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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Judicial Accountability Balancing Efficiency AND DUE Process IN Case Resolution
Absence Without Leave: Upholding Public Service Standards in the Philippine Judiciary
Court personnel who go AWOL face dropping from the rolls. Learn the rules and consequences from a 2019 Supreme Court ruling.
Unexcused Absence When Neglect of Duty Leads to Removal From Public Service
Continuous AWOL for 30 working days can lead to dropping from the rolls. Learn the rules and consequences for government employees.
Attorney Suspended for Neglect of Duty and Failure to Account Client Funds
A lawyer who neglects a client's case and fails to account for fees faces suspension. Learn the ethical rules and lessons from Sorensen v. Pozon.
Informing Seafarers: The Cornerstone of Due Process in Disability Claims
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarer disability claims, emphasizing due process and the necessity of informing seafarers of their rights and options.
Bidding Rights No Cause of Action for Disappointed Bidders Under Philippine Law
A contractor overpaid by the government must refund the excess, even if the contract was void for lack of appropriation.
Reconstitution of Lost Title: Supreme Court Clarifies Rules on Proof and Sources
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may order reconstitution of a lost or destroyed land title under Republic Act No. 26.
Quantum Meruit Claims Against the Government: Payment for Services Without a Written Contract
The Supreme Court clarifies when contractors can recover payment from the government on quantum meruit even without a written contract.
Drug Use and Due Process: When a Quashed Search Warrant Does Not Erase Administrative Liability
A sheriff dismissed for drug use despite quashed search warrant—why administrative cases stand apart from criminal cases.
Due Process and the Chain of Custody Rule: Protecting the Accused in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to comply with the three-witness rule under Section 21 of RA 9165.
Service of Summons: Balancing Due Process and Practicality in Marital Nullity Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when publication alone suffices for extraterritorial service of summons in nullity cases, and when laches bars attacks on final judgments.
Psychological Incapacity: The High Bar for Marriage Nullity in the Philippines
The Supreme Court reiterates that psychological incapacity under Article 36 requires proof of gravity, juridical antecedence, and incurability—not mere infidelity or irreconcilable differences.
Due Process in Attorney Discipline: Fair Hearings for Legal Professionals
The Supreme Court reminds us that even in lawyer discipline cases, due process and substantial evidence are required before any sanction.
Protecting Seafarers: Employers Must Uphold Medical Obligations and Timely Pay Sickness Allowances
The Supreme Court ruled that employers cannot use a seafarer's missed check-up as an excuse to deny disability benefits when the employer failed to pay sickness allowance and approve treatment.
When Courts Can Bend Procedural Rules: The Duty to Decide Cases on Time
Philippine courts must decide cases within 90 days. Learn when extensions are allowed and the consequences of delay.
HRET Quorum Rules on Justices and Jurisdiction Upheld as Constitutional
The Supreme Court upholds HRET rules requiring a Justice for quorum and clarifies jurisdiction over House members' election contests.
Upholding Attorney Conduct Dismissal OF Disbarment Suit FOR Lack OF Evidence
The Supreme Court clarifies when a disbarment suit fails for lack of evidence and how due process protects lawyers.
Estate Administration: Courts Prioritize Heirs' Best Interests Over Preferences
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies estate administration rules—courts may appoint administrators based on heirs' best interests, not strict preference order.
Nepotism and Misconduct Limits on Local Government Hiring Practices in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies nepotism rules, the condonation doctrine, and hiring limits for local government positions.
Sheriffs Duty to Serve Notice Before Implementing Writs: Consequences of Neglect
A sheriff who enforces a writ without prior notice violates due process. Learn the rules and penalties under Rule 39.
Faulty Identification When Police Suggestion Undermines Justice In Carnapping Cases
Supreme Court overturns carnapping convictions where police show-up was tainted by improper suggestion, applying the totality of circumstances test.
Due Process in Tax Assessments: BIR Must Consider Taxpayer Evidence
When BIR ignores taxpayer evidence in tax assessments, due process is violated and assessments are void. Learn from Avon case.
AWOL and Accountability: Dropping Employees from the Rolls for Unauthorized Absences
Learn when Philippine government employees can be dropped from the rolls for AWOL, the procedure involved, and what benefits remain.
Due Process in Tax Assessments: When the BIR's Failure to Consider a Taxpayer's Protest Invalidates Assessment
The Supreme Court clarifies that the BIR's failure to consider a taxpayer's protest and evidence violates due process, rendering tax assessments null and void.