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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Voluntary vs. Involuntary Dealings: How to Register Property Agreements in the Philippines
Learn the difference between voluntary and involuntary dealings under Philippine property law, and why registering a conditional sale as an adverse claim can be a costly mistake.
Conditional Sales vs. Adverse Claims: Protecting Property Interests in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court in Logarta v. Mangahis distinguishes conditional sales from adverse claims, and the proper registration rules under PD 1529.
Beyond the Road: Field Personnel Status and Overtime Rights for Bus Employees in the Philippines
Supreme Court ruling clarifies that bus drivers and conductors are not field personnel, entitling them to overtime and service incentive leave pay.
Protecting THE Vulnerable Upholding Justice FOR Child Rape Victims IN THE Philippines 2
Indefinite Preventive Suspension Is Constructive Dismissal: Employee Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court rules that an indefinite preventive suspension beyond 30 days amounts to constructive dismissal, entitling the employee to backwages and separation pay.
Depositions Abroad: Balancing Convenience and Due Process in Philippine Civil Suits
The Supreme Court clarifies when a foreign plaintiff residing abroad may take deposition outside the Philippines for direct testimony in a Philippine civil case.
Voluntary Resignation vs Illegal Dismissal: What Corporate Restructuring Means for Employee Rights
When is a resignation truly voluntary? The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction in Malixi v. Mexicali Philippines.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Ensuring Justice for Victims of Violent Crimes in the Philippines
When an accused dies pending appeal, criminal liability ends—but civil liability may survive. Learn the rules from a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Valid Notice in Corporate Meetings: Mailing vs Receipt in the Philippines
Learn when termination notices are valid in the Philippines—mailing vs receipt, and the 30-day rule under the Labor Code.
Voluntary vs Involuntary Retirement: Protecting Employee Rights in the Philippines
When does retirement become illegal dismissal? The Supreme Court clarifies the thin line between voluntary and involuntary retirement in Robina Farms v. Villa.
Forged Deeds and Imprescriptible Rights: Protecting Land Ownership in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on forged deeds, land ownership protection, and the limits of prescription in property disputes.
When a Reinstated Life Insurance Policy Becomes Incontestable in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when the two-year contestability period runs after a life insurance policy is reinstated.
Demotion Disguised: Constructive Dismissal and Employee Rights in the Philippines
When a transfer is a demotion in disguise, it amounts to constructive dismissal. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Justice Delayed: Holding Judges Accountable for Delayed Case Resolutions in the Philippines
The Supreme Court fined a Cebu judge P75,000 for gross inefficiency after failing to decide 99 cases and resolve 91 incidents within the mandatory 90-day period.
Demolition and Due Process: Balancing Property Rights and Public Projects in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when demolitions may proceed without a court order under RA 7279, using the BCDA JUSMAG case.
Judicial Accountability When Delay Undermines Justice in the Philippines
The Supreme Court holds judges accountable for undue delay, clarifying the line between judicial discretion and administrative liability.
Corporate Rehabilitation Appeals: Choosing the Right Remedy Under Philippine Rules
Learn the correct mode of appeal for corporate rehabilitation cases in the Philippines, as clarified by the Supreme Court in Golden Cane v. Steelpro.
Duty to Notify Insurance Beneficiary Rights and Agent Responsibilities in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on insurance beneficiary notification duties, agent responsibilities, and claim deadlines after the insured's death.
Chattel Mortgage Foreclosure: Lender's Duty After Repossession in the Philippines
Learn the lender's obligations after chattel mortgage foreclosure and repossession in the Philippines, including redemption rights and borrower protections.
Refugee Status Determination in the Philippines: The "Reasonable Degree" Standard
The Supreme Court clarifies the shared burden of proof and the "reasonable degree" threshold for refugee status determination in the Philippines.
Land Conveyance and Public Land Act Alienation Restrictions: A Guide to Reconveyance
Learn how the Public Land Act's five-year ban on selling free patent land affects property sales and reconveyance actions in the Philippines.
Proving Receipt of Tax Assessment Notices: CIR v. GJM Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that the BIR must prove a taxpayer actually received a tax assessment notice, or the assessment may be void.
The Limits of Psychological Incapacity: Upholding Marital Inviolability in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code requires grave, antecedent, and incurable conditions—not mere marital unhappiness.
Annulment of Judgment in the Philippines: Grounds, Strict Rules, and the CA Petition Defects
Learn the strict grounds for annulment of judgment under Rule 47 and why the Supreme Court upheld dismissal of a defective petition.