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.
Breach of Public Trust: Dismissal for Negligence and Misconduct in PDAF Allocation
Supreme Court affirms dismissal of DSWD official for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service in PDAF allocation.
Attorney Misconduct: Handling Client Funds and Accountability in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine lawyers must account for client funds and return unused amounts, based on Supreme Court rulings on attorney discipline.
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.
Chain of Custody and the Saving Clause in Philippine Drug Cases
When a flawed drug bust still stands: the saving clause under Section 21, RA 9165, explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling.
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.
PhilHealth Claims: Supreme Court Protects Healthcare Providers’ Due Process Rights
The Supreme Court ruled PhilHealth violated due process in claims against Quezon City Eye Center, reinforcing procedural fairness in administrative cases.
Stop-and-Frisk Searches in the Philippines: When Are They Legal?
Learn when Philippine police may legally conduct stop-and-frisk searches, what limits apply, and your rights during such encounters.
Residency Requirements for Government Positions: The Binay Case Explained
Learn how the Supreme Court’s ruling in CSC v. Binay clarifies residency rules for local government appointments and why accuracy in your Personal Data Sheet matters.
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.
Forum Shopping in Nullity Cases: One Action for Property Settlement
Filing a separate property case while a nullity case is pending constitutes forum shopping. The Supreme Court explains why.
Illegal Arrests and the Ombudsman's Role: What the Somira Drug Case Teaches
A 2021 Supreme Court ruling clarifies buy-bust arrests, chain of custody, and why the Ombudsman matters in drug cases.
Foreign Spouses Can File for Marriage Nullity in the Philippines: The Ambrose Ruling
Foreign spouses married in the Philippines have legal standing to file for nullity of marriage, as clarified by the Supreme Court in Ambrose v. Suque-Ambrose.
Mortgagee in Good Faith in the Philippines: What Jimenez v. Jimenez, Jr. Means for Property Owners
Learn how the mortgagee in good faith doctrine protects lenders and foreclosure buyers in the Philippines, explained through the Jimenez case.
Proving Tolerance in Unlawful Detainer: A Landmark Lesson from the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proving tolerance in unlawful detainer cases. Learn the key evidence rules for ejectment disputes.
Moral Ascendancy and Statutory Rape: Insights from a Philippine Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, explaining how moral ascendancy and recantation are treated under Philippine law.
Final Judgments Bind Successors in Interest: The Calubad Property Rule
A final court judgment binds buyers and mortgagees who acquire property after the ruling. Learn the Calubad case and due diligence lessons.
When Can You Challenge an Ombudsman Dismissal? Certiorari Limits Explained
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling in Dormido v. Ombudsman on why certiorari cannot cure errors of judgment in graft case dismissals.
Navigating Tax Exemptions: The Legal Status of Government Instrumentalities in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when government instrumentalities like the LRTA are exempt from real property tax under the Local Government Code.
Common Carriers and Stolen Goods: The Extraordinary Diligence Standard in the Philippines
Philippine law holds common carriers liable for stolen goods unless theft involved grave threat or irresistible force. Learn the extraordinary diligence standard.
Preliminary Investigation Is a Substantive Right: Lessons from Palacios v. People
The Supreme Court rules that denying a reinvestigation based on procedural guidelines violates due process when the accused was never notified.
AWOL and Dropping from the Rolls: Employee Rights Under Philippine Law
Learn the rules on AWOL in the Philippine civil service, including the 30-day rule, non-disciplinary separation, and employee rights.
Overlapping Land Titles: Prior Certificate Prevails in Philippine Law
When two land titles cover the same property, the earlier certificate generally prevails. Learn the rule and its limits.
Disbarment for Deceit and Unauthorized Notarization: Ethical Standards for Lawyers
Supreme Court affirms suspension and notarial disqualification for a lawyer who used falsified documents and notarized outside his jurisdiction.
Upholding Notarial Integrity: Consequences for False Certifications in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling on a lawyer permanently barred from notarial commission for notarizing without the party's presence, and what it means for notaries.