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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Unlocking Barangay Funds Why Mandamus Fails AND THE Crucial Role OF Indispensable Parties
Learn why mandamus to unlock barangay funds fails without indispensable parties, and the procedural rules that govern such cases.
Personal Liability of Public Officials: Good Faith as a Defense Against COA Disallowances
When can a public official be personally liable for COA disallowances? The Supreme Court clarifies the good faith defense in Salva v. COA.
Breach of Trust: A Lawyer's Duty to Client Property in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court suspends lawyers who took a client's car as payment, explaining the fiduciary duty over client property.
Welga ng Bayan and Illegal Work Stoppage: What Philippine Employees Should Know
Joining a welga ng bayan without notice can be an illegal work stoppage. Learn the rules from the Biflex case.
Tax Clearance Not Required for BSP-Ordered Bank Liquidation in the Philippines
Supreme Court ruling: banks closed by the BSP and liquidated by PDIC need not secure a BIR tax clearance before asset distribution.
Double Jeopardy in Labor Disputes: Res Judicata and Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines
Learn how res judicata bars relitigation of illegal dismissal claims, using the Supreme Court's ruling in Williams v. Days Hotel.
When Courts Can Compel Disclosure of Foreign Currency Deposits in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when courts may compel banks to disclose foreign currency deposits despite the secrecy rule under RA 6426.
Unintentional Admission: How Words Can Win or Lose Your Ejectment Case in the Philippines
Learn how a party's own admission in pleadings can decide an ejectment case, and why every word in court filings matters.
Double Jeopardy in Philippine Courts: When a Case Dismissal Protects You from Retrial
Understand when a case dismissal bars retrial under Philippine double jeopardy rules, explained through the Supreme Court's ruling in Benares v. Lim.
Leaving Ship for Medical Help Is Not Desertion: Seafarer Rights Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling protects seafarers who leave a vessel for medical treatment, clarifying that such acts do not constitute desertion.
Illegal Demolition as Grave Coercion: Property Rights and Due Process in the Philippines
When does demolition become a crime? The Sy case shows how unlawful property destruction can constitute grave coercion under Philippine law.
Court Personnel Misconduct: When Desistance Does Not Erase Administrative Liability
A clerk of court who solicited fees from a litigant was suspended for seven months, showing that withdrawal of complaints does not end administrative cases.
When Self-Defense Fails: Homicide and Accomplice Liability in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling explains when self-defense fails, why a killing becomes homicide not murder, and when relatives become accomplices.
The Power of Victim Testimony in Rape Cases: Insights from People v. Canare
How Philippine courts weigh a rape victim's lone testimony, credibility, and the defense of alibi in convictions.
Substituted Service of Summons: When a Security Guard Can Validly Receive It
Philippine Supreme Court rules on substituted service of summons through a subdivision security guard and its effect on court jurisdiction.
When a Security Guard Can Validly Receive Summons: The Robinson v. Miralles Doctrine
The Supreme Court ruled that substituted service of summons through a security guard can be valid when a defendant obstructs personal service.
Reconstitution of Lost Titles: Supreme Court Clarifies Evidence Rules Under RA 26
Supreme Court clarifies when courts may reconstitute lost land titles, balancing strict rules with practical realities of destroyed records.
Judge Dismissed for Gross Immorality in Extramarital Affair and Child
Supreme Court dismisses a judge for gross immorality over an extramarital affair and child, while suspending him from law practice for three years.
Accountability in the Judiciary: Understanding Neglect of Duty for Court Personnel in the Philippines
A look at how the Supreme Court defines and penalizes simple neglect of duty by court personnel, using a 2006 case as an example.
Lost Your Labor Case Appeal? The Supreme Court on Mandatory Appeal Bonds
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why employers must post an appeal bond to perfect a labor appeal, and the consequences of failing to do so.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: Holding Parent Companies Liable for Labor Violations in the Philippines
When can a corporation be held liable for another entity's labor violations? The Supreme Court explains the doctrine of piercing the corporate veil.
COA Audit Not Mandatory for Utility Rate Changes: Meralco Case Analysis
Supreme Court clarifies that COA audit is not a prerequisite to ERC rate approvals, settling a key administrative law question.
Demolition and Due Process: Understanding Nuisance Per Se in Philippine Law
When can government demolish property without court order? The Supreme Court explains nuisance per se, police power, and the limits of due process.
Navigating Subpoenas: Government Employee Obligations in Ombudsman Investigations
Government employees must comply with Ombudsman subpoenas even if a superior orders otherwise. Learn the rules from this Supreme Court ruling.