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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Accountability Prevails: Illegal Recruitment and the Promise of Overseas Employment
The Supreme Court affirms life imprisonment for illegal recruitment in large scale, protecting OFWs from false promises of overseas employment.
Union Security Clauses and Employee Rights: Lessons from PICOP Resources
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when union security clauses justify dismissal and how employee rights to self-organization are protected.
Loss of Trust and Confidence: Employers' Burden of Proof in Termination Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on loss of trust and confidence as a valid ground for employee dismissal, and the employer's burden of proof.
Probable Cause vs Prosecutorial Discretion: The Perjury Case of Verzano v. Paro
A prosecutor cannot presume probable cause simply because a respondent fails to file a counter-affidavit. The Supreme Court explains why.
When "NANNY" Infringes "NAN": The Dominancy Test in Philippine Trademark Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a similar-sounding mark like NANNY infringes a registered trademark like NAN, applying the dominancy test.
Upholding Torrens Title Registered Owners Rights VS Claims OF Prior Possession
Security of Tenure Prevails: Tenant Rights in Agricultural Land Reform
Supreme Court affirms tenant security of tenure under agrarian reform, voiding landowner's attempt to dispossess farmer-beneficiaries of their landholding.
Preliminary Injunctions in Foreclosure: Clear Legal Right Required
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when courts may issue preliminary injunctions to stop extrajudicial foreclosure sales.
Drug Testing in Employment: Employer's Duty to Prove Accreditation for Valid Termination
When can a positive drug test justify dismissal? The Supreme Court clarifies employer obligations under R.A. 9165.
Probable Cause and Prosecutor's Review: Lessons from Verzano v. Paro
The Supreme Court clarifies when a prosecutor's finding of probable cause amounts to grave abuse of discretion, and how courts review such resolutions.
Reconveyance vs Quieting of Title: When Co-Owner Claims Do Not Prescribe
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when an action for reconveyance is imprescriptible, treating it as a suit to quiet title when the claimant remains in possession.
Sales Invoice Suffices for VAT Refund Claims: Disparity Between Goods and Services Eliminated
Supreme Court rules sales invoices can substantiate VAT refund claims for zero-rated services, not just official receipts.
Employer Liability in Criminal Cases: When Civil Liability Is Only Subsidiary
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers are subsidiarily liable for employee crimes, distinguishing quasi-delict from criminal civil liability.
Acquisitive Prescription: Good Faith and Just Title in Land Ownership Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that a compromise agreement and a sale made during litigation cannot establish the good faith and just title needed for ordinary acquisitive prescription.
Employer Liability in Criminal Negligence Cases: When Subsidiary, Not Solidary, Liability Applies
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers face subsidiary versus solidary liability for employee crimes like reckless imprudence.
Defining Rank-and-File Union Membership Eligibility in the Philippines
A 2010 Supreme Court ruling clarifies when employees are confidential and excluded from rank-and-file bargaining units, and what constitutes unfair labor practice.
Rape Conviction Upheld: The Weight of a Child’s Testimony in Abuse by a Stepfather
The Supreme Court affirms a stepfather’s qualified rape conviction, explaining why a child’s consistent testimony outweighs minor inconsistencies and alibi.
Moral Ascendancy vs Consent: Understanding Rape and Acts of Lasciviousness in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies rape, attempted rape, and acts of lasciviousness under Philippine law, including the role of moral ascendancy and intimidation.
Upholding Judicial Discretion THE Courts Power TO Review Probable Cause Despite DOJ Findings
Redemption Rights in Tax Sales: When the One-Year Period Starts in Quezon City
The Supreme Court clarifies when the one-year redemption period starts for tax-delinquent properties sold at auction in Quezon City.
Good Faith Construction: Defining Landowner and Builder Rights in Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies rights of good faith builders and landowners under Civil Code Articles 448, 546, and 548.
Unreasonable Delay in Resolving Ejectment Cases: A Judge's Administrative Liability
Supreme Court holds judge liable for undue delay in ejectment case, emphasizing summary proceedings demand speedy resolution.
Abuse of Authority in Philippine Administrative Law: The Bien v. Bo Case
When do public officials cross the line into abuse of authority? The Supreme Court's ruling in Bien v. Bo provides clear guidance on official capacity and private benefit.
Corporate Rehabilitation Dismissed for Rule Violations and Creditor Opposition
Supreme Court affirms dismissal of corporate rehabilitation petition where debtor violated procedural rules and faced substantial creditor opposition.