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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Truth IN Lending Substantial Compliance Sufficient When Borrower IS Knowledgeable
Valid Service of Court Decisions: Ensuring Due Process Through Proper Notification
Learn how valid service of court decisions protects due process rights, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on notice requirements.
Dual Employment in the Public Sector: When Service Becomes a Violation of Duty
The Supreme Court clarifies when accepting public sector positions and practicing law can violate the Constitution, Civil Service rules, and the lawyer's oath.
Redemption Rights Clarifying Property Disputes AND Legal Standing IN Philippine LAW
Corporate Identity and Loan Obligations: Name Change Does Not Excuse Debt Payment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a corporate name change or bank identity affects loan obligations and surety liability.
Jurisdiction Clarified When Regular Courts Handle Property Disputes Despite Developer Status
When do regular courts, not HLURB, hear property disputes? The Supreme Court clarifies jurisdiction rules in Lacson Hermanas v. Heirs of Ignacio.
Carrier Negligence and the Timely Notice Rule for Damaged Cargo in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on carrier liability for damaged goods and why timely notice under Article 366 of the Code of Commerce is crucial.
Trademark Infringement Courts Retain Jurisdiction Despite Pending Trademark Cancellation Proceedings
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that courts can hear trademark infringement cases even while cancellation proceedings are pending before the intellectual property office.
VAT Zero-Rating for Services Performed in the Philippines Paid in Foreign Currency
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies VAT zero-rating rules for services performed locally but paid in foreign currency, striking down restrictive BIR regulations.
Judicial Accountability: Balancing Efficiency and Integrity in Case Resolution
The Supreme Court affirms that judicial efficiency must never compromise integrity, as shown in P.C. Javier & Sons v. Court of Appeals.
Jurisdictional Boundaries: Summons, Transfers, and Government Employee Reassignments
When does a court lack jurisdiction over a government official? This case clarifies summons rules and employee transfer remedies.
Lawyer Suspended for Dual Government Posts and Unauthorized Private Practice
Supreme Court suspends lawyer for six months for holding a prohibited second government post and engaging in private practice without required written permission.
Loan Obligations When Imported Goods Are Defective: Rosario Textile Mills v. Home Bankers
The Supreme Court ruled that a borrower must still pay its loan even if imported goods are defective, and a surety remains liable under a valid agreement.
Appeal Bonds Ensuring Labor Awards ARE NOT Empty Victories
The Supreme Court rules that posting an insufficient appeal bond is fatal to an employer's appeal, ensuring labor awards are not empty victories.
Can a Foreign Corporation Sue for Unfair Competition in the Philippines?
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a foreign corporation not doing business locally can pursue unfair competition claims.
Timely Notice IS KEY Understanding Carrier Liability IN Damaged Goods Claims Under THE Code OF Commerce
When cargo arrives damaged, the clock starts ticking. Learn how Article 366 of the Code of Commerce can bar a claim entirely if notice is late.
When Government Delays Just Compensation: Property Return After Unreasonable Delay
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: government must pay just compensation promptly or risk losing expropriated property back to its owner.
Perfecting Appeals: The Indispensable Surety Bond in Labor Disputes
A late appeal bond means no appeal at all. This article explains why the surety bond is jurisdictional in labor cases.
Sublease Rent Claims: Why Lessors Must Sue the Lessee First
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that lessors cannot directly sue sublessees for unpaid rent without first obtaining judgment against the lessee.
Tax Refunds and Fairness: Upholding Taxpayer Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court reminds the BIR and tax courts that technicalities should not defeat a taxpayer's valid claim for refund.
Sheriffs Must Follow Court-Approved Fee Process or Face Administrative Liability
A sheriff who collected excess service fees without court approval was fined for grave dereliction of duty, clarifying Rule 141 procedure.
Withdrawal of Information vs Dismissal: What the Supreme Court Said
The Supreme Court clarifies when a motion to withdraw information is final, and how prosecutors must weigh both sides in preliminary investigation.
Jurisdiction in Unfair Competition Cases: RTC vs MTC Explained
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that Regional Trial Courts, not Metropolitan Trial Courts, have jurisdiction over unfair competition cases under the Intellectual Property Code.
When Contracting Turns Into Employment: Defining the True Employer
Learn how Philippine courts determine the real employer in contracting arrangements and what this means for liability in illegal dismissal cases.