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.
Probationary Employment in the Philippines: Rules, Limits, and Regularization
Know your rights during probationary employment in the Philippines, including the legal limits on probation periods and the rules for regularization.
When Do Employees Become Regular in the Philippines? The 6-Month Rule Explained
Learn the 6-month regularization rule under the Labor Code of the Philippines, how probationary employment works, and when an employee becomes a regular employee.
Annual Income Tax Return in the Philippines: Who Files and When
Learn who must file the annual income tax return in the Philippines, the filing deadlines, and key compliance rules under the National Internal Revenue Code.
Withholding Tax on Compensation in the Philippines: How It Works
Learn how withholding tax on compensation in the Philippines works, who deducts it, and what employees should know about income tax.
Media Practitioners and Election Law: Balancing Free Speech with Fair Elections
The Supreme Court affirms a radio commentator-candidate's conviction for violating election rules on media practitioners during the campaign period.
Forum Shopping in the Philippines: Avoiding Conflicting Court Decisions
The Supreme Court clarifies the prohibition on forum shopping in labor cases, warning parties against raising the same issues in multiple forums to delay execution.
Floating Status in Philippine Labor Law: When Suspension Becomes Illegal Dismissal
Learn when an employee's floating status becomes illegal dismissal under Philippine law, based on a 2024 Supreme Court ruling.
Navigating Employment Status: Contract of Service vs Regular Employment in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when workers in government-owned corporations are contract of service workers, not regular employees entitled to security of tenure.
Misclassified Employee or Domestic Worker? Key Lessons from Gaspar v. M.I.Y. Real Estate
The Supreme Court clarifies when a worker is a regular employee versus a domestic worker under Philippine law.
Probationary Employment in the Philippines: Understanding Regularization Standards
The Supreme Court clarifies when probationary employees may be validly terminated for failing to meet regularization standards under Philippine law.
Protecting Employee Rights: How Forced Resignation Leads to Constructive Dismissal
The Supreme Court clarifies when forced resignation amounts to constructive dismissal, protecting employees from hostile work environments and coercive employer conduct.
Independent Contractor vs. Employee: The Control Test in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a "freelancer" is really a regular employee under Philippine labor law, using the control test.
Labor-Only Contracting vs Legitimate Job Contracting: Key Distinctions and Employer Responsibilities
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between labor-only contracting and legitimate job contracting, and the employer liabilities that follow.
Independent Contractor vs Employee: Proving Employment Status in Illegal Dismissal Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies how courts distinguish independent contractors from regular employees in illegal dismissal disputes, emphasizing the burden of proof on claimants.
Illegal Dismissal of Cooperative Officers: CDA, Not Labor Tribunals, Has Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court clarifies that illegal dismissal complaints by cooperative officers fall under CDA jurisdiction, not labor tribunals.
Project vs Regular Employment: Defining Job Security in the Philippines
Understand the Supreme Court's distinction between project and regular employment, and what it means for job security under Philippine labor law.
Redundancy and Management Prerogative: Balancing Business Needs and Employee Rights in Terminations
The Supreme Court clarifies when redundancy is a valid ground for dismissal and what employers must prove to avoid illegal dismissal claims.
Independent Contractor or Employee? Supreme Court Clarifies Labor-Only Contracting in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when a registered contractor is actually labor-only, making the principal the direct employer.
Fiscal Autonomy vs Accountability: PhilHealth Benefit Disallowances Upheld
The Supreme Court affirms COA disallowances of PhilHealth benefits, clarifying that fiscal autonomy does not mean absolute power over compensation.
Appeal Bond for Labor-Only Contractors: Solidary Liability and NLRC Appeals
When must a labor-only contractor post an appeal bond? The Supreme Court clarifies solidary liability and appeal perfection rules.
Cabug-os v. Espina: Balancing Employee Rights and Micro-Business Realities
The Supreme Court ruled that illegal dismissal awards against sari-sari stores must be equitable, considering the BMBE status and actual salaries of micro-enterprises.
Constructive Dismissal vs. Voluntary Resignation: Key Lessons from ABS-CBN v. Magno
The Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proof in constructive dismissal claims and the fine line between forced and voluntary resignation.
Burden of Proof in Illegal Dismissal: Proving the Employer-Employee Relationship
In illegal dismissal cases, the employee must first prove the employer-employee relationship. G.R. No. 244206 clarifies this burden.
Independent Contractor vs Employee: How Unique Skills Determine Employment Status in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when unique skills and talent make a worker an independent contractor, not an employee, in Philippine labor law.