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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Fair Valuation in Agrarian Reform: Just Compensation Under R.A. 6657
The Supreme Court clarifies that just compensation for lands acquired under P.D. 27 must follow R.A. 6657 and DAR regulations, not outdated formulas.
DARAB Jurisdiction Over Emancipation Patent Cancellation in Agrarian Retention Cases
Supreme Court affirms DARAB jurisdiction to cancel emancipation patents issued over lands validly retained by landowners under agrarian reform laws.
Press Freedom vs. Fair Comment: The Limits of Libel Law in Tulfo v. People
The Supreme Court in Tulfo v. People clarifies when press freedom ends and criminal libel begins, applying the actual malice standard to defamatory columns.
Judicial Ethics and the Price of Impropriety: Lessons from the Court of Appeals Controversy
The Supreme Court's ruling on the CA justices' conduct in the Meralco-GSIS case underscores the strict standards of judicial ethics and propriety.
DAR Authority Over Land Conversion Disputes: Lessons from Polo Coconut
The Supreme Court ruled that local reclassification cannot remove farmland from agrarian reform coverage without DAR conversion approval.
Circumstantial Evidence and Conviction: Rape with Homicide Requires Moral Certainty
When can circumstantial evidence convict someone of rape with homicide? The Supreme Court explains the moral certainty standard.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Moral Ascendancy as Intimidation in Familial Settings
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction of a cousin, ruling that moral ascendancy in familial settings constitutes intimidation, and clarifies penetration standards.
Government Employee Benefits Unauthorized Allowances Violate Standardization Laws
Supreme Court affirms COA disallowance of P10,000 food basket allowance to BFAR employees for lack of legal basis.
Probable Cause vs Hard Facts: What Balangauan v. CA Teaches About Estafa Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies probable cause standards in estafa cases, rejecting the DOJ's demand for "hard facts" before filing charges.
Forum Shopping and Co-Ownership: Res Judicata Boundaries in Property Disputes
Learn when a second property case is barred by forum shopping or res judicata, and how co-ownership affects party identity under Philippine law.
Upholding Ethical Conduct: Infidelity as Grounds for Attorney Disbarment in the Philippines
The Supreme Court rules on infidelity as grounds for attorney disbarment, clarifying ethical standards for lawyers and judges in the Philippines.
Upholding Workers' Rights: The Extent of DOLE's Authority and the Validity of Labor Standards Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies the scope of DOLE's visitorial powers over labor standards claims and the limits of its jurisdiction.
Finality of Judgments, Solidary Liability, and Actual Damages in Cockfighting Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the immutability of final judgments and how to compute actual damages in a cockfighting dispute.
Dismissal for Grave Misconduct: Upholding Ethical Standards in Public Procurement
Supreme Court affirms dismissal of BFP regional director for grave misconduct in anomalous procurement, stressing public officers' duty to follow procurement rules.
Moonlighting and Employee Dismissal: Defining the Boundaries of Trust and Confidence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when moonlighting justifies dismissal and how loss of trust and confidence must be proven.
When Lawyers Cross the Line: Deceit, Dishonesty, and the Price of Professional Misconduct
A lawyer's suspension for deceit and issuing a worthless check underscores the high ethical standards required of the legal profession in the Philippines.
Habitual Tardiness and Falsification of Time Records: Ethical Standards in the Judiciary
The Supreme Court dismisses a court utility worker for habitual tardiness and falsifying time cards, underscoring strict ethical standards for judiciary employees.
Boundary Disputes, Reconveyance Orders, and the Limits of General Prayers
A Supreme Court ruling on boundary disputes explains when courts may order reconveyance beyond specific prayers, and why final judgments must stand.
Forum Shopping and Litis Pendentia: Preserving Judicial Efficiency in Boundary Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when filing a second suit over the same boundary dispute constitutes forum shopping and litis pendentia.
Judicial Overreach Approving Bail Outside Jurisdictional Boundaries
Moral Turpitude and Attorney Discipline: Upholding Ethical Standards in Personal Conduct
A lawyer's illicit affair and failure to support his child led to a six-month suspension, reaffirming that personal morality matters in the legal profession.
Corporate Liability vs Personal Assets: Boundaries in Illegal Dismissal Cases
When can a corporate officer be personally liable for illegal dismissal? The Delima v. Gois ruling clarifies the limits.
Agrarian Reform: When Courts Can Interfere With DAR's Discretion
Explains when courts may review DAR decisions in agrarian reform cases, using a 2008 Supreme Court ruling on CARP exemptions.
Seafarer Death Benefits: The Primacy of the Employment Contract's Term
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a seafarer's death during the contract term entitles heirs to death benefits under the POEA Standard Employment Contract.