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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Public Hearing Imperative Invalidating Ordinances Without Community Input
A municipal ordinance imposing goodwill fees without a valid prior public hearing is void, the Supreme Court rules.
Article 448 and Final Judgments: Clarifying an Incomplete Fallo in Property Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling on when courts may complete an ambiguous dispositive portion even after finality, applying Article 448.
Witness Credibility AND Treachery IN Murder Examining Circumstantial Inconsistencies
Forcible Entry: Prior Possession Matters More Than Land Ownership
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that in forcible entry cases, prior physical possession—not ownership—determines who stays on the property.
Navigating Improvements on Another's Land: Understanding Builders' Rights in Philippine Property Disputes
Learn how Philippine courts handle improvements built on another's land, including the landowner's options under Article 448 of the Civil Code.
Syndicated Illegal Recruitment and Estafa: When a Travel Agency Owner Is Liable for Overseas Employment Scams
A travel agency owner's conviction for syndicated illegal recruitment and estafa affirmed by the Supreme Court in People v. Adeser.
Illegal Recruitment and Estafa: When Overseas Job Promises Turn Into Crimes
Learn how Philippine courts punish syndicated illegal recruitment and estafa, based on a Supreme Court ruling on fake overseas job schemes.
Upholding Judicial Authority: Dismissal for Sheriff's Misconduct and Disobedience
A sheriff who levied on property not owned by the judgment debtor and defied court orders was dismissed from service for grave misconduct and insubordination.
Ethical Boundaries FOR Lawyers Avoiding Misleading Claims AND Upholding Court Dignity
Litis Pendentia: When the First-Filed Case Must Yield to a More Appropriate Action
The Supreme Court explains when a first-filed case may be dismissed for litis pendentia in favor of a more appropriate later action.
Banking Law: Directors Borrowing and the Necessity of Board Approval
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when bank directors and officers may borrow from their own bank and why board approval is mandatory.
Republication of Foreclosure Sale Notices: Protecting Third-Party Rights
When a foreclosure sale is postponed, the notice must be republished and reposted. The Supreme Court explains why in Metrobank v. Nikko Sources.
Arbitration Prevails: Upholding Agreements Amid Contractual Disputes
The Supreme Court affirms that arbitration clauses survive main contract disputes, reinforcing the doctrine of separability in Philippine law.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: Proving Unlawful Aggression for Justification
Learn how Philippine courts test self-defense claims, focusing on the indispensable element of unlawful aggression, from People v. Aburque.
Dacion en Pago Perfecting Ownership Despite Prior Encumbrances
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on dacion en pago, mortgage liens, and the right to compel surrender of a certificate of title.
Just Compensation Under RA 6657: What Landowners Should Know About Agrarian Reform Valuation
Supreme Court clarifies when RA 6657 governs agrarian reform land valuation instead of PD 27 and EO 228, and how just compensation is determined.
Illegal Dismissal The Employers Burden OF Proof AND Ratification OF Unauthorized Actions
The Supreme Court clarifies the employer's burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases and the doctrine of ratification of unauthorized acts.
SK Candidates and Political Dynasties: What the Calubag Ruling Means
The Supreme Court affirms cancellation of an SK chairperson's COC for misrepresentation under the anti-dynasty rule.
Mortgage Rights Prevail: Protecting Secured Creditors in Labor Disputes
Supreme Court ruling on secured creditors' mortgage rights versus labor judgment execution, and the limits of piercing the corporate veil.
Search Warrants Beyond Territorial Limits: Executive Judge Authority in Drug Cases
When can a Manila judge issue a search warrant for a house in Pampanga? The Supreme Court explains executive judge authority in drug cases.
Residency Requirements for Philippine Elections: Establishing Domicile for Candidacy
Philippine election law equates residency with domicile. Learn the three rules and what it takes to change domicile for candidacy.
When Property Titles Arent Always What They Seem Understanding Encumbrances AND Conditional Sales
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a reconveyance claim prescribes, distinguishing fraud from intimidation, and the importance of due process in property disputes.
Protecting Marital Property: The Necessity of Spousal Consent in Property Sales
Learn how the Supreme Court protects conjugal property from unauthorized sales by one spouse, and why buyers must verify spousal consent.