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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Valid Land Titles and Res Judicata: Key Lessons from a Philippine Property Dispute
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why tax declarations don't prove ownership and how res judicata bars relitigating property claims.
Business Closure and Employee Rights: The Supreme Court's Stance on Good Faith
Understand the Supreme Court's ruling on business closure, employee rights, and the critical role of good faith in labor disputes.
Attorney Client Conflicts and Ethical Boundaries: Lessons from a Philippine Disbarment Case
A lawyer's zeal must not cross into harassment. The Supreme Court clarifies ethical limits in Cabarroguis v. Basa.
Understanding Psychological Incapacity in Philippine Marriages: Legal Standards and Real-Life Implications
The Supreme Court clarifies the strict standards for declaring marriages void due to psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code.
Psychological Incapacity Under Article 36: Lessons from Calingo v. Republic
The Supreme Court clarifies what evidence proves psychological incapacity in marriage nullity cases under Article 36 of the Family Code.
Understanding Res Judicata: How Final Judgments Impact Property Disputes in the Philippines
Learn how the doctrine of res judicata bars relitigation of property disputes, as explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling on quieting of title.
Understanding Estafa by Deceit: Key Lessons from a Landmark Philippine Supreme Court Case
Explore a landmark Philippine Supreme Court case on estafa by deceit, and the ethical duties it highlights for lawyers.
Self-Defense and Defense of a Relative: Key Insights from a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
A police officer shot two attackers to protect himself and his pregnant wife. The Supreme Court explains when self-defense and defense of a relative apply.
Navigating Loss of Land Titles: Res Judicata and Your Rights Under Philippine Law
Learn how the Supreme Court applied res judicata to bar a quieting of title claim, and what this means for property owners and heirs in the Philippines.
Ensuring Integrity IN Drug Busts THE Crucial Role OF Chain OF Custody IN Philippine LAW
Filing Frivolous Lawsuits: Ethical Consequences for Philippine Lawyers
When lawyers file baseless suits against opposing counsel, the Supreme Court can suspend them. Learn the ethical rules and penalties.
Ensuring Integrity in Drug Busts: The Critical Role of Chain of Custody in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect, ruling that police cannot use religious bias to justify breaking chain of custody rules.
Local Autonomy and Plebiscite Rights: Insights from the Palawan Division Ruling
Supreme Court clarifies when voters may join a plebiscite on dividing a province, applying the three-factor test for directly affected political units.
Understanding Disbarment in the Philippines: Identity Fraud and Professional Misconduct Consequences
A look at how the Supreme Court handles disbarment cases involving identity fraud and grave misconduct by lawyers in the Philippines.
Foreign Investment Restrictions in Philippine Construction: Insights from the PCAB v. Manila Water Ruling
The Supreme Court struck down the 60% Filipino equity rule for construction licenses, reshaping foreign investment in the industry.
Investment Contracts in Lending Businesses: Rights, Risks, and Recovery of Principal
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when investors in lending businesses can recover their principal and how courts distinguish investments from loans and partnerships.
Forum Shopping in Land Expropriation: When Separate Claims for Just Compensation Are Allowed
The Supreme Court clarifies when filing separate cases for just compensation over different lots taken by the government does not constitute forum shopping.
Voluntary Resignation vs. Constructive Dismissal: Insights from Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between voluntary resignation and constructive dismissal in Pascual v. Sitel Philippines Corporation.
Investment vs Loan: When a "Pay on Demand" Promise Binds the Investor
The Supreme Court clarifies when an investment becomes a recoverable obligation, and how the parties' own acts define their contract.
When Is Filing Two Cases Forum Shopping? Supreme Court Clarifies in De Guzman v. Republic
The Supreme Court explains when filing separate cases amounts to forum shopping, using the De Guzman expropriation and recovery case as an example.
Navigating Contractual Boundaries When CAN A Third Party BE Bound BY A Writ OF Attachment
Foreclosure During Conservatorship: Can a Company's Directors Still Act?
Supreme Court clarifies that a conservator does not replace a company's board; directors may still initiate foreclosure to collect debts.
Understanding Lawyer Negligence in Ejectment Cases: The Violago Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when a lawyer's errors in ejectment cases amount to gross negligence warranting discipline, and when they do not.
Investment vs. Loan: Supreme Court Rules on Return of Capital in Lending Business
When is an investment really a loan? The Supreme Court clarifies when investors can demand return of principal.