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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Simulated Loan Contracts and Surety Liability: Lessons from ATCI v. Asset Pool A
A Supreme Court ruling on simulated loan contracts shows when a surety agreement falls with the void principal obligation.
Reducing Unconscionable Penalties: The Supreme Court’s Stance on Fair Loan Obligations
The Supreme Court clarifies when penalty charges in loan contracts are unconscionable and may be reduced, balancing creditor rights with debtor protection.
Attorneys Fees and Ethical Boundaries: When Interest Stipulations Fail in Philippine Loan Contracts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on written interest stipulations, unconscionable rates, and borrower protections under Civil Code Article 1956.
Mutuality of Contracts: When Banks Cannot Unilaterally Raise Interest Rates
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Silos v. PNB explains why unilateral interest rate hikes violate the mutuality principle in loan contracts.
Written Stipulation Is Paramount: Examining Interest Rate Agreements in Loan Contracts
The Supreme Court clarifies when interest rates bind borrowers and when the 12% legal rate applies instead.
Perfecting a Loan Delivery and the Role of Crossed Checks in Financial Agreements
When is a loan perfected? The Supreme Court clarifies how delivery of crossed checks affects loan contracts and interest claims.
When Public Duty and Private Conduct Collide: A Judge’s Venue Ruling Upheld
The Supreme Court affirms a judge’s dismissal of a case for improper venue, clarifying exclusive venue stipulations in loan contracts.
Interest on Penalties: The Limits of Compounding in Loan Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when interest may be charged on unpaid penalty charges in loan contracts, and when courts may reduce unconscionable penalties.