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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Defining Rank-and-File Union Membership Eligibility in the Philippines
A 2010 Supreme Court ruling clarifies when employees are confidential and excluded from rank-and-file bargaining units, and what constitutes unfair labor practice.
Acquisitive Prescription: Good Faith and Just Title in Land Ownership Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that a compromise agreement and a sale made during litigation cannot establish the good faith and just title needed for ordinary acquisitive prescription.
Breach of Trust: When Banks Overstep Their Authority Over Depositor Accounts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on bank liability for unauthorized deductions from depositor accounts and the fiduciary duty of banks.
Beyond Labels: Substance Over Form in Appellate Procedure and Drug Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on buy-bust operations shows how courts prioritize substance over form in procedural compliance and evidence.
Contractor and Subcontractor Liability for Negligence in Cargo Handling
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on liability of contractors and subcontractors for negligence of employees in cargo delivery operations.
Retirement Age Flexibility: Employer Rights and Employee Expectations in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on PNB's compulsory retirement at 60, explaining employer rights and employee expectations under Article 287.
Federation Employee Eligibility Navigating Union Governance AND Election Rules
Supreme Court ruling on federation employees running for union office, election jurisdiction, and the binding force of constitutions.
Citizenship Rights Protecting Filipino Identity Despite Procedural Lapses
A Supreme Court ruling on how procedural lapses in electing Philippine citizenship should not erase a person's Filipino identity and rights.
Freight Forwarder Liability and the $500 Package Limitation Rule in Shipping Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a freight forwarder becomes a common carrier and the COGSA package limitation rule.
Finality of Dismissal: Understanding Res Judicata in Employment Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling explains when a dismissal becomes final and how res judicata bars relitigation of settled employment disputes.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Integrity of Evidence Is Key
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains why the chain of custody of seized drugs matters and when minor lapses will not acquit an accused.
Unfulfilled Promises Foreclosure Rights AND THE Persistence of Original Obligations IN Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling explains when a new promise to pay does not extinguish an original loan and mortgage obligation.
Navigating Government Procurement: The Imperative of Protest Compliance in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on LRA v. Lanting Security clarifies mandatory protest rules under R.A. 9184 before courts can act.
Contract of Legal Services: When a Mayor's Authority Binds a Municipality
Supreme Court ruling on when a municipal mayor's contract binds the LGU, limits of Sangguniang Bayan authorization, and judgment on the pleadings.
Possession Isn't Always Guilt: Theft and the Limits of Presumption in Lozano v. People
A Supreme Court ruling shows why finding stolen goods in someone's hands does not automatically prove theft of everything else reported missing.
Upholding Government Authority When Public Interest Overrides Private Land Claims In Expropriation
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on expropriation, public interest, and limits of private land claims against government authority.
Self-Defense vs Conspiracy: Criminal Liability in Group Violence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when self-defense is available in group violence and how conspiracy affects criminal liability.
Reorganizing Religious Entities: Converting a Corporation Sole into a Corporation Aggregate
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on converting a corporation sole to a corporation aggregate via amended articles, not dissolution.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Mental Retardation and the Assessment of Force and Consent
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a rape charge built on force and intimidation does not require the victim's mental retardation to be alleged in the information.
Authority to Represent: The Limits of Legal Representation for Government-Owned Corporations
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when lawyers may appear for GOCCs, requiring OGCC and COA approval before private counsel can act.
Laches and Land Ownership: Protecting Established Rights Against Delayed Claims
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on accion publiciana, Torrens titles, and laches in land ownership disputes.
Torrens Title vs Unregistered Sale: Who Has Better Right to Possess Land in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains why a Torrens title prevails over an unregistered deed of sale in disputes over land possession.
Mortgage Validity, Good Faith, and Due Diligence in Property Transactions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on mortgage validity, good faith, and the due diligence required of banks before accepting property as collateral.
Lis Pendens Cancellation: Which Court Has Jurisdiction Over Property Disputes
Learn which court can cancel a notice of lis pendens in Philippine property disputes, based on a 2010 Supreme Court ruling.