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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Redundancy in Labor Law Justifying Employee Termination During Business Restructuring
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when business restructuring justifies termination and how regular employment status is determined under the four-fold test.
Reasonable Attorneys Fees Protecting Clients From Unconscionable Contingency Agreements
Substituted Service in Labor Cases: Balancing Due Process and Efficient Resolution
The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on substituted service in labor cases, balancing due process rights with the need for efficient resolution.
Ombudsman's Discretion in Establishing Undue Injury in Anti-Graft Cases
Supreme Court explains when delay in resolving a complaint constitutes
Forged Deeds and Buyer Beware: Protecting Land Titles in the Philippines
A disbarment case reveals how forged deeds and unpaid balances can put Philippine land titles at risk, and why buyers must verify.
Lawyer Suspended for Neglecting Client and Failing to Report Case Developments
Attorney suspended three months for mishandling a client's defense, failing to report developments, and neglecting to appeal an adverse decision.
Documentary Stamp Tax: Passbooks for High-Interest Savings Accounts Are Taxable
The Supreme Court ruled that passbook-evidenced high-interest savings accounts are taxable certificates of deposit under the documentary stamp tax law.
Rape and Moral Ascendancy: When the Sweetheart Defense Fails
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape, moral ascendancy of a live-in partner, and the limits of the sweetheart defense.
Courts Must Ensure Proper Appeal Venue in Malversation Cases
Supreme Court rules trial courts must forward appeals to the correct forum, protecting accused persons' right to liberty in malversation cases.
Attorney-Client Privilege: Examining the Boundaries of Confidentiality and Professional Duty
A disbarment case clarifies when attorney-client privilege exists and why courts defer to pending civil cases.
Mortgagee's Duty to Verify Buyers Under PD 957: DBP v. Capulong
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that banks financing real estate projects must verify subdivision lot buyers before foreclosing mortgaged properties under PD 957.
Real Property Tax: Who Is the Actual User in a BOT Agreement?
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on real property tax exemption under a Build-Operate-Transfer agreement and who qualifies as actual user.
Default Judgments and Due Process: The Imperative of Procedural Compliance in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on finality of judgments, procedural compliance, and the limits of post-judgment remedies in civil cases.
Burden OF Proof IN Illegal Dismissal Cases Employers Responsibility TO Substantiate Just Cause
Breaking the Chain: How Involuntary Interruptions Allow a Fourth Term Despite Term Limits
The Supreme Court explains when an involuntary break in service resets the three-term limit for local officials under Philippine law.
Forged Deeds and Good Faith Purchasers: Protecting Land Ownership in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a forged deed can still produce a valid title—and when buyers lose the protection of the Torrens system.
Drug Sale Conviction Upheld: Minor Inconsistencies Do Not Undermine Police Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms drug sale and possession convictions, ruling that minor inconsistencies in police testimony do not impair credibility.
Constructive Dismissal Defining Workplace Harassment AND Employer Rights
Learn when workplace harassment becomes constructive dismissal and how employers can defend termination decisions under Philippine law.
Who May File Libel Cases: City Prosecutor vs Provincial Prosecutor
Supreme Court rules on which prosecutor has authority to file libel Informations, and why a wrong prosecutor's filing is a fatal jurisdictional defect.
Due Process Rights of Public Officials When Administrative Charges Fail
A public official cannot be held liable for a vague charge never pleaded, nor for a document whose authenticity remains unresolved.
Attorney-Client Relationship and Disbarment: When Personal Transactions Do Not Trigger Professional Liability
Supreme Court clarifies that free legal advice incidental to personal dealings does not establish attorney-client relationship for disbarment purposes.
Judicial Accountability: Death Does Not Erase Negligence in Office
The Supreme Court clarifies that a judge's death does not automatically erase findings of negligence, though it may affect the penalty imposed.
When Acquittal Extinguishes Civil Liability: Understanding Reckless Imprudence Cases
Learn how acquittal in reckless imprudence cases affects civil liability, based on Philippine Supreme Court rulings and key legal principles.
Standing to Sue for Reversion of Public Lands: The Real Party in Interest Rule
Who may sue to cancel titles over foreshore land? The Supreme Court clarifies that only the State, through the Solicitor General, may bring reversion actions.