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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Leasehold Improvements: Lessee Rights and Obligations Under Philippine Law
Understand lessee rights to improvements under Article 1678 of the Civil Code, and why lessees are not builders in good faith.
Lease Termination in the Philippines: When Can a Contract Be Ended
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when lease contracts can be terminated, including rules on suspensive conditions, rebus sic stantibus, and rental obligations.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Abandonment, Illness, and Employer Obligations
When does absence become abandonment, and when can illness justify termination? A Supreme Court ruling clarifies employer duties.
Prior Land Title Prevails: Property Rights and Good Faith in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on ejectment, lease obligations, and why historical landmark status does not override property rights.
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.
Right OF First Refusal Understanding Contractual Obligations IN Property Sales
Resignation vs Illegal Dismissal: Employee Rights and Employer Obligations in the Philippines
Understand the difference between resignation and illegal dismissal in the Philippines, and learn the rights and obligations of employees and employers.
Separation Pay for Voluntary Resignation: When Company Practice Creates an Obligation
Philippine law on separation pay for resigning employees, and when established company practice can create a right to benefits.
Breach of Contract: Understanding Delay and Damages in Philippine Law
Learn how the Supreme Court defines delay in contracts, moral damages, and breach of obligation in this Philippine case analysis.
Encroachment Disputes: Rights and Obligations of Landowners and Builders in the Philippines
When a building encroaches on a neighbor's land, what are the parties' rights? The Supreme Court explains good faith, Article 448 options, and remedies.
Continuing Surety Agreements Can Validly Cover Future Debts in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that continuing surety agreements validly secure future debts, even if no principal obligation exists at signing.
When Are Insurance Claim Agents Liable for Foreign Principals' Debts in the Philippines?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when local claim agents of foreign insurers can be held personally liable for policy obligations.
Compromise Agreements and Corporate Authority: Balancing Co-Ownership Rights with Contractual Obligations
When a judicially-approved compromise agreement authorizes a corporation to sell co-owned property, prior consultation with the co-owner is not required.
Contract Validity and Enforceability: Lessons from Roblett v. Court of Appeals
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling on contract validity, authority to sign, and estoppel in Philippine obligations law.
Wage Distortion in the Philippines: Employee Rights and Employer Obligations
Understand wage distortion under Philippine law, how it arises, and the rights and obligations of employees and employers.
Successor Liability in Philippine Labor Law: When New Owners Inherit Labor Obligations
Learn when a successor company inherits a predecessor's labor obligations under Philippine law, based on the Caliguia ruling.
Earnest Money and Conditional Obligations: Navigating Real Estate Sales in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling on earnest money, conditional obligations, and what happens when a seller fails to deliver in Philippine real estate sales.
Conditional Sales and Agrarian Reform: Protecting Contractual Obligations
DBP v. Carpio clarifies that agrarian reform laws cannot impair prior contractual obligations under conditional sales.
Employer Liability for Seafarers' Death: Navigating Repatriation Risks
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on employer liability when a seafarer dies during repatriation, clarifying the standard of care and compensation obligations.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When One Company Can Be Liable for Another’s Debts
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a company may be held liable for another's obligations, including labor-only contracting and solidary liability.
Successor Liability in Philippine Labor Law: When a New Company Inherits Labor Obligations
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a successor company can be held liable for its predecessor's labor obligations.
Illegal Dismissal: Employee Rights and Employer Obligations in the Philippines
Learn the rules on illegal dismissal in the Philippines: when termination is valid, the need for due process, and the employee's right to reinstatement and backwages.
Chattel Mortgage Insurance: When Lenders Must Notify Borrowers of Premium Payments
Philippine Supreme Court rules on chattel mortgage insurance renewals, lender obligations, and borrower notice requirements in installment payments.
Illegal Dismissal vs Valid Retirement: Employee Rights and Employer Obligations in the Philippines
When is forced retirement illegal dismissal? Learn the rules on just causes, medical certification, and separation pay in the Philippines.