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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Balancing Employee Discipline AND Compassion THE Illegality OF Disproportionate Dismissals
When is dismissal too harsh? The Supreme Court rules on proportionate penalties in labor discipline cases.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Preserving Evidence Integrity for Conviction
Learn how Philippine courts apply the chain of custody rule in drug cases, using a 2013 Supreme Court ruling on airport searches.
Challenging Drug Busts: The Chain of Custody Rule in Illegal Drug Possession Cases
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when airport searches are valid and how the chain of custody of seized drugs is established in Philippine drug cases.
Breach of Bank Obligations: Understanding Trust Agreements in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court's ruling on PLDT v. ETPI clarifies when courts can enforce judicially approved compromise agreements and the limits of arbitration clauses.
Buy-Bust Operations and Warrantless Arrests: What the Supreme Court Requires in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies what makes a buy-bust arrest valid and how chain of custody of seized drugs must be preserved.
Airport Security vs Personal Rights: Striking the Balance in Drug Possession Cases
How the Supreme Court reconciled airport security searches with constitutional rights in a drug possession case, and what it means for travelers.
Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: When a Public Facebook Post Becomes a Crime
The Supreme Court affirms that public Facebook posts can constitute psychological abuse under RA 9262, with higher penalties for ICT use.
Easement vs Expropriation: Just Compensation for Right of Way Under Philippine Law
Supreme Court clarifies that statutory caps on easement fees do not bind courts in determining just compensation for transmission line right of way.
Res Judicata and Buyer Rights: PNB v. Lim on Mortgages Under PD 957
The Supreme Court clarifies how final judgments bind parties and how condominium buyers can still redeem units despite a valid mortgage.
Child Custody Not Permanent: SC Clears Judge Who Respected Child's Choice Over Prior Agreement
Supreme Court rules child custody judgments are not permanent; a child over 7 may choose a parent, overriding prior compromise agreements.
Mortgage Without HLURB Approval: Buyer Protection in Condominium Sales
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a mortgage lacking HLURB approval is void only against the unit buyer, not the developer and bank.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: What People v. Nacua Teaches About Safeguarding Evidence
In People v. Nacua, the Supreme Court acquitted a drug accused because police failed to follow the chain of custody rules under Section 21 of RA 9165.
Forum Shopping and Fair Play: Why Employers Cannot Raise New Defenses on Appeal
Supreme Court rules employers cannot raise lack of employer-employee relationship for the first time on appeal after actively participating in labor proceedings.
Forcible Entry: Prior Physical Possession Prevails Over Ownership Claims
In ejectment cases, actual possession beats paper title. The Supreme Court explains why forcible entry is about possession de facto, not ownership.
Probable Cause vs Evidentiary Weight: The DOJ Secretary’s Review Power Delineated
The Supreme Court clarifies when the DOJ Secretary oversteps by weighing evidence in a preliminary investigation, not just determining probable cause.
Bank Officer Liability for Fraudulent Export Transactions: The Dy Case
Supreme Court ruling on bank officer liability for approving fraudulent export transactions with non-negotiable bills of lading.
Redundancy Dismissal: Employers Must Prove Justification, Not Just Declare It
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that employers cannot simply declare redundancy—they must present substantial proof to justify dismissal.
Courts, Not Legislators, Set Just Compensation in Philippine Eminent Domain Cases
Supreme Court rules statutory caps like NPC's 10% easement limit cannot override judicial determination of just compensation.
Execution of Judgment Must Conform to the Dispositive Portion: The Golez v. Navarro Ruling
A writ of execution cannot add interest that the judgment never awarded. The Supreme Court explains how far a court may go in enforcing a final decision.
Bank Officer Liability for Fraudulent Export Transactions: The Dy Case
When can a bank officer be held solidarily liable for fraud? The Supreme Court explains conspiracy and approval of irregular transactions.
Party-List Accreditation Is Never Permanent: The LPGMA Doctrine on Continuous Qualification Review
Supreme Court clarifies that COMELEC can cancel party-list registration anytime; accreditation never becomes final and conclusive against the state.
Party List Accreditation: COMELEC's Power to Cancel Registration Explained
Supreme Court clarifies that COMELEC can cancel party-list accreditation even without prior opposition to registration, upholding its authority to ensure marginalized representation.
Determining Fair Compensation in Philippine Expropriation Cases: Key Lessons from Republic v. Heirs of Bautist
Learn how Philippine courts determine just compensation in expropriation cases, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Republic v. Heirs of Bautista.
Certiorari Limits: When Courts Can Review Administrative Decisions
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may review administrative findings in certiorari petitions, using a Sandiganbayan graft case as the vehicle.