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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Constructive Dismissal vs. Just Cause Termination: Key Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies that constructive dismissal and just cause termination are incompatible, reinforcing due process and security of tenure.
Treachery in Robbery with Homicide: The Supreme Court’s Ruling in People v. Juada
The Supreme Court clarifies when treachery aggravates robbery with homicide and affirms conviction based on circumstantial evidence in People v. Juada.
Dacion en Pago: How to Properly Extinguish Loan Obligations in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains how dacion en pago works, when loan obligations are extinguished, and the pitfalls lenders must avoid.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Construction Firms Are Liable for Labor Violations
Supreme Court holds construction firms solidarily liable for worker's retirement pay, backwages, and damages after piercing the corporate veil.
Forum Shopping Dismissal of Property Case Due to Pending Nullity Proceedings
Filing a separate property case while a nullity of marriage case is pending constitutes forum shopping, explains the Supreme Court in Tanyag v. Tanyag.
Upholding Agrarian Reform When Final Judgments Yield to Supervening Social Justice
When a final ejectment judgment clashes with agrarian reform awards, the Supreme Court clarifies when execution may yield to supervening events.
Balancing Justice AND Procedure When Substantial Rights Prevail Over Technical Delays
The Supreme Court rules that technical procedural lapses should not defeat substantive rights in illegal dismissal cases, clarifying redundancy requirements.
Upholding Agrarian Reform: Supervening CLOA Justifies Deviation from Immutability of Judgment
When a final judgment becomes inequitable due to a supervening event like a CLOA issuance, courts may relax the doctrine of immutability of judgment.
Loan Agreements and Dacion en Pago: Key Insights from a Landmark Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when a loan settlement agreement becomes a dacion en pago and what it means for borrowers and banks.
Whistleblower Testimony Upholding Administrative Findings in Philippine Corruption Cases
Supreme Court rules a credible whistleblower's lone testimony can support administrative liability in corruption cases against public officers.
Overcoming Inheritance Disputes: How Courts Decide Property Sales Among Heirs
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a sale of inherited property among heirs may be voided and the land partitioned equally.
Immutability of Judgments When Finality Prevails Over Claims of Minority in Criminal Cases
When does a final judgment yield to supervening events? The Supreme Court clarifies the exceptions to immutability of judgment.
Deception and Exploitation: Defining Human Trafficking in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms a trafficking conviction, clarifying how fraud, deception, and vulnerability define the crime under RA 9208.
Forum Shopping in Nullity Cases: One Action for Property Settlement
Filing a separate property case while a nullity case is pending constitutes forum shopping. The Supreme Court explains why.
Financial Support and VAWC Intent: When Denial of Support Is a Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies that mere failure to provide financial support is not enough for conviction under RA 9262; willful intent matters.
Understanding the Legal Boundaries of Employee Incentives in Government Agencies: Insights from Recent Supreme
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that government agencies, including GOCCs like PhilHealth, must secure presidential approval before granting employee allowances and benefits.
Upholding Academic Freedom: Supreme Court Limits State Control Over Law School Admissions
The Supreme Court strikes down the PhiLSAT requirement as an unconstitutional intrusion on law schools' academic freedom to admit students.
Term Limits and Reelection: What the Constitution Actually Allows
The Supreme Court clarifies that term limits bar only consecutive terms, not reelection after a break.
When Can a Mother Challenge Child Legitimacy in the Philippines? The Ordoña Ruling
A mother cannot collaterally attack her child's legitimacy under Philippine law. The Supreme Court's Ordoña ruling explains why.
Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: When Facebook Posts Become Crimes
The Supreme Court clarifies when social media posts constitute psychological abuse under RA 9262 and how the Cybercrime Prevention Act raises the penalty.
Supreme Court: Online Posts Can Prove Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262
Social media posts can establish psychological abuse under RA 9262, and using Facebook raises the penalty under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Navigating Unconscionable Interest Rates in Loan Agreements: A Guide for Borrowers
The Supreme Court affirms that courts may reduce unconscionable interest rates that violate the mutuality of contracts principle.
Self-Defense and Intent to Kill: Understanding the Nuances in Philippine Law
When does self-defense apply in Philippine criminal law? The Supreme Court explains the fine line between justified killing and criminal liability.
When a Checklist is Not Enough: Supreme Court Reinstates PNP Officer in "Chopper Scam" Case
Supreme Court clarifies that administrative liability requires proof of intent, not mere involvement in a flawed procurement process.