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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Subrogation Rights Prescription Period For Insurers Seeking Reimbursement
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that an insurer's subrogation claim prescribes in 10 years, not 4, under Article 1144 of the Civil Code.
Preliminary Attachment Lien Survives Compromise Agreement Until Debt Paid
Supreme Court rules attachment liens continue until debt is fully paid, even after a compromise agreement ends the main case.
Management Prerogative vs Constructive Dismissal: Limits of Employee Transfers
When is a job transfer a valid management prerogative and when does it become constructive dismissal? The Supreme Court clarifies in Peckson v. Robinsons Supermarket.
Corporate Control vs Government Sequestration: Defining Jurisdiction in Intra-Corporate Disputes
When a sequestered corporation faces an intra-corporate dispute, which court has jurisdiction? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules.
Upholding the Ombudsman's Authority: Enforceability of Decisions Pending Appeal in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when Ombudsman decisions remain enforceable despite pending appeals, balancing administrative discipline with due process.
Ombudsman Decisions Stay Executory Pending Appeal: A Guide for Public Officers
Learn why Ombudsman dismissal orders remain immediately executory pending appeal, and how the Supreme Court protects the Ombudsman's enforcement powers.
Dual Citizenship and Electoral Candidacy: The Renunciation Requirement in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that renouncing foreign citizenship to run for local office must be complete and unequivocal—using a foreign passport after renunciation can disqualify a candidate.
Consolidation of Cases Ensuring Judicial Efficiency and Preventing Conflicting Rulings
Explore how consolidating related cases promotes judicial efficiency and prevents conflicting rulings, with insights from Philippine Supreme Court practice.
Just Compensation for Agrarian Reform: Value at Time of Payment, Not Taking
Philippine Supreme Court rules just compensation for agrarian reform land should be valued at time of payment, not time of taking.
When a Single Witness Suffices: Murder Conviction Upheld on Credible Testimony
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction based on a lone eyewitness's credible testimony, clarifying rules on treachery and damages.
Mortgage Agreements Upholding Contractual Obligations AND Protecting Borrowers Rights
This article examines the Supreme Court's ruling in Go v. Looyuko on unlawful detainer, Torrens title, and the limits of ownership claims in ejectment cases.
Just Compensation in Agrarian Reform: Valuing Land at Time of Payment
The Supreme Court rules that just compensation for agrarian reform land should be valued at the time of payment, not at the time of taking in 1972.
Delayed Justice Determining Fair Compensation FOR Government Land Seizure
When the government takes property without expropriation, what value controls? The Supreme Court clarifies the rule on just compensation.
Fruits of Ownership: Who Gets Rental Income in Contested Property Foreclosures
Philippine Supreme Court rules on who keeps rental income when a foreclosed property's title is later voided for fraud.
When Just Compensation Is Measured: The Tria Doctrine on Agrarian Expropriation Valuation
The Supreme Court ruled that just compensation for agrarian reform land should be valued at the time of payment, not at the time of taking.
Seafarer Disability Claims: Why Following POEA-SEC Dispute Procedures Matters
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why seafarers must follow the POEA-SEC third-doctor procedure in disability claims.
When Judges May Dismiss Criminal Cases for Lack of Probable Cause
The Supreme Court clarifies when trial courts may dismiss criminal cases for lack of probable cause, and when they must let the case proceed to trial.
Buy-Bust Operations and Drug Convictions: The Role of the Presumption of Regularity
The Supreme Court affirms a drug conviction, explaining how the presumption of regularity in police buy-bust operations works and when it applies.
Ombudsman's Immunity Power Prevails in Protecting the State's Interest in Prosecuting Corruption
Supreme Court rules courts should defer to Ombudsman's grant of immunity to state witnesses in corruption cases, protecting prosecutorial discretion.
Privacy Beyond Residence: Surveillance Cameras and the Right to Be Let Alone
The Supreme Court expands the right to privacy beyond residences, holding that business premises and property enjoy protection from intrusive video surveillance.
Chains Unbroken Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms drug convictions in People v. Mendoza, clarifying buy-bust operations, warrantless arrests, and evidence integrity under RA 9165.
Falsification of Commercial Documents: When a Bank Manager Faces Estafa Liability
The Supreme Court clarifies when a bank manager who forges documents and misappropriates funds is liable for the complex crime of estafa through falsification of commercial documents.
Probable Cause and Estafa: The Judge's Role in Dismissing Criminal Cases
Supreme Court clarifies when a judge may dismiss criminal cases for lack of probable cause, using estafa charges as the backdrop.
Illegal Dismissal and Abandonment: Proving Employee Intent in Philippine Labor Law
When does failure to report for work become abandonment? The Supreme Court clarifies the employer's burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases.