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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Conditional Sales vs Contracts to Sell: Clarifying Property Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a "conditional sale" is actually a contract to sell, and why full payment matters for ownership transfer.
When Can the Ombudsman Intervene in Appeals of Its Decisions
The Supreme Court clarifies the Ombudsman's right to intervene in appeals of its administrative decisions and the effect of appeals on execution.
Notarizing Without a Commission: When a Lawyer’s Mistake Becomes Malpractice
The Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for notarizing documents after his commission expired, ruling that ignorance or reliance on staff is no excuse.
Judicial Ethics and the Price of Impropriety: Lessons from the Court of Appeals Controversy
The Supreme Court's ruling on the CA justices' conduct in the Meralco-GSIS case underscores the strict standards of judicial ethics and propriety.
Reconstitution of Title: Tax Declarations and Survey Plans Are Not Enough
Supreme Court rules tax declarations, survey plans, and technical descriptions are insufficient bases for reconstituting a lost or destroyed certificate of title.
Contractual Obligations: Signing an Agreement Means Being Bound by Its Terms
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why signing a contract binds parties even when they claim misunderstanding or lack of consideration.
Annulment of Judgment: Why Only Real Parties-in-Interest Can Challenge Reconstituted Titles
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on who may file annulment of judgment in land reconstitution cases and the importance of real party-in-interest status.
Executive Privilege vs Senate Inquiries: The Neri Doctrine on Presidential Communications
The Supreme Court upholds presidential communications privilege in Senate inquiries, balancing executive confidentiality against legislative oversight powers.
Perfecting Appeals: The Indispensable Bond in Labor Disputes
Learn why posting a cash or surety bond is a mandatory requirement for perfecting an appeal from the Labor Arbiter to the NLRC.
Unlawful Detainer: Proving a Lease Contract and the Limits of Ownership Claims
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies what a plaintiff must prove in unlawful detainer cases, including the lease contract and better right to possession.
Warrantless Arrest in Marijuana Plantation Raid: People v. Alunday Explained
A look at when police may arrest without a warrant in flagrante delicto, based on People v. Alunday (G.R. No. 181546).
Labor-Only Contracting and Illegal Dismissal: When a Principal Becomes the Employer
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a company becomes the true employer of workers supplied by a contractor, and the consequences of illegal dismissal.
Police USE OF Force Justifying Homicide Claims IN THE Philippines
DAR Authority Over Land Conversion Disputes: Lessons from Polo Coconut
The Supreme Court ruled that local reclassification cannot remove farmland from agrarian reform coverage without DAR conversion approval.
Appeal Bond in Labor Cases: Why Missing the Deadline Is Fatal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why an employer's failure to post an appeal bond within 10 days makes a Labor Arbiter's decision final and executory.
Ejectment Actions Lease Contract Prerequisite For Unlawful Detainer
Learn the lease contract requirement for unlawful detainer suits and why proving the lessor-lessee relationship is crucial in Philippine ejectment cases.
Employee Theft and Just Cause for Termination Under Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court rules on when employee theft against a co-worker justifies dismissal as a cause analogous to serious misconduct.
Reconstitution of Cadastral Records: Publication Requirement for Court Jurisdiction
Learn when publication in the Official Gazette is required to reconstitute cadastral records under Act 3110, and how the Supreme Court resolved this property law dispute.
Breach of Trust and Qualified Theft: When Employee Misconduct Justifies Dismissal
The Supreme Court clarifies when an employee's theft against a co-worker constitutes a valid cause for termination under Philippine labor law.
When Lawyers Cite Cases That Do Not Exist: G.R. No. 276106 and the Duty of Candor
The Supreme Court denied a labor petition and ordered an investigation of counsel who cited eighteen decisions that were nonexistent, misquoted, or ruled against his client.
Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: Proving Facebook Post Authorship and Higher Penalties
The Supreme Court clarifies how to prove Facebook post authorship in VAWC cases and applies higher cybercrime penalties for online psychological abuse.
Writ OF Possession Ministerial Duty Despite Pending Nullity Suit
Wage Order Enforcement: Prescription Rules for Money Claims vs Final Judgments
Learn the difference between the 3-year prescription for money claims and the 5-year period to enforce final judgments in Philippine labor law.
Estranged Spouse Not Entitled to SSS Death Benefits: The Dependency Rule
An estranged wife who left her husband and remarried abroad is not a "dependent spouse" under the SSS law, so she cannot claim his death benefits.