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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Defense of Strangers: When Can You Legally Protect Someone Else in the Philippines
Philippine law allows defending strangers, but only under strict conditions. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Are Company Officers Liable for Corporate Debts in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when corporate officers and close corporation stockholders can be held personally liable for separation pay.
Election Protests and Forum Shopping: The Certification Rule in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when non-forum shopping certifications apply to election protests and why timing matters.
The Perils of Delayed Disclosure: Eyewitness Testimony and Credibility in Philippine Criminal Law
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness identification, voice recognition, and alibi in criminal cases, explained through a 1997 Supreme Court ruling.
Partnership Disputes: When a Deed of Sale Is Simulated and Fiduciary Duties Endure
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on simulated deeds of sale in partnership disputes, fiduciary duties, and bad faith withholding of funds.
Constructive Trusts Protecting Beneficiaries From Abuse OF Confidence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on constructive trusts, fiduciary duty, and remedies for abuse of confidence in property relations.
Extended Leases Balancing Equity AND Contractual Obligations IN Property LAW
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on extending lease terms beyond contract expiry, balancing equity and contractual freedom in property law.
Anti-Graft Law: Delay in Official Action and Extortion Under RA 3019
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on delay of official action and extortion under the Anti-Graft Law, Section 3(f) of RA 3019.
Perfecting Labor Appeals: Can a Real Estate Bond Substitute for Cash or Surety?
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a real estate bond can perfect an employer's appeal to the NLRC under Article 223 of the Labor Code.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: When Can You Skip It
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when courts may excuse failure to exhaust administrative remedies, and why premature court actions get dismissed.
Judicial Ethics: When a Judge's Actions Lead to Forfeiture of Retirement Benefits
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains when a judge's misconduct can result in losing all retirement benefits, even after retirement.
Ejectment Suits: When Can a Landowner Reclaim Property From Someone Living There
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a landowner can eject occupants by tolerance, and the legal limits of guardians' authority.
Shared Guilt Establishing Conspiracy in Robbery With Homicide Under Philippine Law
When does a getaway accomplice become liable for murder? Philippine law on conspiracy in robbery with homicide explained through a Supreme Court ruling.
Obeying Orders: Understanding Criminal Liability for Public Officials in the Philippines
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling clarifies the Ombudsman's power to investigate and prosecute public officials, explaining how criminal liability attaches.
When Can a Company Lay Off Employees? Understanding Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine law on employee layoffs explained: valid dismissal requires just cause and due process. Learn from a Supreme Court ruling.
Laches and Prescription in Property Disputes: What the Supreme Court Said
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling clarifies when laches and prescription can dismiss a property case, and why these defenses need full trial.
Mortgage Foreclosure Surplus: Mortgagor Rights to Excess Bid Proceeds in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on mortgagor rights to surplus proceeds from extrajudicial foreclosure sales and writ of possession.
Marriage Annulment and Bigamy in the Philippines: Lessons from a Landmark Case
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a void marriage still requires judicial declaration before remarriage, and its impact on bigamy charges.
Positive Identification vs Alibi: Key Factors in Philippine Criminal Defense
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when alibi fails against positive identification, circumstantial evidence, and conspiracy in criminal cases.
Doing Business in the Philippines: When Selling to a Filipino Buyer Requires a License
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a foreign corporation's sales to a local buyer constitute
Laches in Philippine Property Law: How Delaying Your Claim Can Cost You
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling shows how laches can bar a registered owner from recovering property after unreasonable delay. Learn the rules.
Conspiracy and Murder: Understanding Shared Criminal Intent in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains how dying declarations, eyewitness testimony, and treachery establish murder liability beyond reasonable doubt.
Perfected Contract of Sale: Key Elements and Legal Implications in the Philippines
Learn the essential elements of a perfected contract of sale in the Philippines, including the requirement of a definite price, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Lis Pendens and Contract Disputes: When a Pending Case Can Halt Another Suit
Learn when a pending case between the same parties can block a second lawsuit under the lis pendens rule, explained through a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.