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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When Can a Writ of Possession Be Challenged? Property Rights Explained
A recent Supreme Court ruling clarifies when buyers of condominium units or parking slots can challenge a writ of possession issued after foreclosure.
Sheriff’s Abuse of Authority: Protecting Your Property Rights in the Philippines
Learn the limits of a sheriff’s authority under Rule 39 and how the Supreme Court protects property rights in Ignacio v. Balading.
Preliminary Injunction vs Full Trial: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that a preliminary injunction hearing is not a substitute for a full trial on the merits in property disputes.
When Can a Mayor Order Demolition Without a Court Order? The Altarejos Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of a mayor's power to order demolition without court intervention, reinforcing due process and property rights.
Acquisitive Prescription and Partition: Understanding Property Rights in the Philippines
Learn how acquisitive prescription and partition work in Philippine property law through a recent Supreme Court ruling on family inheritance disputes.
Easements and Eminent Domain in the Philippines: MMDA’s Limits After Diamond Motor
The Supreme Court limits MMDA’s power to impose easements, balancing flood control with private property rights and just compensation.
Unlawful Detainer: How Tolerance Affects Property Rights in the Philippines
Learn how tolerated occupancy can become unlawful detainer when the owner withdraws permission, based on a 2023 Supreme Court ruling.
Corporate Dissolution and Property Rights: Real Party in Interest in Unlawful Detainer Cases
When a corporation's registration is revoked, its assets don't automatically pass to a new entity. Learn the real party in interest rule.
Interest on Just Compensation in Philippine Expropriation: The Tamparong Rule
The Supreme Court clarifies the legal interest rates on unpaid just compensation in expropriation cases, protecting landowners' property rights.
When Can a City Demand Access to Private Property? The Caloocan Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when local governments may demand access to private roads, balancing public service duties against property rights.
Citizenship and Property Rights: Retaining Ownership After Naturalization in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that naturalized citizens retain ownership of property acquired before losing Filipino citizenship, protecting vested property rights.
Unmarried Cohabitation Establishing Property Rights In Long Term Illicit Relationships
The Supreme Court ruled that long-term illicit cohabitation can establish co-ownership rights under Article 148 of the Family Code.
Oral Partition and Mortgage Validity: Protecting Heirs' Rights in Property Disputes
The Supreme Court ruled that an oral partition ("toka") can be valid and that a mortgage over a non-owner's share is void, protecting heirs' property rights.
Extrinsic Fraud and Indispensable Parties: Protecting Property Rights in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling on how failing to implead indispensable parties and extrinsic fraud can void a title.
Co-Ownership vs. Partition: Clarifying Property Rights in the Philippines
A co-owner may sell only his undivided share; buyers become co-owners, and the proper remedy is partition, not annulment.
Upholding Property Rights: The Binding Effect of Contracts on Subsequent Owners in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling explains when contracts bind third-party buyers and why timely execution of judgments matters in property disputes.
Relaxing Procedural Rules in Appeals to Protect Property Rights From Counsel Negligence
When a lawyer's negligence causes a late appeal brief, the Supreme Court may relax procedural rules to protect a party's property rights and decide cases on the merits.
Corporate Dissolution and Property Rights: Clarifying Successor Liability in Land Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when dissolved corporations and their officers can be held liable for delivering property titles in subdivision disputes.
Double Titling in the Philippines: How to Protect Your Property Rights
Learn how Philippine courts handle double titling disputes and what property owners can do to protect their rights and avoid legal conflicts.
Reconveyance of Land: Protecting Property Rights From Fraudulent Titles in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts protect landowners from government taking without just compensation, and the rules on reconveyance of fraudulently titled property.
Exemption From Agrarian Reform: Land Reclassification and Its Impact on Property Rights
The Supreme Court clarifies when land reclassified as non-agricultural before 1988 is exempt from CARP coverage, protecting property rights.
Unlawful Detainer and Property Rights: Possession vs Ownership in Philippine Law
Understand the key difference between possession and ownership in unlawful detainer cases, explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Invalid Deeds and Heirs' Rights: The Colmenar Case on Property and Succession
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when heirs can challenge void deeds and how procedural rules protect buyers and property rights.
Property Rights vs. Military Reservations: The Balmaceda Case on Void Titles
A landmark Supreme Court ruling on why titles tracing back to cancelled certificates cannot defeat the government's claim over military reservations.