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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Rule 42 Dismissal: How Defective Verification and Annexes Can Kill an Appeal
A Supreme Court ruling on Rule 42 petitions shows how verification defects and missing certified copies can doom an appeal before the Court of Appeals.
Accrual Accounting and the All-Events Test: Deducting Business Expenses in Philippine Tax Law
When can a business deduct expenses under accrual accounting? The Supreme Court explains the all-events test in this Philippine tax case.
Breach of Trust When Employee Misconduct Justifies Termination in the Philippines
When does employee misconduct justify termination? The Supreme Court explains breach of trust, fraud, and due process in Panuncillo v. CAP Philippines.
Final Say on Ballots: Understanding COMELEC's Role in Philippine Election Protests
The Supreme Court affirms COMELEC's authority over ballot appreciation in election protests, explaining why courts defer to its factual findings.
Livestock Farms and Agrarian Reform: Understanding CARP Exemption in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled that livestock farms are exempt from CARP coverage, citing key cases and the limits of DAR's regulatory power.
Fixed-Term Employment in the Philippines: When Contracts Don't Guarantee Fixed Terms
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when fixed-term employment contracts are invalid for circumventing security of tenure.
Invalid Summons in Foreclosure: Protecting Due Process Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court rules on invalid summons in foreclosure, due process, and why quasi in rem actions still require proper service.
Why Filing Securities Complaints with the Right Agency Matters: Baviera v. Standard Chartered Bank
A Supreme Court ruling on why securities fraud complaints must start with the SEC, and when courts can question a prosecutor's dismissal.
Treachery and Eyewitness Testimony: Key Elements in Philippine Murder Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, explaining how treachery is established and why positive eyewitness identification defeats the defense of alibi.
Urban vs Agricultural Pesticides: Understanding FPA Jurisdiction in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority regulates only agricultural pesticides, not urban pest control products.
Suing Your Security Agency After a Robbery: The Post-Robbery Agreement Rule
When can a bank sue its security agency after a robbery? The Supreme Court explains post-robbery agreements and insurance claims.
Is 24% Interest Legal in the Philippines? Bacolor v. Banco Filipino Explained
The Supreme Court in Bacolor v. Banco Filipino ruled that a 24% annual interest rate agreed upon in writing is not usurious or unconscionable.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Employee Rights Under the Boundary System
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on jeepney drivers under the boundary system, illegal dismissal, and employee rights to reinstatement and backwages.
Zoning Regulations vs Contractual Obligations: Balancing Public Welfare and Private Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on zoning ordinances, police power, and the non-impairment of contracts clause.
Just Compensation in Agrarian Reform: Land Valuation and Timely Payment
The Supreme Court rules on how agrarian reform lands should be valued and why delayed payment violates the constitutional right to just compensation.
Affidavits of Desistance: When Can Employees Reclaim Their Rights?
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when affidavits of desistance or quitclaims in labor cases are invalid and employees can pursue their claims.
Divorce Abroad and Remarriage in the Philippines: Legal Standing in Bigamy Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who may challenge a bigamous marriage when a foreign divorce is involved, and what evidence is required.
Self-Defense or Murder? Understanding Justifiable Homicide in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when self-defense is valid and why a killing without treachery is homicide, not murder.
Prescription Periods in Labor Disputes: Why Filing on Time and in the Right Court Matters
A Supreme Court ruling on prescription of money claims in labor cases, and why filing in the wrong court can be fatal.
Petition for Relief in the Court of Appeals: When Can You Revive a Dismissed Appeal
Philippine Supreme Court explains why the RTC cannot annul a DARAB decision and when the CA can take jurisdiction over a dismissed appeal.
Indirect Contempt in the Philippines: Why Proper Procedure Matters in Wage Orders
A look at how the Supreme Court ruled on procedural lapses and the validity of Wage Order No. R02-03 in Metrobank v. NWPC.
Loan Foreclosure in the Philippines: Why Written Contracts Matter
A Supreme Court ruling shows why written loan terms govern foreclosure. Learn key lessons from Baluyut v. Poblete.
Donation Inter Vivos in the Philippines: Proving Forgery and Document Authenticity
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how to prove forgery of a deed of donation, including the weight of expert testimony and circumstantial evidence.
Who Can Question a Bigamous Marriage? Lessons from Amor-Catalan v. Catalan
A Philippine Supreme Court case clarifies who has legal personality to question a bigamous marriage and the need to prove foreign divorce decrees.