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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
Resignation vs Termination: When a Resignation Letter Is Not Enough in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a resignation is not voluntary and how employers must prove it to defeat illegal dismissal claims.
Wrongful Termination at Sea: Seafarers’ Right to Due Process and Just Cause
SC ruling: a just-cause dismissal of a seafarer is valid even without due process, but the employer must pay P30,000 nominal damages.
Automatic Lease Cancellation: Non-Payment of Rent Triggers Termination
A Supreme Court ruling confirms that a lease clause allowing automatic cancellation for unpaid rent takes effect by itself, leaving the lessee without any right to damages.
Project Employee or Regular Employee? Court Rules on Repeated Rehiring and Termination Reports
Supreme Court clarifies when project employees become regular employees, emphasizing employer burden to prove project status and file termination reports.
Reinstatement and Attorney's Fees: Protecting Employee Rights After Illegal Termination
Learn how the Supreme Court protects employees' right to reinstatement and backwages after illegal dismissal, and what it means for workers.
Breach of Trust and Qualified Theft: When Employee Misconduct Justifies Dismissal
The Supreme Court clarifies when an employee's theft against a co-worker constitutes a valid cause for termination under Philippine labor law.
Employee Theft and Just Cause for Termination Under Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court rules on when employee theft against a co-worker justifies dismissal as a cause analogous to serious misconduct.
Employee Dismissal: When Courts Can Look Beyond the Termination Notice
Philippine Supreme Court rules on whether courts may consider grounds beyond those stated in an employee's termination notice in illegal dismissal cases.
Breach of Trust and Due Process in Employment Termination: Striking a Balance
The Supreme Court clarifies when breach of trust justifies dismissal and when employers still owe procedural due process.
Extrajudicial Repossession After Lease Default: What Irao v. By the Bay, Inc. Means
Supreme Court explains when a lessor's demand letter counts as notice of termination, allowing extrajudicial repossession of leased property.
Project Employees Still Enjoy Security of Tenure: Lessons from Saberola v. Suarez
Project employees have security of tenure too. Employers must prove just cause and observe due process before termination, or face liability.
Extrajudicial Termination Clauses in Lease Agreements: What the Supreme Court Says
The Supreme Court clarifies when a lessor may validly terminate a lease and repossess property without court action under Philippine law.
Extrajudicial Lease Termination: When a Demand Letter Suffices to End a Lease
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a lessor's demand letter validly terminates a lease and allows extrajudicial repossession.
Dismissal Based on Theft: Upholding Employee Termination for Unauthorized Disposal of Company Property
Supreme Court rules on valid dismissal for theft of company property and the due process requirements in employee termination cases.
Project Employee Status Requires Clear Notice: Hanjin Heavy Industries v. Ibañez
When does a construction worker become a regular employee? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on project employment and termination.
Probationary Employees in the Civil Service: Termination Needs Just Cause and Due Process
The Supreme Court holds that a probationary civil servant may be dropped only for unsatisfactory conduct or want of capacity, supported by evidence and due process.
Extortion in Labor Disputes: Upholding Termination Based on Substantial Evidence
SC ruling on Mitsubishi Motors v. Simon clarifies that substantial evidence, not proof beyond reasonable doubt, suffices to justify dismissal for serious misconduct.
Proving Just Cause in Retrenchment and Redundancy: Lessons from AMA Computer College
Learn what employers must prove for valid retrenchment or redundancy dismissals, and why AMA Computer College's termination of two employees was ruled illegal.
Illegal Dismissal of OFW: When Tardiness Is Not a Valid Ground for Termination
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a single act of tardiness cannot justify dismissing an overseas Filipino worker, and how illegal dismissal damages are computed.
Due Process in Termination and Court Filings: Lessons from Obrero v. Acidera
A clerk of court fined for accepting defective motions shows why procedural due process matters in every legal filing.
Trademark License Revocation: When Unauthorized Use Justifies Termination
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a trademark owner may validly revoke a license for unauthorized use beyond the agreed scope.
Dishonesty in the Workplace: Gauging Sufficient Evidence for Employee Termination
The Supreme Court clarifies the evidentiary standard for dismissing employees for dishonesty, distinguishing valid termination from illegal dismissal.
Defining Abandonment And Insubordination Employee Rights VS Employer Authority
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on employee abandonment and insubordination, balancing worker rights against employer authority in termination disputes.
Due Process in Termination: The Two-Notice Rule and Nominal Damages
Learn the two-notice rule in employee termination and when nominal damages apply, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.