法律洞察

Midnight Appointments and the Judiciary: The De Castro Ruling on the Constitutional Ban

The Supreme Court explains why the ban on midnight appointments does not apply to judicial posts, including the Chief Justice.

When Pawnshops Were Exempt From VAT: TFS, Inc. v. CIR

A 2010 Supreme Court ruling cancelled a pawnshop's deficiency VAT assessment and relaxed procedural rules to prevent unjust enrichment.

Reversion of Public Land: Only the Government Can Sue

The Supreme Court rules that only the government, through the Office of the Solicitor General, may file an action for reversion of public land.

Proving Illegal Dismissal: The Employee's Burden to Establish Termination

Employees must first prove they were dismissed before employers must justify termination. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.

BUY Bust Operations Legality AND Proof IN Drug Sale Convictions

Proximate Cause in Homicide: Liability for Unintended Fatal Consequences

A punch that led to a fatal fall still means homicide. The Supreme Court explains proximate cause and criminal liability under Article 4 of the RPC.

When a Constitutional Question Is Ripe for Court Intervention: Defining Judicial Review Limits

Philippine Savings Bank v. Geronimo clarifies the ripeness doctrine and the burden of proving compliance with publication requirements in extrajudicial foreclosures.

Establishing Illegal Dismissal: The Employee's Burden to Prove Dismissal First

Employees must first prove they were dismissed before employers must justify termination. A Supreme Court ruling explains the evidence required.

Agency and Authority: Why a Written Mandate Is Paramount in Real Estate Sales

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why an agent's authority to sell land must be in writing, or the sale is void.

Publication Requirements in Extrajudicial Foreclosure: Protecting Mortgagors' Due Process

Philippine Savings Bank v. Geronimo clarifies that strict compliance with publication requirements is essential for a valid extrajudicial foreclosure.

The Perils of Crossed Checks: Navigating Holder in Due Course Status

A crossed check warns holders to verify the indorser's title. Learn how the Supreme Court applied this rule in Dino v. Judal-Loot.

Challenging Notarized Documents in Philippine Property Co-Ownership Disputes

When can a notarized affidavit be challenged in a Philippine property dispute? The Supreme Court explains the limits of notarization.

Abandonment Defense in Illegal Dismissal Cases Requires Proof and Notice

Employers claiming abandonment as a defense to illegal dismissal must prove it with clear evidence and serve two required notices.

Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Preserving Evidence Integrity for a Fair Trial

How the Supreme Court in Balarbar v. People clarified that minor gaps in drug evidence handling do not automatically void a conviction.

Fixed-Term Contracts vs Probationary Employment: Protecting Teachers' Rights in the Philippines

The Supreme Court clarifies when fixed-term teaching contracts must yield to probationary employment rules under Philippine law.

Substantial Justice Over Strict Procedure in Agrarian Appeals: DARAB Rules Liberally Construed

SC rules DARAB notices of appeal should be liberally construed; technical defects must not defeat substantial justice in agrarian cases.

Probationary Employment vs Fixed-Term Contracts: What Schools Must Prove to Avoid Illegal Dismissal Claims

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how probationary employment rules apply to teachers on fixed-term contracts, and what employers must prove.

Workplace Misconduct: Defining the Boundaries of Just Cause for Dismissal in the Philippines

When does a fistfight outside work justify dismissal? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of just cause under Philippine labor law.

Possession Follows Ownership Clearing Improvements After Land Reconveyance

When a court orders reconveyance of land, does possession automatically follow? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on removing improvements.

Forcible Entry Jurisdiction: When Stealth Extends the One-Year Filing Period

Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on forcible entry jurisdiction, stealth dispossession, and the one-year filing period in Nuñez v. SLTEAS Phoenix Solutions.

Kidnapping for Ransom Conviction Affirmed: The Limits of Alibi and Denial of Conspiracy

Supreme Court affirms kidnapping-for-ransom convictions, explaining why alibi fails against positive identification and how conspiracy is inferred from concerted acts.

Upholding Possession Jurisdiction in Forcible Entry Cases and the Significance of Juridical Acts

Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on forcible entry jurisdiction, possession through juridical acts, and the one-year prescriptive period.

Beyond Morality: LGBT Rights and Party-List Accreditation in the Philippines

The Supreme Court ruled that moral disapproval alone cannot bar LGBT groups from party-list accreditation, affirming equal protection and secular governance.

Appeals From the NWRB: Clarifying Jurisdiction Between the RTC and Court of Appeals

The Supreme Court clarifies that appeals from National Water Resources Board decisions go to the Court of Appeals, not the RTC.