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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Challenging Buy-Bust Operations: When Procedural Lapses in Drug Sale Cases Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to unjustified gaps in the chain of custody, underscoring the importance of preserving evidence integrity.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Unmarked Evidence Means Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to mark seized sachets, breaking the chain of custody and casting doubt on the evidence.
Regular vs. Fixed-Term Employment: Security of Tenure Under Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when fixed-term employment is valid and when it violates a worker's security of tenure under Philippine labor law.
Third Doctor Referral Requirement Upholding Company Doctors Fitness Certification IN Seafarer Disability Claims
Attorney Negligence and Breach of Duty: When a Lawyer's Inaction Costs a Client the Case
A Supreme Court ruling on lawyer accountability: negligence and lack of candor lead to a two-year suspension from practice.
Environmental Law Upholding Power Plant Construction Despite Procedural Lapses
Supreme Court clarifies the writ of kalikasan's scope and upholds a coal plant's ECC despite procedural lapses in its issuance.
Adverse Possession and Land Registration: Clarifying Requirements for Imperfect Titles
Supreme Court clarifies that possession before a land's classification as alienable and disposable counts toward confirming imperfect title under Section 14(1).
Land Title Registration: Possession Before Land Classification Counts
Supreme Court clarifies that possession before a land's classification as alienable and disposable can count toward original registration.
Earnest Money and Perfected Sales: When Payment Cannot Bind a Reluctant Seller
The Supreme Court explains when earnest money cannot create a binding contract of sale, protecting property owners from irregular payment schemes.
Defining Disability Seafarers Rights TO Full Compensation Under Poea SEC
Supreme Court clarifies when a seafarer with a Grade 8 disability rating is entitled to total and permanent disability compensation under the POEA SEC.
Tax Refund Claims: Proving Excess Creditable Withholding Tax Without Quarterly ITRs
Supreme Court rules quarterly ITRs of succeeding year are not indispensable in proving excess creditable withholding tax refund claims.
Earnest Money Misconceptions When A Deposit Doesnt Guarantee A Sale
The Supreme Court clarifies that earnest money only binds a seller after a contract of sale is perfected—not before consent is given.
Challenging Drug Convictions: Scrutinizing Police Conduct and Evidence in Illegal Drug Cases
The Supreme Court affirms drug convictions, explaining how courts weigh police testimony, buy-bust operations, and the presumption of regularity.
Project-Based Employment: Defining Scope and Duration in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when project-based employment is valid, focusing on the determinable duration and scope of the project.
Finality of Settlements: How Quitclaims Impact Employment Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when quitclaims are valid and binding in labor disputes, protecting employees from waivers made under duress.
Procedural Rigidity vs Substantial Justice: Navigating the Rules of Court in COA Appeals
A Supreme Court ruling on Fortune Life Insurance clarifies why strict compliance with Rule 64 deadlines and proof of service requirements is mandatory in COA appeals.
Upholding Competence and Diligence: Attorney Suspended for Neglect of Client's Case
A lawyer's suspension from practice does not end his duty to clients. The Supreme Court suspends Atty. Baterina for gross negligence.
Attorneys Fees THE Right TO Claim After Final Judgment
A lawyer can claim attorney's fees even after final judgment. The Supreme Court explains when and how.
Circumstantial Evidence in Theft Cases: When It Is Not Enough to Convict
The Supreme Court acquits a theft convict, explaining when circumstantial evidence fails to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Upholding Property Rights When Caretaking Doesnt Equal Tenancy
The Supreme Court clarifies when a caretaker is not a tenant, and why the regular courts, not the DARAB, have jurisdiction over ejectment.
Client Responsibility: The Binding Nature of Counsel Negligence in Philippine Law
When does a lawyer's mistake bind the client? The Supreme Court explains the rule on counsel negligence and the client's duty to monitor cases.
When Tenancy Claims Fail: Ejectment Jurisdiction After Corporate Revocation
The Supreme Court clarifies when an ejectment case stays with regular courts despite tenancy defenses, and how corporate dissolution affects legal standing.
Presumption of Regularity in Drug Possession Cases and the Effect of an Accused's Death on Appeal
The Supreme Court explains how the presumption of regularity supports drug convictions, and why an accused's death pending appeal can moot a case.
Broken Chain of Custody: Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect due to broken chain of custody, stressing strict evidence integrity rules under RA 9165.