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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Stock Dividends and Documentary Stamp Tax: Par Value vs Actual Value in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether documentary stamp tax on stock dividends is based on par value or book value.
Navigating Litis Pendentia and Forum Shopping: When Multiple Lawsuits Can Proceed in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when two cases involving the same parties can proceed without violating litis pendentia or forum shopping rules.
Unlicensed Firearm in Philippine Murder Cases: Understanding Aggravating Circumstances
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how unlicensed firearms affect murder charges, from separate offense to aggravating circumstance under RA 8294.
Mandatory Bail Hearings in Capital Offenses: Protecting Due Process in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court rules bail in capital offenses requires mandatory hearing; judges fined for granting bail without due process.
Mortgage Preference vs Corporate Rehabilitation: Understanding Creditor Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on creditor rights, mortgage preference, and payment rules under the Civil Code explained in plain language.
Ordinance vs Resolution: Why LGUs Need an Ordinance for Expropriation
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: local governments cannot expropriate private property through a mere resolution—an ordinance is legally required under RA 7160.
Due Process in NLRC Appeals: Why Employers Must Be Heard
Philippine Supreme Court rules on due process in labor appeals, explaining why the NLRC cannot decide cases without giving both parties a chance to be heard.
Philippine Election Law: RTC Jurisdiction Over Election Offenses Despite Lower Penalties
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: Regional Trial Courts keep exclusive jurisdiction over election offenses even if penalties are six years or less.
Due Process in Ejectment Cases: When Can a Landlord Enter Abandoned Premises?
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on landlords entering abandoned leased premises in ejectment cases, and the limits of procedural due process.
Strained Relations Doctrine in Illegal Dismissal: Reinstatement Prevails Over Separation Pay
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that strained relations doctrine cannot defeat an illegally dismissed employee's right to reinstatement.
Internal Rules of Congress and Law Validity: Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence
Explore how the Supreme Court ruled that Congress's internal rules, when violated, do not invalidate laws, citing Arroyo v. De Venecia.
Premature Foreclosure and Damages Claims: What Happens After the Auction Sale
Philippine Supreme Court rules foreclosure sale does not moot a damages claim for premature foreclosure. Know the legal implications.
Tenant's Right of Redemption: Why Full Consignation Is Crucial in Philippine Agrarian Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains why a tenant's redemption of agricultural land fails without consigning the full redemption price in court.
Seasonal Workers as Regular Employees: Rights Under Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when seasonal workers become regular employees entitled to CBA benefits and labor arbiter jurisdiction.
Regular Employee Status, Security of Tenure, and CBA Benefits in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when seasonal workers become regular employees entitled to CBA benefits and security of tenure.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails When Circumstantial Evidence Falls Short in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court acquits rape accused, stressing prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, not rely on defense weakness.
When Health Is Not an Excuse: Understanding Neglect of Duty for Public Servants in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that illness does not excuse neglect of duty for public servants, defining the distinction from negligence.
When Employee Criticism Becomes Illegal Dismissal: The Open Letter Case
Philippine Supreme Court rules on when employee expression is protected and when dismissal for misconduct is illegal.
Admissibility of Confessions: Protecting Constitutional Rights in Criminal Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when confessions are admissible and how constitutional rights against self-incrimination are protected in criminal proceedings.
When Can a Judge Issue an Arrest Warrant in the Philippines: Probable Cause and Necessity
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when judges may issue arrest warrants during preliminary investigations, emphasizing the necessity requirement beyond probable cause.
Solidary Liability for Security Guard Wages: Employer Obligations in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when companies are solidarily liable for security agency employees' wages, back pay, and separation pay.
Contracts Still Stand: Why Bounced Checks Don't Always Void a Pacto de Retro Sale
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why dishonored checks don't invalidate a pacto de retro sale when consideration existed at execution.
Buyer Beware Inheriting Obligations IN Philippine Property Foreclosures
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on property foreclosures: buyers may inherit seller's obligations to installment buyers, even without written contracts.
When Loss of Trust Fails: Understanding Illegal Dismissal in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers face liability for illegal dismissal and wage claims of security guards under labor law.