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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Ancestral Land Disputes Reasserting Court Jurisdiction Over Indigenous Claims
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies NCIP jurisdiction over ancestral land disputes, reaffirming Lim v. Gamosa and the rule on first-filed cases.
Specific Denial: How Philippine Courts Determine Liability in Contractual Obligations
The Supreme Court clarifies when a third-party complaint may be denied and how contractual liability for delivering clean title is determined.
Barangay Boundary Disputes: Why the Sanggunian, Not Courts, Resolves Them First
The Supreme Court clarifies that barangay boundary disputes must first be settled by the sanggunian, not the RTC, under the Local Government Code.
Lease Default and Lessor Rights: Reading Contract Clauses Literally
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lessor rights upon lessee default, contract interpretation, and enforcement of claims against a deceased lessee's estate.
Upholding Client Confidentiality: A Lawyer's Duty in Conflicting Interests
When a lawyer takes on a case against a former client over a deal he oversaw, the Supreme Court says it is a conflict of interest.
B.P. 22 Penalties: Supreme Court Tempers Imprisonment for Bouncing Checks
The Supreme Court clarifies that imprisonment for B.P. 22 violations must be proportionate and not excessive, modifying a 51-year sentence.
Upholding Judicial Stability: No Interference with Execution of Final Judgments
A losing party cannot file a separate action to stop execution of a final judgment. The proper remedy is before the issuing court.
Electoral Protests and Mootness: When Expiration of Term Limits Ends the Case
The Supreme Court explains why an electoral protest becomes moot when the contested term expires, using the Roxas v. Binay case as an example.
The 20-Lender Rule and Deposit Substitutes in Philippine Bonds Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies the 20-lender rule for deposit substitutes and the 20% final withholding tax on government bonds.
Possession Disputes When Foreclosure Sales Meet Adverse Claims
When can a third-party possessor block a writ of possession after foreclosure? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules in Hernandez v. Ocampo.
Bouncing Back Acquittal in BP 22 Cases Hinges on Proof of Notice of Dishonor
Supreme Court acquits BP 22 accused where prosecution failed to prove written notice of dishonor was received by the drawer.
Possession vs Ownership: Resolving Land Disputes in Ejectment Cases
In ejectment cases, physical possession matters more than ownership. The Supreme Court explains in Echanes v. Hailar.
Eyewitness Testimony Prevails Over Denial and Alibi in Murder and Attempted Murder Conviction
The Supreme Court affirms a murder and attempted murder conviction, ruling that a police officer's positive eyewitness identification outweighs the accused's denial and alibi.
Psychological Incapacity Under Article 36: What Republic v. Pangasinan Teaches Us
The Supreme Court clarifies the strict requirements for proving psychological incapacity to nullify a marriage under Article 36 of the Family Code.
Ejectment Cases: Proving Tolerance and the Limits of Possession Claims
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on unlawful detainer, tolerance, and why ownership claims don't decide who keeps physical possession.
Tax Exemption for PAGCOR Licensees: Understanding the Scope of PD 1869
The Supreme Court clarifies that PAGCOR licensees remain exempt from corporate income tax on gaming operations under PD 1869.
Psychological Incapacity and Marriage Nullity: Why Medically Rooted Afflictions Must Be Proven
In Republic v. Pangasinan, the Supreme Court rejected a marriage nullity plea for failure to prove a medically rooted, incurable psychological incapacity.
Torrens Title vs Actual Possession: Ownership Rights in Unlawful Detainer Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how Torrens title and actual possession affect unlawful detainer cases, explained in plain language.
Franchise Tax vs Real Property Tax: Clarifying NGCP's Tax Liabilities
Supreme Court clarifies when NGCP's franchise tax covers real property taxes and when local governments may still collect them.
Clerks of Court Must Transmit Appeal Records on Time: A Lesson from Tecson v. Asuncion-Roxas
A clerk of court's one-year delay in transmitting criminal appeal records to the CA constitutes gross neglect of duty, the Supreme Court rules.
Torrens Title vs Actual Possession: Resolving Property Disputes in Unlawful Detainer Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that in unlawful detainer cases, actual possession—not Torrens title—determines who stays on the property.
Rescission Rights Enforcing Compromise Agreements In Property Sales
When a buyer defaults on a court-approved compromise agreement, the seller may rescind and enforce the original contract without a separate action.
Lawyer Disbarred for Misusing Client Funds and Soliciting Bribe
Supreme Court disciplines lawyer for absconding with client money and offering to bribe a judge, reaffirming ethical duties.
Lawyer Suspended for Abusive Language in Demand Letter: A Lesson in Professional Conduct
The Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for using abusive, offensive language in a demand letter, reaffirming Rule 8.01 of the CPR.