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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Fiscal Autonomy of Constitutional Commissions: The "No Report, No Release" Rule Struck Down
Supreme Court rules DBM cannot impose conditions or withhold funds from fiscally autonomous bodies like the Civil Service Commission.
Customs Search vs Unlawful Seizure: Limits of Airport Security
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on warrantless customs searches at airports, balancing constitutional rights against anti-smuggling enforcement.
Dual Employment in the Public Sector: When Service Becomes a Violation of Duty
The Supreme Court clarifies when accepting public sector positions and practicing law can violate the Constitution, Civil Service rules, and the lawyer's oath.
Reconstitution of Lost Title: Supreme Court Clarifies Rules on Proof and Sources
A look at the Supreme Court's ruling on judicial reconstitution of lost titles, clarifying the hierarchy of evidence under RA 26.
Reconstitution Denied: Insufficient Evidence Fails to Restore Lost Land Title
Philippine Supreme Court denies reconstitution of lost land title due to insufficient evidence, clarifying strict requirements under RA 26.
Morality vs Constitutionality: Manila's Ermita-Malate Ordinance Struck Down
The Supreme Court nullified Manila Ordinance No. 7783 banning motels and similar establishments in Ermita-Malate, ruling it violated due process and property rights.
Correcting Election Returns: The Presidential Electoral Tribunal's Authority to Rectify Manifest Errors
The PET may correct manifest errors in election returns and certificates of canvass as part of its constitutional mandate to judge election contests.
Deputy Ombudsman Impeachment Limits Clarified by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court clarifies that Deputy Ombudsmen are not impeachable officers, settling a long-standing constitutional question.
Judicial Accountability: The Price of Delayed Justice in Philippine Courts
A retired judge fined for failing to decide cases within the 90-day constitutional period shows why judicial delay carries real consequences.
Labor Unions and Taxpayer Standing in Constitutional Challenges: The AIWA Case
The Supreme Court dismissed labor unions' challenge to E.O. 185 for lack of standing, clarifying the rules on locus standi and judicial review.
Judicial Accountability: The Imperative of Timely Decisions in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts must decide cases promptly. This article explains the constitutional duty, its legal basis, and consequences of delay.
Judicial Inefficiency: A Judge's Duty to Resolve Pending Matters Promptly
The Supreme Court reminds judges that delay in resolving incidents violates the Constitution and the Code of Judicial Conduct.
Equal Protection Evolved When Subsequent Laws Invalidate Prior Statutes
When later laws exempted all other GFI rank-and-file from the Salary Standardization Law, the BSP proviso became unconstitutional.
State Control vs Foreign Assistance: The Scope of Mining Agreements Under the Constitution
The Supreme Court clarifies that foreign-assisted mining agreements under Article XII must preserve state control, not bar foreign participation.
Reconstituting Lost Land Titles: Supreme Court Clarifies Standards for Judicial Reconstitution
Supreme Court clarifies the rules and evidence needed to reconstitute a lost or destroyed land title under Republic Act No. 26.
Overlapping Land Titles: Registration Date and Reconstitution Validity in Philippine Property Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts resolve conflicting land titles, weighing registration dates, reconstitution validity, and evidence of ownership.
Good Faith Purchasers Prevail: Upholding the Integrity of Torrens Titles
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on judicial reconstitution of lost titles clarifies jurisdictional requirements under Republic Act No. 26.
Reconstitution of Titles: Substantial Compliance and Jurisdictional Requirements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on what jurisdictional requirements apply in judicial reconstitution of lost titles under RA 26.
Speedy Trial Rights: How Delays Impact Anti-Graft Cases in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts balance delays in anti-graft cases against the constitutional right to speedy disposition, using the Mendoza-Ong ruling as a guide.
Challenging Drug Possession Convictions Ensuring Constitutional Rights During Search AND Seizure
Copyright Search Warrants: Balancing IP Rights and Constitutional Safeguards
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on probable cause and specificity in copyright infringement search warrants against software piracy.
Reconstitution of Title: Proving Ownership and Loss Under RA 26
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on what evidence is required to reconstitute a lost or destroyed certificate of title under Republic Act No. 26.
Reconstitution of Lost Title: When Is the Evidence Sufficient?
Supreme Court clarifies the standards for judicial reconstitution of lost certificates of title under Republic Act No. 26.
Reconstitution of Lost Titles: The Imperative of Primary Evidence and Due Diligence in Land Registration
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on reconstitution of lost titles, emphasizing primary evidence requirements and due diligence in land registration cases.