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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Custody Battles: When Judicial Discretion Meets Legal Mandates in Child Protection Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on a judge's discretion in child custody disputes under RA 9262, balancing legal mandates with the child's best interest.
Stockholders' Right to Inspect Corporate Records: When Refusal Becomes a Crime
Explore the Supreme Court ruling on stockholders' inspection rights, prejudicial questions, and criminal liability for refusing access to corporate books.
Challenging Voluntary Arbitration Awards: The Right Remedy for Labor Disputes
Learn the correct legal remedy for appealing voluntary arbitration awards in Philippine labor disputes, from the Supreme Court ruling in Samahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Hyatt.
Bonus Entitlement Discretion VS Contractual Right IN Employment Compensation
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when bonuses are discretionary and when they become contractual obligations of employers.
Execution Pending Appeal: Weighing Discretion and Protecting Creditors' Rights in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on final judgments, execution, and the limits of challenging a labor arbiter's writ of execution.
Foreclosure Rights: DBP Can Foreclose Despite Prior Dismissal of Case
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a bank's withdrawal of a foreclosure case bars it from foreclosing again later. Learn the rules.
When Late Appeal Briefs Are Allowed: Substantial Justice Over Technical Rules
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when late filing of an appellant's brief may be excused in the interest of substantial justice.
NEA Authority Over Electric Cooperatives: Regulation and Due Process Boundaries
Supreme Court ruling on NEA's supervisory power over electric cooperatives and the due process required in administrative removal cases.
Ejectment and Intervention: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on ejectment cases, intervention timing, and the rights of non-parties bound by judgments.
Revival of Judgment Safeguarding Property Rights After Forcible Entry
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on co-owner recovery actions, tenant protections under P.D. 1517, and property rights enforcement.
Lease vs. Sale: When a Property Owner Can Sell Leased Land in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lease rights, option to renew, and when a lessor can sell property.
When a Lease Lapses: A Lesson on Property Rights, Renewal Options, and Fraud Claims
Supreme Court ruling explains when a lease ends, how renewal options work, and why proving fraud requires solid evidence.
Judicial Accountability: When a Judge Leaves Cases Undecided and Certifies Otherwise
A Supreme Court ruling shows how Philippine judges are held liable for undue delay in deciding cases, and why the line between poor case management and dishonesty matters.
Judicial Accountability: Deciding Cases on Time and the Duty to Avoid Undue Delay
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge fined for leaving cases undecided and the duty to avoid undue delay.
Year-End Benefits in Government Agencies: Balancing Statutory Limits and Employee Welfare
Supreme Court ruling on year-end benefits for government board members and consultants, balancing statutory limits with good faith.
Confession as Evidence Overcoming Hearsay in Robbery With Homicide and Carnapping Convictions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when an accused's confession to a witness is admissible evidence, not hearsay, in robbery with homicide and carnapping cases.
Property Rights in Relationships: Protecting Filipino Land Ownership From Alien Acquisition
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether an Austrian's Filipino girlfriend could keep land registered in her name despite his payment and later assignment to a Filipino buyer.
Navigating Appeals: Jurisdictional Errors and Lost Rights in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling on res judicata, indispensable parties, and mortgagee good faith in property disputes.
Double Jeopardy and Police Accountability: When Amending an Information Is Allowed
Explaining when an amended criminal information does not trigger double jeopardy, through a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on police killings.
Failure to Prosecute: When Dismissal Is Too Severe a Sanction
Explaining when courts may relax procedural rules on failure to prosecute, based on a 2009 Supreme Court ruling.
Labor-Only Contracting: When a Principal Becomes the True Employer
Supreme Court ruling on labor-only contracting and when a principal becomes the true employer of contractual workers.
Certiorari and Summary Procedure: When Dismissal for Failure to Prosecute Is Too Harsh
A look at when Philippine courts may relax procedural rules on dismissal for failure to prosecute, based on a 2009 Supreme Court ruling.
Due Process in Electricity Disconnection: Why Law Enforcement Presence Matters
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on RA 7832: electricity disconnection for meter tampering requires law enforcement or ERB representative presence.
Lost Inheritance: Proving Kinship in Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why heirs must prove kinship to claim inherited property, and the limits of Torrens title challenges.