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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Due Process in Administrative Actions: Fair Notice in Recruitment Cases
The Supreme Court rules that administrative due process requires furnishing the accused with the evidence against them, not just a hearing.
The Burden of Proof in Seafarer Disability Claims: Clarifying the Third Doctor Rule
A seafarer who disputes a company doctor's fit-to-work finding must follow the POEA-SEC third doctor rule and present solid medical evidence, the Supreme Court reminds.
Pre-Trial Stipulations and Signature Authentication: Heirs of Salud v. Rural Bank of Salinas
A 2016 Supreme Court ruling clarifies when pre-trial stipulations bind parties and how courts weigh handwriting expert findings against direct testimony.
Lawyer Suspended for Abandoning Client and Failing to Return Attorney's Fees
The Supreme Court suspended a lawyer for one year and ordered him to return P61,500 in fees after he withdrew from his client's cases without notice.
Eyewitness Inconsistency and Reasonable Doubt: Scrutinizing Witness Testimony in Murder Cases
In People v. Vargas, the Supreme Court acquitted two murder accused after the lone eyewitness gave conflicting accounts of who killed the victim.
Breach of Trust Dismissal for Theft of Court Exhibit Undermines Judicial Integrity
Court personnel who steal exhibits betray the judiciary's trust. The Supreme Court's ruling in Castro shows why dismissal is the only fitting penalty.
Theft of a Court Exhibit: Why a Utility Worker Was Dismissed for Breach of Trust
A Supreme Court decision shows why court personnel who take evidence entrusted to them face dismissal for dishonesty and grave misconduct, even without leaving the building.
Pension Rights and Regulatory Board Abolition When Retirement Benefits Remain Fixed
When a regulatory board is abolished and replaced, do its retirees get the new body's higher pensions? The Supreme Court says no.
Supreme Court Upholds ERC's Power to Set Electric Cooperative Capital Contribution Charges
SC dismisses challenge to MCC/RFSC charges by electric cooperatives, affirming ERC's rate-setting authority under EPIRA.
Freedom of the Press and Electoral Integrity: Rappler's Right to Live Stream Debates
The Supreme Court ruled that media entities may live stream COMELEC debates, subject to copyright conditions under the Intellectual Property Code.
When a DILG Order Meets a COMELEC Ruling: Contempt in Election Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when government officials can be cited for contempt for implementing an Ombudsman decision that conflicts with a COMELEC ruling.
Passenger Duty of Diligence in Verifying Flight Details: Manay v. Cebu Air
The Supreme Court ruled that passengers must exercise ordinary diligence in checking flight details on tickets, even as airlines owe extraordinary diligence.
Corporate Rehabilitation Appeals: Choosing the Right Remedy Under Philippine Rules
Learn the correct mode of appeal for corporate rehabilitation cases in the Philippines, as clarified by the Supreme Court in Golden Cane v. Steelpro.
Intervention Denied When Can the Government Reclaim Land After Private Titles Emerge
When can the government reclaim public land after private titles emerge? The Supreme Court explains intervention rules and innocent purchaser protection.
Grave Misconduct of Register of Deeds: When Reliance on Documents Is Not Enough
A Register of Deeds cannot blindly rely on submitted documents. The Supreme Court explains when failure to verify tax payments amounts to grave misconduct.
Protecting Innocent Purchasers for Value in Land Title Disputes: Republic v. Heirs of Diego Lim
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Torrens titles, innocent purchasers for value, and reversion of public land in Republic v. Heirs of Diego Lim.
The Fine Line When Excuses Don't Excuse Absence in Court
When does a valid excuse justify missing pre-trial? The Supreme Court clarifies when postponements are a privilege, not a right.
Grave Misconduct and the Duty of Registers of Deeds: Balancing Efficiency and Legal Compliance
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a Register of Deeds may be held liable for grave misconduct in issuing titles without tax clearance.
Demolition of Illegal Structures on Public Roads: Public Welfare Over Private Interests
Supreme Court rules illegally constructed houses on public roads are nuisances that must be demolished, prioritizing public welfare over private claims.
Demurrer to Evidence and the Prosecution's Burden in Bigamy Cases: Lapira v. Fariscal
The Supreme Court acquits a bigamy accused, clarifying that a void first marriage and rebutted marriage certificates defeat the prosecution's case.
Judge Dismissed for Gross Immorality: Extramarital Affair and the Duty of Judicial Officers
The Supreme Court dismissed a judge for gross immorality over an extramarital affair and child, while suspending him from law practice for three years.
Seafarer's Basketball Injury Held Work-Related: Bunkhouse Rule and Disability Claims
Philippine Supreme Court rules seafarer's basketball injury on board is work-related under the Bunkhouse Rule and Personal Comfort Doctrine.
Duty to Notify Insurance Beneficiary Rights and Agent Responsibilities in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on insurance beneficiary notification duties, agent responsibilities, and claim deadlines after the insured's death.
Choosing the Right Ejectment Case: Forcible Entry vs. Unlawful Detainer
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between forcible entry and unlawful detainer, and why filing the wrong ejectment case can be fatal to a claim.