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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Contractor and Subcontractor Liability for Negligence in Cargo Handling
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on liability of contractors and subcontractors for negligence of employees in cargo delivery operations.
Federation Employee Eligibility Navigating Union Governance AND Election Rules
Supreme Court ruling on federation employees running for union office, election jurisdiction, and the binding force of constitutions.
Citizenship Rights Protecting Filipino Identity Despite Procedural Lapses
A Supreme Court ruling on how procedural lapses in electing Philippine citizenship should not erase a person's Filipino identity and rights.
Liability for Negligence: Contractual vs Extra-Contractual Obligations in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when negligence gives rise to contractual liability versus quasi-delict, using a damaged cargo case as example.
Freight Forwarder Liability and the $500 Package Limitation Rule in Shipping Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a freight forwarder becomes a common carrier and the COGSA package limitation rule.
Double Jeopardy and Grave Abuse of Discretion in Securities Case Dismissals
The Supreme Court explains when a demurrer-based acquittal bars appeal and what grave abuse of discretion means.
Upholding Guilt IN Illegal Recruitment THE Importance OF Admission AND Witness Testimony
Probable Cause and Judicial Discretion: Safeguarding Rights in Criminal Arrests
The Supreme Court clarifies a judge's duty in determining probable cause for warrants of arrest and limits on enjoining criminal prosecutions.
Buy-Bust Operations and the Chain of Custody: Ensuring Integrity in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that minor lapses in Section 21 custody procedures do not automatically invalidate drug seizures if evidentiary integrity is preserved.
Beyond Labels: Substance Over Form in Appellate Procedure and Drug Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on buy-bust operations shows how courts prioritize substance over form in procedural compliance and evidence.
Upholding Compromise Agreements: When Can a Party Avoid Their Obligations
The Supreme Court clarifies when compromise agreements bind parties, and when courts may reduce unconscionable interest rates.
Breach of Trust: When Banks Overstep Their Authority Over Depositor Accounts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on bank liability for unauthorized deductions from depositor accounts and the fiduciary duty of banks.
Procedural Due Process in Termination: When Post-Complaint Actions Uphold Dismissal Legality
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that notices sent after an illegal dismissal complaint may still satisfy procedural due process if not a mere afterthought.
Dismissal for Forum Shopping: Preventing Redundant Lawsuits
Forum shopping rules apply only to judicial cases, not administrative complaints, as the Supreme Court clarifies in Ombudsman v. Rodriguez.
Reorganization and Demotion: Protecting Employee Rights in Government Restructuring
Learn when a government reorganization results in illegal demotion and how the Supreme Court protects employee rights in restructuring.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Evidence Integrity Matters
The Supreme Court explains what prosecutors must prove to establish an unbroken chain of custody in drug cases under RA 9165.
Judicial Impartiality When Haste Undermines Justice in the Philippines
A look at the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Padua on drug buy-bust operations, chain of custody, and the limits of judicial haste.
Upholding Judicial Impartiality: Bias and Abuse of Authority in Philippine Courts
A judge's manifest bias and abuse of authority draw administrative sanctions, even after dismissal from the bench.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Integrity of Evidence Is Key
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains why the chain of custody of seized drugs matters and when minor lapses will not acquit an accused.
Finality of Dismissal: Understanding Res Judicata in Employment Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling explains when a dismissal becomes final and how res judicata bars relitigation of settled employment disputes.
Dishonesty at Work: Employees’ Duty and Employers’ Right to Terminate
When can an employer validly dismiss an employee for dishonesty? The Supreme Court explains in Maribago Bluewater v. Dual.
Navigating Government Procurement: The Imperative of Protest Compliance in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on LRA v. Lanting Security clarifies mandatory protest rules under R.A. 9184 before courts can act.
Unfulfilled Promises Foreclosure Rights AND THE Persistence of Original Obligations IN Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling explains when a new promise to pay does not extinguish an original loan and mortgage obligation.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Is a Corporation Liable for Ill-Gotten Wealth?
A look at when corporations can be held liable for ill-gotten wealth, and why the Supreme Court dismissed cases against corporate fronts in Republic v. Sandiganbayan.