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.
Conditional Sale vs. Contract to Sell: A Supreme Court Ruling on Ownership, Breach, and Forum Shopping
The Supreme Court clarifies when a "conditional sale" is really a contract to sell, and warns against forum shopping in property disputes.
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.
Government Procurement: Contract Splitting, Shopping, and Good Faith Liability
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling on contract splitting in government procurement, shopping as an alternative mode, and when officials may be excused from returning disallowed amounts.
Navigating Government Procurement: Avoiding Liability in Disallowed Transactions
Learn how the Supreme Court held BAC members liable for flawed procurement, and how to avoid audit disallowances.
Unlawful Detainer: Tenant Rights and Obligations in the Philippines
A tenant cannot deny the landlord's title, and procedural rules in ejectment cases must be strictly followed.
Forum Shopping: When Filing Multiple Cases Crosses the Line
The Supreme Court clarifies when filing multiple cases amounts to forum shopping, and which body has jurisdiction to rule on it.
Local Tax Assessments After Corporate Restructuring: Who Pays?
Supreme Court rules on who bears local business tax liability when a government corporation's operations transfer by law to another entity.
Property Dispute Jurisdiction: Assessed Value of the Contested Area, Not the Whole Lot
Philippine courts decide property dispute jurisdiction by the assessed value of the specific area in question, not the entire property. Learn the rule.
Architects vs Engineers: Who Can Sign Building Plans in the Philippines?
Supreme Court ruling on whether civil engineers may prepare, sign, and seal architectural documents under the National Building Code and Architecture Act.
Litis Pendentia and Final Judgment: Preventing Relitigation of Property Ownership
A final ruling on property ownership in one case bars a later suit on the same issue, even if the form of action differs.
Psychological Incapacity and Marital Nullity: Spousal Rights and Evidentiary Standards in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies who may file for marital nullity based on psychological incapacity and the evidentiary standards required under Article 36.
Eminent Domain and Prior Rights: Resolving Land Disputes in Infrastructure Projects
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on contract rights, port operations, and jurisdictional issues in infrastructure disputes.
Circumventing Procurement Laws: Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal of Local Officials
Supreme Court affirms dismissal of Buguias officials who bypassed competitive bidding under R.A. 9184, reinforcing public trust standards.
Expropriation Due Process: What Property Owners Must Prove
A Supreme Court ruling on Olongapo expropriation clarifies the requisites for valid taking, the need for genuine negotiation, and the right to a full hearing on defenses.
Boundary Disputes in the Philippines: Resolving Territorial Conflicts Between LGUs
The Supreme Court settles the Makati-Taguig territorial dispute, explaining how boundary conflicts between local governments are resolved.
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.
When Filing Two Property Lawsuits Is Not Forum Shopping: The Hocorma Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when filing both an ejectment case and a collection suit over the same property does not constitute forum shopping.
Res Judicata and Foreign Judgments: What Property Disputes Teach Us About Finality
Philippine courts won't take judicial notice of foreign judgments. Learn the rules on res judicata, litis pendentia, and proof of foreign pleadings.
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.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: A Guide to Ensuring Evidence Integrity
Learn how Philippine courts apply the chain of custody rule in drug cases, using People v. Somira as a guide.
Unlocking Justice: The Right to Speedy Disposition of Cases in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms the right to speedy disposition of cases, prohibiting the Sandiganbayan from further proceeding after 32 years of delay.
Unlawful Detainer vs. Accion Reivindicatoria: Key Differences in Philippine Property Law
Learn the difference between unlawful detainer and accion reivindicatoria in Philippine property law, and when each legal action applies.
Proving a Lost Property Title: Evidence Lessons from a 2021 Supreme Court Ruling
A 2021 Supreme Court ruling clarifies the strict evidence needed to replace a lost property title in the Philippines.
Navigating Excise Tax Refunds: The Two-Year Prescriptive Period in the Philippines
Understand the two-year prescriptive period for excise tax refunds in the Philippines and how the Supreme Court applies procedural rules in customs assessments.