法律洞察

When Judges Must Step Aside: The Duty of Inhibition and Judicial Conduct in the Philippines

A Supreme Court ruling on when judges must inhibit from cases, avoid impropriety, and the limits of judicial conduct.

Business Closure in the Philippines: Navigating Layoffs and Employee Rights During Financial Distress

Learn the rules on business closure in the Philippines, including separation pay, notice requirements, and employee rights when a company shuts down due to losses.

Certiorari Establishing Grave Abuse OF Discretion IN Labor Disputes

Bank Set-Off Rights: Limits and Liabilities in Loan Agreements

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when banks may validly offset deposits against loans, and the limits of contractual set-off rights.

Tax Credit Certificates: Government's Right to Collect Taxes Remains Despite Alleged Fraud

Supreme Court ruling on tax credit certificates, government's right to collect taxes, and contractor payment disputes in Philippine construction contracts.

Invalid Service Nullifies Strike BAN Upholding Workers Rights TO Organize

Protecting Subdivision Buyers: Contracts to Sell Must Be Registered

Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that subdivision developers must register contracts to sell with the Register of Deeds under P.D. 957.

Agricultural Land Reclassification: Continued Use Does Not Override Prior Conversion

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how prior land reclassification to commercial use affects agrarian reform coverage and tenant rights.

Land Reclassification and Agrarian Reform: When Agricultural Land Stops Being Covered by CARL

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how land reclassified as commercial before CARL's effectivity falls outside agrarian reform coverage.

Protecting the Vulnerable: A Child's Testimony as Proof in Rape Cases

The Supreme Court affirms that a credible child victim's testimony alone can convict in rape cases, even without a broken hymen.

Public Bidding Does Not Exempt Takay Projects From the Election Spending Ban

The Supreme Court upheld the Comelec's finding that takay or paquiao public works cannot escape the election ban on fund releases through a public bidding.

Upholding Employee Rights: Just Cause and Union Security in Dismissal Cases

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on closed-shop dismissals: substantive due process still applies even when a CBA mandates termination.

When Is Employee Termination Illegal? Key Rules from a Supreme Court Ruling

Learn when termination becomes illegal under Philippine labor law, based on a Supreme Court ruling on unjustified dismissal and procedural lapses.

Forcible Entry: Actual Possession Trumps Claimed Ownership in Property Disputes

In forcible entry cases, prior physical possession—not ownership—decides who stays. The Supreme Court explains why a deed alone is not enough.

Tax Exemptions for Philippine Airlines: Understanding the "In Lieu of All Other Taxes" Provision

The Supreme Court ruled that PAL's franchise tax option exempts it from all other taxes, including the 20% final withholding tax on bank deposits.

PAL Tax Refund Case: Interpreting "In Lieu of All Other Taxes" in Franchises

Supreme Court ruling on PAL's franchise tax exemption and refund of final withholding tax on passive income.

Security Deposits of Insurance Firms Shielded From Individual Claims Preserving Solvency FOR ALL Policyholders

Supreme Court rules insurance security deposits cannot be garnished by single claimants, protecting all policyholders' interests.

Loss of Confidence and Managerial Employees: When Dismissal Is Valid

Explains when employers may validly dismiss managerial employees for loss of confidence, citing the Velez v. Shangri-La's Edsa Plaza Hotel case.

When Can an Employer Dismiss a Managerial Employee in the Philippines? Trust and Breach of Trust

Understand when Philippine employers can validly dismiss managerial employees for breach of trust, including the legal requirements and limits.

Breach of Trust Ownership of Club Shares and Fiduciary Duties in Philippine Law

When a club share is transferred temporarily, a trust is created. The Supreme Court explains ownership, fiduciary duties, and the rules on implied trusts in Philippine law.

Solidary Liability of Recruitment Agencies for Illegal Dismissal of Overseas Workers

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when local recruitment agencies remain solidarily liable for illegal dismissal of overseas Filipino workers.

Mootness and Quashed Search Warrants: When a Case Dismissal Ends the Controversy

A dismissed criminal case can render a quashed search warrant issue moot. Learn the practical legal effect rule from this Supreme Court ruling.

When a Zero Tax Bill Still Means Exemption: PAL’s Franchise Tax Win Explained

The Supreme Court ruled that PAL’s franchise tax option exempts it from all other taxes, even when its chosen tax liability is zero.

Negligence and Quasi-Delict: When Overtaking on the Shoulder Makes You Liable

A Supreme Court ruling clarifies negligence and vicarious liability of vehicle owners in traffic accidents under Philippine law.