeas Corpus: The Limits of Judicial Intervention in Immigration Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may issue the writ of habeas corpus in deportation cases involving undocumented aliens.