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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Company Doctor's Assessment Upheld in Seafarer Disability Claims
The Supreme Court ruled that a seafarer who fails to refer conflicting medical findings to a third doctor is bound by the company-designated physician's disability rating.
Tenant Estoppel: Why a Lessee Cannot Deny the Landlord’s Title in Lease Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court explains tenant estoppel rule under Rule 131, Section 2(b), and why lessees cannot deny their landlord's title.
Minimum Wage vs Facilities: Employer Obligations for Fair Compensation and Workplace Standards
The Supreme Court clarifies when employers may count board and lodging as wages, protecting workers from minimum wage circumvention.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: What People v. Cerdon Teaches About Evidence Integrity
The Supreme Court explains when lapses in the chain of custody of seized drugs will and will not invalidate a conviction under RA 9165.
Rape Conviction Upheld: The Critical Role of Victim Testimony and Consent in Philippine Law
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, explaining how credible victim testimony establishes force and lack of consent under Philippine law.
Writ of Amparo Not a Substitute for Child Custody Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that the writ of amparo cannot be used to resolve child custody disputes, reaffirming its limited scope.
Comelec Divisions, Jurisdiction, and Preliminary Injunctions in Election Protests
The Supreme Court clarifies when a Comelec division's interlocutory order may be assailed via certiorari and the validity of Special Divisions.
Upholding Ethical Conduct Attorney Suspended FOR Deceit AND Neglect OF Client Funds
Lawyer suspended two years for misrepresenting himself, neglecting a client's visa case, and failing to return P350,000 in legal fees.
Attorney Suspended for Misrepresentation and Failure to Return Client Funds
Supreme Court suspends lawyer for two years for misrepresenting as immigration lawyer and failing to return P350,000 client funds.
OFW Illegal Dismissal: Full Salary for Unexpired Contract, Not Just 3 Months
The Supreme Court affirms that illegally dismissed OFWs are entitled to full salaries for the unexpired portion of their contracts, striking down the three-month cap as unconstitutional.
When an Employee's Damage Claim Belongs in Regular Courts, Not Labor Tribunals
The Supreme Court clarifies when an employee's claim for damages based on quasi-delict falls under regular court jurisdiction, not the Labor Arbiter.
Reinstatement Rights: Full Backwages Until Actual Reinstatement for Illegally Dismissed Employees
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that illegally dismissed employees are entitled to full backwages until actual reinstatement, not just until judgment promulgation.
SEC Authority Over Pre-Need Plan Sales: Due Process and Cease and Desist Orders
The Supreme Court upheld the SEC's power to issue cease and desist orders against unregistered pre-need plan sales without a prior hearing in Primanila Plans v. SEC.
Upholding Real Estate Mortgage Validity Forgery Claims AND DUE Diligence IN Banking Transactions
Double Taxation: Manila's Local Tax Ordinance and the Limits of Revenue Power
When a city taxes the same business twice under the same ordinance, courts will step in. Learn the double taxation rule from this Supreme Court case.
Loss of Trust and Confidence as a Just Cause for Dismissal: When Employers Can Terminate
Learn when Philippine employers may validly dismiss employees for loss of trust and confidence, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Upholding Drug Convictions: Chain of Custody and Regular Performance of Duty in Narcotics Cases
The Supreme Court affirms drug convictions, clarifying that minor lapses in Section 21 procedure do not automatically invalidate seizures when evidence integrity is preserved.
Supreme Court Upholds Ombudsman’s Dismissal of Criminal Complaint Against Labor Officials
The Court affirms the Ombudsman’s discretion to dismiss criminal complaints, finding no grave abuse in the labor officials’ challenged orders.
The Fine Line Between Entrapment and Instigation in Philippine Drug Cases
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies entrapment vs. instigation in drug busts, and why informants' tips remain valid.
When Police Rely on Tips Instead of Observation: The Cogaed Ruling on Warrantless Searches
The Supreme Court acquitted a drug suspect after police acted on a driver's tip, not their own observations—clarifying limits on warrantless searches.
The Duty of Disclosure: Honesty in Seafarer Employment Contracts
A Supreme Court ruling on how concealing a pre-existing illness in a seafarer's PEME can bar disability claims, even when the 3-day reporting rule is excused.
Breach of Trust: Defining the Boundaries of Qualified Theft in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the elements of qualified theft and the proper penalty, emphasizing grave abuse of confidence in a cashier's pilferage case.
Correcting Errors in Arbitration Awards: The Finality Principle in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when errors in arbitration awards can be corrected without violating the finality principle.
Breach of Trust Establishing Conspiracy in Qualified Theft Cases in the Philippines
How a cashier's breach of trust led to 30 counts of qualified theft, and what the Supreme Court ruled on penalties.