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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Breach of Public Trust When Unauthorized Actions Constitute Grave Misconduct
A process server who falsified a court order and solicited money was dismissed, even after resigning. Learn the rules on grave misconduct.
Corporate Records Access: Stockholder Rights and Officer Duties After Dissolution
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a stockholder's right to inspect corporate records survives corporate dissolution and continues during liquidation.
Moral Turpitude and Attorney Disbarment: The Necessity of Final Conviction
Disbarment for moral turpitude requires a final conviction, not just pending criminal charges, as this case clarifies.
Upholding Drug Sale Conviction: Integrity of Evidence and Section 21 Compliance
Supreme Court affirms drug sale conviction, ruling that substantial compliance with Section 21, RA 9165 suffices when evidence integrity is preserved.
Due Process in Civil Registry Corrections: Impleading All Affected Parties Is Mandatory
A Supreme Court ruling explains why all affected parties must be impleaded in civil registry correction cases under Rule 108.
Upholding Attorney Accountability: Neglect of Duty and the Attorney-Client Relationship
A lawyer who takes a client's fees but fails to file the case, deceives the client, and misappropriates funds faces the ultimate sanction: disbarment.
Ancestral Land Disputes Reasserting Court Jurisdiction Over Indigenous Claims
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies NCIP jurisdiction over ancestral land disputes, reaffirming Lim v. Gamosa and the rule on first-filed cases.
Due Process in Administrative Cases: When a Generalized SALN Is Not Dishonesty
The Supreme Court explains when a generalized SALN amounts to dishonesty, and why public officials must first be given a chance to correct their statements.
B.P. 22 Penalties: Supreme Court Tempers Imprisonment for Bouncing Checks
The Supreme Court clarifies that imprisonment for B.P. 22 violations must be proportionate and not excessive, modifying a 51-year sentence.
Upholding Legal Ethics: Attorney's Duty to Client and the Integrity of the Profession
A lawyer who misappropriates client funds and solicits money to bribe a judge faces suspension, reaffirming core ethical duties.
Attorney Negligence and Misconduct: Upholding Ethical Standards in Legal Practice
A lawyer who absconds with client funds and solicits money to bribe a judge faces suspension, reaffirming strict ethical standards for the Philippine bar.
When Lawyers Fail Clients: Suspension for Misappropriating Visa Fees
A lawyer who took P345,000 for US visa services but did nothing was suspended for one year and ordered to return the money.
Bouncing Checks and Due Process: Notice of Dishonor as a Shield Against Liability
The Supreme Court acquits a B.P. 22 accused because the prosecution failed to prove she received the notice of dishonor.
Deficiency Claims After Foreclosure: Banks' Rights and Limits on Penalties
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that banks may collect deficiency after extrajudicial foreclosure, but courts can reduce excessive penalty charges.
Treachery and Witness Identification in Murder and Frustrated Murder Cases
The Supreme Court affirms murder and frustrated murder convictions, explaining treachery, witness credibility, and unlicensed firearm aggravating circumstances.
Notarizing Documents of Deceased Persons: A Lawyer's Notarial Duty and Its Consequences
When a lawyer notarizes documents for parties who are already dead, the Supreme Court imposes severe penalties. Learn the rules.
Per Diem Limits for Water District Directors: Harmonizing Executive Orders and Governing Laws
The Supreme Court clarifies that Administrative Order No. 103's P20,000 monthly per diem cap applies to water district directors, overriding conflicting LWUA issuances.
Rape and the Burden of Proof: Protecting Victims in Abuse Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on rape clarifies the burden of proof, qualifying circumstances, and why child victims' testimony carries great weight.
Attorney Suspended Five Years for Deceitful Conduct and Breach of Professional Responsibility
Lawyer suspended five years for deceiving clients into paying P350,000 for a property redemption she never processed, violating the Lawyer's Oath and Rule 1.01.
Good Faith in Collective Bargaining: Philippine Rule on Fair Labor Practices
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies good faith bargaining duties, unfair labor practice, and when strikes are justified in CBA negotiations.
Bail and Humanitarian Considerations: Balancing Constitutional Rights and Individual Circumstances
The Supreme Court affirms that bail may be granted on humanitarian grounds, weighing an accused's health and flight risk against constitutional rights.
Court Clerk Dismissed for Bypassing Raffle of Judicial Notices and Taking Loans
Supreme Court dismisses court clerk for grave misconduct: bypassing the raffle of judicial notices and borrowing money from newspaper publishers.
Due Process in Employment Termination: Balancing Cause and Procedure
The Supreme Court clarifies that dismissals with just cause remain valid even without procedural due process, but employers must pay nominal damages.
Just Cause vs. Due Process: When a Valid Dismissal Still Costs the Employer
A valid dismissal for just cause does not erase the employer's duty to observe procedural due process. The Supreme Court explains the two-notice rule and nominal damages.