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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Certiorari and the Secretary of Labor: Ensuring Procedural Correctness in Labor Disputes
When can a party file certiorari against the Labor Secretary's decision? The Supreme Court clarifies the proper remedy and timing.
Expired Permits and Regulatory Fines: NTC Authority Over Broadcast Operations
A broadcaster's expired provisional authority and NTC fines explained: the Supreme Court clarifies administrative penalties, prescription, and temporary permits.
The High Cost of Procedural Lapses: Dismissal of Appeal in Estafa Case
Learn how the Supreme Court relaxed procedural rules to prevent injustice in a revival of judgment case.
Protecting Workers Rights Employer Interference AND Unfair Labor Practices
Supreme Court clarifies the proper remedy for challenging the Labor Secretary's assumption of jurisdiction over strikes in industries vital to national interest.
Pre-Existing Conditions and Seafarer Disability Claims: Proving Work Relatedness
A seafarer's disability claim fails without proof of work relatedness. The Supreme Court clarifies the burden in Ayungo v. Beamko.
Dishonesty in Public Office: The Imperative of Truthful Asset Disclosure
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when SALN misdeclarations constitute dishonesty, not grave misconduct, and the importance of truthful disclosure.
Beyond the Salary: Defining Dishonesty in Public Office and the Limits of Misconduct
The Supreme Court clarifies when failure to declare assets amounts to dishonesty, not grave misconduct, in Ombudsman cases.
Revival of Judgment Equity Prevails Over Strict Procedural Rules in Land Dispute
Supreme Court allows revival of judgment beyond prescriptive period where strict rules would cause injustice to blameless litigants.
Contempt of Court: Balancing Free Speech and Judicial Integrity in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when criticism crosses the line into contempt, using a lawyer's letter to a Court Administrator as the cautionary example.
Judges Cannot Notarize Cohabitation Affidavits for Marriages They Solemnize
Supreme Court rules MTC judges may not notarize affidavits of cohabitation for marriages they solemnize, citing Circular 1-90.
Trademark Confusion: When Similar Marks on Different Products Are Allowed
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when similar trademarks on unrelated goods can coexist, applying the multifactor test for confusing similarity.
Excise Tax Refunds for Petroleum Sold to International Carriers: Shell Ruling Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies when domestic petroleum manufacturers can claim excise tax refunds for fuel sold to international carriers.
Parental Authority and Rape: When Rubbing the Penis Is Not Consummated Rape
A father's conviction for rape is modified by the Supreme Court, which distinguishes sexual assault from consummated rape and attempted rape.
Land Registration Proof: Beyond DENR Certification and the Burden of Incontrovertible Evidence
A DENR certification alone won't secure land title. The Supreme Court clarifies the strict proof required for judicial confirmation of title.
VAT Refund Claims: The Mandatory 120+30 Day Rule and Why Timing Matters
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that VAT refund claims must strictly follow the mandatory 120+30 day period under the NIRC.
Proving Alienable Land in Registration: The T.A.N. Properties Standard
Land registration requires more than a DENR certification. The Supreme Court clarifies the proof needed to establish alienable and disposable land.
VAT Refund Claims: The 120-Day Waiting Period and the BIR Ruling That Saved It
The Supreme Court clarifies the 120-day waiting period for VAT refund claims and the effect of BIR Ruling No. DA-489-03.
Upholding Convictions in Drug Cases: Balancing Evidence and Constitutional Rights
Learn how the Supreme Court balances evidence and constitutional rights in drug cases, and what this means for accused persons.
Untimely VAT Refund Claims: Strict Prescriptive Periods and the San Roque Exception
Learn how the Supreme Court applied the San Roque doctrine on the 120-day waiting period for VAT refund claims in Procter & Gamble.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Credibility of Testimony and Indeterminate Sentence Law in Child Sexual Abuse Cases
Supreme Court affirms father's rape conviction, clarifies proper indeterminate penalty and damages in child sexual assault cases.
Equitable Estoppel and Premature VAT Refund Claims: When Taxpayers Can Rely on BIR Rulings
The Supreme Court ruled that taxpayers may rely on BIR Ruling No. DA-489-03 and file VAT refund claims early, invoking equitable estoppel against the government.
Protecting Homebuyers: PD 957 Prevails Over Bank Mortgages in Subdivision Sales
Supreme Court rules banks must honor PD 957 protections for subdivision buyers, even when properties are mortgaged to secure developer loans.
Children's Surnames: Illegitimate Child's Right to Choose After Father's Recognition
Supreme Court rules an acknowledged illegitimate child may choose whether to use the father's surname; the father cannot compel it.
Res Judicata in Corporate Rehabilitation: Balancing Creditor Rights and Economic Recovery
The Supreme Court clarifies res judicata and stay order rules in corporate rehabilitation, balancing creditor rights with economic recovery.