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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
BUY Bust Operations Legality AND Proof IN Drug Sale Convictions
Proving Illegal Dismissal: The Employee's Burden to Establish Termination
Employees must first prove they were dismissed before employers must justify termination. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Agency and Authority: Why a Written Mandate Is Paramount in Real Estate Sales
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why an agent's authority to sell land must be in writing, or the sale is void.
Publication Requirements in Extrajudicial Foreclosure: Protecting Mortgagors' Due Process
Philippine Savings Bank v. Geronimo clarifies that strict compliance with publication requirements is essential for a valid extrajudicial foreclosure.
Challenging Notarized Documents in Philippine Property Co-Ownership Disputes
When can a notarized affidavit be challenged in a Philippine property dispute? The Supreme Court explains the limits of notarization.
Abandonment Defense in Illegal Dismissal Cases Requires Proof and Notice
Employers claiming abandonment as a defense to illegal dismissal must prove it with clear evidence and serve two required notices.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Preserving Evidence Integrity for a Fair Trial
How the Supreme Court in Balarbar v. People clarified that minor gaps in drug evidence handling do not automatically void a conviction.
Substantial Justice Over Strict Procedure in Agrarian Appeals: DARAB Rules Liberally Construed
SC rules DARAB notices of appeal should be liberally construed; technical defects must not defeat substantial justice in agrarian cases.
Possession Follows Ownership Clearing Improvements After Land Reconveyance
When a court orders reconveyance of land, does possession automatically follow? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on removing improvements.
Fixed-Term Contracts vs Probationary Employment: Protecting Teachers' Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when fixed-term teaching contracts must yield to probationary employment rules under Philippine law.
Probationary Employment vs Fixed-Term Contracts: What Schools Must Prove to Avoid Illegal Dismissal Claims
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how probationary employment rules apply to teachers on fixed-term contracts, and what employers must prove.
Workplace Misconduct: Defining the Boundaries of Just Cause for Dismissal in the Philippines
When does a fistfight outside work justify dismissal? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of just cause under Philippine labor law.
Forcible Entry Jurisdiction: When Stealth Extends the One-Year Filing Period
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on forcible entry jurisdiction, stealth dispossession, and the one-year filing period in Nuñez v. SLTEAS Phoenix Solutions.
Kidnapping for Ransom Conviction Affirmed: The Limits of Alibi and Denial of Conspiracy
Supreme Court affirms kidnapping-for-ransom convictions, explaining why alibi fails against positive identification and how conspiracy is inferred from concerted acts.
Upholding Possession Jurisdiction in Forcible Entry Cases and the Significance of Juridical Acts
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on forcible entry jurisdiction, possession through juridical acts, and the one-year prescriptive period.
Beyond Morality: LGBT Rights and Party-List Accreditation in the Philippines
The Supreme Court ruled that moral disapproval alone cannot bar LGBT groups from party-list accreditation, affirming equal protection and secular governance.
Appeals From the NWRB: Clarifying Jurisdiction Between the RTC and Court of Appeals
The Supreme Court clarifies that appeals from National Water Resources Board decisions go to the Court of Appeals, not the RTC.
Election Integrity: The Balance Between Ballot Preservation and Voter Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on COMELEC execution pending appeal, ballot appreciation, and the delicate balance between election integrity and voter rights.
Grave Misconduct Dismissal for Tampering With Court Records
Clerk of court dismissed for grave misconduct after altered exhibits and a missing transcript compromised the integrity of court records.
Foreclosure Redemption Rights Under the Rural Banks Act and Property Law
The Supreme Court clarifies redemption periods for rural bank foreclosures under RA 720, emphasizing borrower disclosure duties and laches.
Execution Pending Appeal Safeguarding Electoral Mandates AND Preventing Abuse OF Discretion
Authority to Sue Corporations Must Prove Representation in Court
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that corporate plaintiffs must prove their representative's authority to sue, or risk dismissal of their case.