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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Legal Interest Rates in the Philippines: When Does 6% vs 12% Apply
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when 6% or 12% legal interest applies—loans and forbearance versus other obligations. Learn the rules.
When Courts May Reopen a Criminal Case After Evidence Is Closed
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a trial court may reopen a criminal case after the parties have rested, and the limits of that discretion.
Grievance Before Strike: SC Upholds CBA Machinery in Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court rules unions must exhaust CBA grievance and arbitration procedures before declaring a strike, citing San Miguel Corp. v. NLRC.
Heirship First, Claim Later: Proving You're an Heir Before Filing Property Disputes in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why heirs must first be declared in special proceedings before filing property reconveyance cases.
AGE Matters Most Understanding Statutory Rape Convictions IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies statutory rape: victim's age under 12 is the sole element, making force or consent irrelevant.
The Unwavering Credibility of Child Testimony in Statutory Rape Cases: A Philippine Jurisprudence Analysis
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on statutory rape: a child victim's credible testimony alone can sustain a conviction, even without force or intimidation.
Unmasking Equitable Mortgages in the Philippines: When a Deed of Sale Isn’t Really a Sale
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a deed of absolute sale is actually an equitable mortgage, protecting borrowers from unfair land deals.
Tax Assessment Waivers: Why the BIR Commissioner's Signature Is Crucial
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why waivers of the tax prescription period require the BIR Commissioner's signature to be valid.
Maximize Tax Credits: Sales Tax on Packaging Materials vs. Miller's Tax in the Philippines
Learn when sales tax on packaging materials can be credited against miller's tax, based on a key Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Certiorari Not a Substitute for Appeal: Lessons from Asian Trading v. Court of Appeals
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why certiorari cannot replace a lost appeal, and the limits of due process claims in demurrer cases.
Child Support Cannot Be Waived: Res Judicata in Philippine Family Law
Philippine Supreme Court rules that a child's right to support cannot be renounced or barred by a prior dismissal, citing Civil Code Articles 301 and 2035.
When Dismissal Is Too Severe: Philippine Rules on Loss of Trust and Proportional Penalties
Philippine Supreme Court explains when dismissal for breach of trust is too severe, and how doubts in labor cases must favor the employee.
Misconduct vs Initiative: Navigating Employee Discipline and Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a supervisor's irregular acts constitute grave misconduct or mere initiative, and the limits of dismissal as a penalty.
Exercising Your Option to Purchase: Timeliness and Good Faith in Philippine Lease Contracts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on option-to-purchase clauses in lease contracts, timeliness of exercise, good faith, and fair market value pricing.
Just Compensation in Eminent Domain: Land Valuation Principles in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts determine just compensation in expropriation cases, emphasizing the land's character at the time of taking.
Pipeline Operators as Common Carriers: Tax Exemption Under the Local Government Code
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether pipeline operators qualify as common carriers exempt from local business taxes under the Local Government Code.
Dismissal for Willful Disobedience: When Managerial Discretion Has Limits
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a managerial employee's exercise of discretion becomes willful disobedience justifying dismissal.
Surname of Illegitimate Children: Mothers Right Prevails Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court rules illegitimate children must use their mother's surname, even when the father admits paternity.
Cashier Negligence and Liability: Safeguarding Public Funds in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on cashier negligence and accountability for lost public funds, with rules on safekeeping and COA relief.
Foreign Divorce and Inheritance Rights in the Philippines: Citizenship and Marital Validity
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on foreign divorce, citizenship, and inheritance rights of a surviving spouse in intestate succession.
When Posting Bail Means You Consent to Court Jurisdiction: Key Insights for the Accused
Posting bail can waive objections to a court's jurisdiction, even if the arrest warrant was invalid. Learn the rules from a Philippine Supreme Court case.
Partition Without Prior Estate Settlement: Heirs' Rights Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on heirs' right to demand partition of inherited co-owned property without prior estate settlement proceedings.
Full Backwages for Illegal Dismissal: What R.A. 6715 Changed for Philippine Employees
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies full backwages rule under R.A. 6715—no deduction of earnings elsewhere, plus reinstatement rights explained.
The Client Is Bound by Counsel's Negligence: Vicarious Liability in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a client is bound by counsel's actions, including negligent mistakes, and the limits of that rule.