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.
Upholding Due Process: Employees' Right to Notice in Termination Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that resignation does not shield court employees from administrative liability for dishonesty and grave misconduct.
Surety vs Guarantor: Understanding Liability in Loan Agreements Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the key difference between a surety and a guarantor, and why a surety cannot invoke defenses meant for the principal debtor.
Strikes and Union Officer Liability: Navigating Labor Law Compliance in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court treats illegal strikes, union officer liability, and procedural rules in labor disputes.
B.P. 22 Liability: Severing Accommodation Deals Does Not Erase Knowledge of Insufficient Funds
Signing blank checks for an accommodation arrangement can create B.P. 22 liability even after severing ties. Learn the rules from Benjamin Lee v. CA.
Liability for Damages: Balancing Official Duty and Personal Bad Faith
A public officer's official acts can still trigger personal liability for damages when done in bad faith, as this Philippine Supreme Court case shows.
Minors and Criminal Liability: The Importance of Discernment in Philippine Law
Philippine law on minors and criminal liability hinges on discernment. Learn how the courts assess a child's capacity to distinguish right from wrong.
Breach of Trust When Personal Loans by Court Personnel Undermine Judicial Integrity
Court stenographer suspended for borrowing from a litigant with a pending case—why withdrawal of the complaint did not erase liability.
Union Busting Unveiled: Illegal Business Closure and Employee Rights
When can a business closure be illegal union busting? The Supreme Court explains employer liability and worker rights.
Reliance on Subordinates as Good Faith Defense Against Gross Neglect of Duty Charges
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when public officials may rely on subordinates' recommendations without incurring gross neglect liability.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Corporate Officers Face Personal Liability in Estafa Cases
When can a corporate officer be personally liable for estafa? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of corporate personality and criminal liability.
THE Ship Agents Liability Clarifying Responsibilities FOR Cargo Loss
Squatting Decriminalized: The Extinction of Civil Liability Following the Repeal of Anti-Squatting Law
The Supreme Court acquits a man charged under the Revised Forestry Code, clarifying that even mala prohibita offenses require proof of intent.
Victory Liner Liability: Breach of Contract of Carriage and Passenger Safety
Supreme Court ruling on common carrier liability for passenger death, negligence of counsel, and damages in breach of contract of carriage.
PPA Withdrawal of Tax Exemption and Liability for Real Property Taxes
Supreme Court ruling on PPA's liability for real property taxes after withdrawal of tax exemptions under PD 1931 and the Local Government Code.
Accountability on the Road: Determining Guilt in Group Violence
A look at how Philippine courts assign criminal liability when violence breaks out in a group, and what the law requires for a conviction.
Loan Agreements and Legal Interest: Written Requirements and Civil Liability After Acquittal
Explaining Eusebio-Calderon v. People: why oral interest agreements are void, when acquittal still leaves civil liability, and the legal interest rules.
Procedural Technicalities vs Substantial Justice: Court Rules in Demolition Cases
How a judge's failure to meet the 90-day decision period in demolition cases led to administrative liability and a fine.
Breach of Good Faith: Bank Liability in Check Disputes Under Article 19
When can a bank be liable for refusing to pay checks? The Supreme Court explains the abuse of rights principle under Article 19.
The Limits of Judicial Relief: Why a Court Can't Grant What You Didn't Ask For
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on administrative liability of judges who fail to decide cases within the 90-day reglementary period.
Judicial Responsibility and Mitigating Circumstances in Delayed Case Transmittal
Explains when heavy caseload and isolated oversight can mitigate a judge's liability for delayed transmittal of appeal records.
Upholding Public Trust: Negligence in Disbursement of Funds Despite Restitution
A Supreme Court cashier's restitution did not erase his administrative liability for simple neglect of duty in releasing funds without proper identification.
Neglect of Duty Requires Substantial Evidence: Protecting Public Servants From Unsubstantiated Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies that administrative liability for neglect of duty demands substantial evidence, not mere allegations or speculation.
Simple Neglect of Duty: When Withdrawal of an Administrative Complaint Does Not End Liability
The Supreme Court clarifies that withdrawal of an administrative complaint does not erase liability for simple neglect of duty by public officers.
Bouncing Checks Law: When Fear and Necessity Do Not Excuse Issuing Bad Checks
The Supreme Court clarifies when uncontrollable fear and state of necessity cannot excuse liability under the Bouncing Checks Law.