法律洞察

Safeguarding Attorney Integrity: The Imperative of Clear Evidence in Disbarment Cases

Disbarment requires clear, convincing evidence. This article explains the standard of proof and due process in lawyer discipline cases.

Work Relatedness and Death Benefits: Proving Causal Links in Compensation Claims

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when illnesses like breast cancer qualify for death benefits under PD 626, requiring proof of work-related risk.

GSIS v. Villamayor: When Illness Is Not Work-Related, No Death Benefits

Supreme Court denies GSIS death benefits for breast cancer death, ruling claimants must prove work connection, not just illness.

Corporate Authority and Debt: When a Corporation Is Not Liable for Its President’s Loan

A corporation is not liable for a president’s personal loan unless authorized or ratified. Learn the rules from a 2006 Supreme Court case.

Untangling Appeal Deadlines: Why Missing a Memorandum Matters

A missed appeal deadline due to lawyer negligence can be fatal. Learn the rules on relief from judgment in Philippine civil procedure.

Premature Partition: Estate Settlement Before Property Distribution

When heirs can and cannot demand partition of a decedent's property before estate settlement proceedings are completed.

Judicial Reconstitution of Lost Titles and the Limits of the Bercede Guidelines

The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may rely on "other documents" to reconstitute lost titles, and how the Bercede guidelines apply.

Judge Dismissed for Gross Immorality: Extramarital Affair and Child Warrant Removal from the Bench

The Supreme Court dismissed a judge for gross immorality after he admitted to an extramarital affair and fathering a child, while suspending him from law practice for three years.

Attorney-Client Privilege vs Disclosure Mandates in Marcos-Era Asset Recovery

Supreme Court clarifies when attorney-client privilege yields to disclosure mandates in recovering Marcos-era ill-gotten wealth.

Right of First Refusal in Property Sales: Understanding Legal Obligations

Learn how Philippine courts treat right of first refusal in property sales, including the rules on offers, counter-offers, and legal redemption.

Upholding Arbitral Jurisdiction: The Supreme Court's Stance on Construction Disputes and Judicial Injunctions

The Supreme Court clarifies that CIAC has exclusive jurisdiction over construction disputes, and courts must defer to arbitration proceedings.

Official Duty vs Criminal Liability: Defining Boundaries in Government Transactions

The Supreme Court clarifies when public officials face criminal liability for anomalous government transactions despite claims of mere ministerial duty.

Mandatory Arbitration Prevails: Contractual Disputes Must Go to Arbitration First

Philippine Supreme Court ruling: when a contract has a mandatory arbitration clause, parties must arbitrate before going to court.

Reckless Imprudence and Civil Liability: How a Plea Bargain Affects Damages Beyond the Criminal Penalty

A plea to a lesser offense does not erase civil liability for the death caused by reckless imprudence, as heirs may still recover full damages.

Court Division Jurisdiction Over Execution of Final Labor Decisions

Supreme Court nullifies CA ruling on labor award computation, holding only the division that decided the case may resolve execution disputes.

Suspended Sentences for Juvenile Offenders: Limits and Implications in the Philippines

The Supreme Court clarifies when a juvenile offender cannot get a suspended sentence, even under RA 9344.

Warranty Against Eviction: Why Buyers Must Implead the Seller in Eviction Suits

Buyers who lose property to third-party claims must implead the seller in the eviction suit to enforce the warranty against eviction under Philippine law.

Beyond Boundaries: How Erroneous Land Awards Undermine Property Rights and Due Process

When a buyer is evicted from purchased land, the proper remedy is warranty against eviction—not specific performance. This case explains why.

Quorum in Nonstock Corporations: Counting Only Living Voting Members

Supreme Court ruling on quorum in nonstock corporations—dead members excluded, only living voting members count.

When Courts Won't Overrule Prosecutors on Probable Cause: GlaxoSmithKline v. Malik

Philippine Supreme Court explains why courts defer to prosecutors on probable cause, using a dismissed drug case as an example.

SEC Retains Power to Execute Decisions in Pending Intra-Corporate Cases

Supreme Court rules the SEC may enforce its final decisions in intra-corporate cases retained under Section 5.2 of the Securities Regulation Code.

Habeas Corpus Requires Proof of Illegal Detention, Not Just Disappearance

Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that habeas corpus requires proof of actual detention, not merely a person's disappearance.

Probable Cause VS Parallel Importation Navigating Prosecutorial Discretion IN Pharmaceutical Cases

Franchise Tax Obligations During Suspended VAT Implementation

When the Supreme Court suspends a tax law's implementation, old tax rules continue to apply. This case explains why.