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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Supreme Court Upholds CIAC Jurisdiction, Strikes Down 14-Day Arbitration Limit in Government Contracts
Supreme Court affirms CIAC jurisdiction over government construction disputes and voids unreasonably short 14-day arbitration periods as contrary to public policy.
Party-List Nominee Qualifications: Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban on Losing Candidates
The Supreme Court ruled Congress may set party-list nominee qualifications, but struck down the ban on losing candidates as violating equal protection.
Supreme Court Strikes Down BIR Rule on Bank Expense Allocation
The Supreme Court voided Revenue Regulations No. 4-2011 for overstepping BIR authority and violating taxpayers' right to choose accounting methods.
Upholding Academic Freedom: Supreme Court Limits State Control Over Law School Admissions
The Supreme Court strikes down the PhiLSAT requirement as an unconstitutional intrusion on law schools' academic freedom to admit students.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: Consent Rules, DOJ Circulars, and What the High Court Settled
The Supreme Court clarifies when prosecutors must consent to plea bargains in drug cases and why courts cannot strike down DOJ circulars on their own.
Backwages After a Return-to-Work Order: Lessons from ALECO v. ALEO
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when backwages are due after the Labor Secretary assumes jurisdiction over a strike and issues a return-to-work order.
Upholding Academic Freedom: The Limits of State Power in Legal Education
The Supreme Court strikes down the PhiLSAT requirement, affirming academic freedom and the Court's exclusive power over legal education.
Defiance and Dismissal: Understanding Illegal Strikes and Return-to-Work Orders in the Philippines
When pilots defied a return-to-work order, the Supreme Court upheld their dismissal. Learn the legal consequences of illegal strikes.
Freedom TO Travel Safeguarding Constitutional Rights Against Administrative Overreach
The Supreme Court strikes down DOJ Circular No. 41 for infringing the constitutional right to travel, reaffirming that only law, not administrative fiat, may restrict it.
When Courts Can Hear Damage Claims in Labor Disputes: The PAL v. ALPAP Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when labor tribunals—not regular courts—have jurisdiction over damage claims arising from illegal strikes.
When Union Disaffiliation Leads to Dismissal: Union Security Clauses and Illegal Strikes
The Supreme Court clarifies who may enforce a union security clause and when a strike becomes illegal, affecting dismissal of union officers and members.
Strikes and Substantial Justice: Balancing Procedure and Workers' Rights in Labor Disputes
The Supreme Court reminds courts that procedural rules should serve, not defeat, substantial justice in labor cases involving workers' rights.
Supreme Court Upholds Judicial Power Over Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court strikes down Section 23 of RA 9165 as unconstitutional, affirming exclusive judicial authority over plea bargaining rules.
When Attorney's Fees Are Reasonable: The Duty to Avoid Unconscionable Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when attorney's fees stipulations are valid, and why courts must strike down unconscionable ones.
Local Autonomy vs National Authority: The Limits of Police Power Over Water Resources
Supreme Court strikes down Batangas City ordinance requiring desalination plants, ruling LGUs cannot regulate water resources reserved to the NWRB.
Unconscionable Interest: The Limits of Contractual Freedom in Philippine Loans
Philippine courts can strike down unconscionable interest rates in loan agreements. Learn the rules on excessive interest and how borrowers are protected.
Taxation and Freeport Zones: The Limits of Executive Power in Revenue Regulation
The Supreme Court strikes down a revenue regulation imposing VAT and excise tax on freeport zone importations, affirming that tax exemptions cannot be revoked by executive issuance.
Illegal Slowdowns and Union Officer Dismissal: The Polyson Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when a work slowdown becomes an illegal strike and justifies dismissal of union officers under Philippine labor law.
Good Faith in Collective Bargaining: Philippine Rule on Fair Labor Practices
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies good faith bargaining duties, unfair labor practice, and when strikes are justified in CBA negotiations.
GSIS Survivorship Benefits: Secondary Beneficiaries Win in Laroco v. GSIS
Supreme Court strikes down GSIS rule barring secondary beneficiaries from survivorship benefits when a member dies with less than 15 years of service.
Striking A Balance Upholding Club Rules VS Ensuring Procedural Fairness
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when employers may validly dismiss workers for joining an illegal strike and the limits of that power.
Local Autonomy vs National Interest: Can Congress Override Local Taxing Power
The Supreme Court strikes down RA 9167 provisions that diverted local amusement taxes to a national agency, affirming local fiscal autonomy.
Unconscionable Compromises Protecting Employees From Unfair Labor Settlements
Learn how Philippine courts protect employees from unfair labor settlements, illegal strike dismissals, and double compensation risks in this ruling.
Upholding Public Safety: Supreme Court Invalidates Ordinance Permitting Oil Depots in Densely Populated Area
The Supreme Court strikes down Manila Ordinance No. 8187 for allowing oil depots to remain in densely populated Pandacan, reaffirming the primacy of public safety and health.