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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Due Process Prevails: COA Decision Overturned for Lack of Fair Hearing
The Supreme Court annulled a COA ruling that held BSP officers liable for a cash shortage without affording them due process.
Good Faith vs Gross Negligence: Due Process in Government Benefit Disallowances
The Supreme Court nullified a COA decision holding BSP officers liable for cash shortage, ruling that due process was violated when the Commission treated a request for opinion as a complaint.
Mastermind Liability When Inducement Leads to Robbery and Carnapping
When a mastermind induces others to commit robbery and carnapping, Philippine law holds them fully liable for all consequences.
Res Judicata and Due Process in Tax Sales: When a Prior Case Does Not Bar a New Suit
The Supreme Court clarifies when res judicata applies in tax delinquency sales and protects property owners' right to due process.
Res Judicata and Due Process in Tax Sales: Ignacio v. City Treasurer of Quezon City
When a tax sale is challenged for lack of notice, res judicata may not bar the case if the earlier judgment did not rule on the sale's validity.
When a Tax Sale Lacks Notice: Due Process and Res Judicata in Property Auctions
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that a tax delinquency sale without proper notice violates due process and is not barred by res judicata.
Statutory Rape Conviction Affirmed: Child Victim's Sole Testimony Sufficient
Supreme Court affirms statutory rape conviction, ruling a credible child victim's testimony alone suffices even without medical examination.
Valid Service of Summons in Foreign Judgment Recognition: Key Lessons from Express Padala v. Ocampo
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on invalid substituted service of summons in foreign judgment recognition, and its due process implications.
Protecting Contractors: Quantum Meruit and COA Disallowances in Government Projects
Supreme Court clarifies when contractors may recover from void government contracts under quantum meruit, and the limits of COA's audit powers.
Due Process Rights and Fair Notice in Administrative Cases: The Iglesias Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies that administrative due process requires fair notice of charges, but valid original allegations can still support dismissal.
Corporate Inspection Rights: When Stockholder Disputes Become Intra-Corporate
Supreme Court clarifies when stockholder inspection disputes are intra-corporate controversies and how corporations may validly deny access to records.
Self-Defense Under Scrutiny: Establishing Unlawful Aggression in Homicide Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when self-defense fails in homicide cases, emphasizing unlawful aggression and reasonable necessity of force.
Can a Trustee Mortgage Property Without the Owner's Consent? Supreme Court Says No
Learn from a 2017 Supreme Court ruling why a trustee cannot mortgage trust property without the owner's consent, and the consequences for banks that fail to verify ownership.
Balancing Property Rights When Homeowner Access Clashes With Association Control
PD 242 and Intra-Government Tax Disputes: Who Decides When BIR Faces Another Agency?
Supreme Court clarifies that PD 242 governs disputes solely between government entities, giving the DOJ Secretary jurisdiction over BIR-PSALM VAT cases.
Curfew Laws and Minors' Rights: Balancing State Protection and Individual Freedoms
The Supreme Court upholds juvenile curfew ordinances in Quezon City, Manila, and Navotas, balancing state protection with minors' rights.
Dismissal Based on Uncorroborated Report Violates Due Process in Seafarer Cases
Supreme Court rules a seafarer's dismissal based on an uncorroborated captain's report violates due process and just cause requirements.
Seafarer Rights Illegal Dismissal and the Importance of Due Process
A seafarer's dismissal requires just cause and due process. The Supreme Court explains both in this landmark ruling.
Upholding Notarial Duties: Consequences for Negligence in Document Notarization
A notary's failure to verify documents and record notarizations leads to commission revocation and disqualification in this Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Upholding Court Authority: The Limits of Defiance in Intra-Corporate Disputes
When can a party defy a court order in an intra-corporate dispute? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of defiance and the consequences of disobedience.
Preventive Suspension by the Ombudsman: The Purisima Case and Due Process
The Supreme Court clarifies the Ombudsman's power to preventively suspend officials and the limits of due process in administrative cases.
Marital Fidelity and Fatal Consequences: Establishing Guilt in Parricide Cases
When jealousy turns deadly, Philippine law holds spouses accountable. This case clarifies parricide, penalties, and why infidelity never justifies violence.
Unauthorized Absences and Dismissal: The Medical Certificate Requirement in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court upheld a dismissal for unauthorized absences, ruling that a vague medical certificate cannot excuse habitual absenteeism.
When Lawyers Fail Clients: Negligence, Falsehood, and Notarial Misconduct
A lawyer who neglects a client's case and notarizes a perjured affidavit faces suspension and loss of notarial commission.