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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Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Corporate Officers Are Liable for Labor Violations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when corporate officers can be held personally liable for unpaid wages, separation pay, and other labor standard benefits.
Retroactive Application of Retirement Laws: When R.A. 7641 Does Not Apply
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when R.A. 7641 retirement benefits apply retroactively and when they do not, explained in plain language.
Restrictions on Property Development: Can Associations Revise Deed Restrictions?
Explore the Supreme Court ruling on whether a property owners' association can validly revise deed restrictions on development.
When Retirement Pay Applies: The Retroactive Effect of RA 7641 Explained
Learn when RA 7641 retirement pay applies retroactively. The Supreme Court clarifies the rules in Philippine Scout Veterans v. NLRC.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Abandonment, Illness, and Employer Obligations
When does absence become abandonment, and when can illness justify termination? A Supreme Court ruling clarifies employer duties.
Navigating Forum Shopping in the Philippines: A Guide to Avoiding Duplicate Lawsuits
Learn how Philippine courts define and penalize forum shopping, with practical tips to avoid filing duplicate cases.
Death of Accused Before Final Judgment: Civil Liability Extinguished Under Bayotas Doctrine
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that death of accused before final judgment extinguishes criminal and civil liability ex delicto, but separate civil action may survive.
Failing to Object to Evidence: Waiver Rules in Philippine Criminal Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains why silence on inadmissible evidence means waiver, and how death before final judgment extinguishes liability.
When Death of the Accused Extinguishes Criminal and Civil Liability in Philippine Libel Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how an accused's death before final judgment affects criminal and civil liability in libel cases.
Rescission vs Ejectment: Jurisdiction in Philippine Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when ejectment is premature: a contract to sell must first be rescinded before filing for possession.
Attorney Negligence: When a Botched Case Makes a Lawyer Liable
When a lawyer's negligence costs a client their case, disciplinary action follows. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Prior Land Title Prevails: Property Rights and Good Faith in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on ejectment, lease obligations, and why historical landmark status does not override property rights.
Corporate Liability vs Personal Guarantee: Surety Agreements in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a continuing surety agreement covers corporate debts and when it does not bind the surety.
Multiple Homicides vs Complex Crime: Understanding the Nuances of Philippine Criminal Law
When a single shooting spree kills four and wounds two, is it one complex crime or several separate crimes? The Supreme Court explains the distinction.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: When Can You Justifiably Use Force?
The Supreme Court explains the three elements of self-defense in the Philippines and why a Palawan man's claim failed in a murder conviction.
Intra-Corporate Disputes: When the SEC, Not NLRC, Has Jurisdiction Over an Officer's Dismissal
The Supreme Court clarifies when a corporate officer's dismissal is an intra-corporate dispute under SEC jurisdiction, not a labor case for the NLRC.
Accomplice Liability in Robbery: The Limits of Conspiracy in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a getaway driver and lookout are accomplices, not conspirators, in robbery cases.
Separation Pay in the Philippines: When Is It Required?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when separation pay is legally required—and when it is not—in this plain-language guide to labor law.
When Is a Legislative Franchise Required for Philippine Air Transport Operations
The Supreme Court clarifies when a legislative franchise is needed to operate domestic air services in the Philippines.
Accomplice Liability: How Participation Level Determines Criminal Responsibility
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a participant in a crime is an accomplice, not a principal, and how courts determine the proper penalty.
Bouncing Checks Law: Corporate Officers Personally Liable for Signed Checks
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on BP 22: corporate officers who sign bouncing checks face personal criminal liability, even if signed in blank.
Self-Defense Claims in Parricide and Rape Cases: What the Supreme Court Says
A father convicted of raping his daughter claimed self-defense. The Supreme Court explains why this defense fails in parricide and rape cases.
Jurisdiction and Estoppel by Laches in Philippine Property Disputes
Learn how the Supreme Court applied estoppel by laches when a party attacks jurisdiction in a case not on appeal.
Election Result Errors Can Comelec Correct Proclaimed Winners
When can Comelec correct election results after a proclamation? The Supreme Court explains in Torres v. Comelec.