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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When a Waiver Revives Rights: Property Disputes and Quitclaims in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that a default order in land registration cases does not bar the government from appealing, and explains the limits of waiver in property disputes.
Forum Shopping in the Philippines: When Multiple Filings Cross the Line
Learn the Philippine rule against forum shopping, why the certification must be signed by the party, and when courts may relax it.
Enforcing Foreign Judgments in the Philippines: Jurisdiction and Due Process
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a foreign court's default judgment is enforceable locally, focusing on service of summons and due process.
Business Closure in the Philippines: Navigating Layoffs and Employee Rights During Financial Distress
Learn the rules on business closure in the Philippines, including separation pay, notice requirements, and employee rights when a company shuts down due to losses.
When Judges Must Step Aside: The Duty of Inhibition and Judicial Conduct in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling on when judges must inhibit from cases, avoid impropriety, and the limits of judicial conduct.
When Can an Employer Dismiss a Managerial Employee in the Philippines? Trust and Breach of Trust
Understand when Philippine employers can validly dismiss managerial employees for breach of trust, including the legal requirements and limits.
Self-Defense vs Treachery: When Killing Is Murder in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies killing as murder. Learn the legal rules.
Public Land vs Private Claim: Military Reservations and the Limits of Land Acquisition in the Philippines
The Supreme Court voids a title over land inside Fort Bonifacio, ruling military reservations are inalienable public land.
Falsified Documents Can Transfer Property in the Philippines: The Legal Reality
Can forged deeds transfer land in the Philippines? Philippine law says no—but the legal system has limits. Learn the rules on falsified documents.
Ombudsman Discretion in Preliminary Investigations: Limits of Judicial Review in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the scope of judicial review over prosecutorial findings in preliminary investigations, emphasizing the standard of grave abuse of discretion.
Tolerance Ends Unlawful Detainer AND Property Rights IN THE Philippines
When does tolerated possession become unlawful detainer? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on jurisdiction, demand, and ownership claims.
CO Ownership AND Laches Understanding Property Rights AND Delays IN Legal Claims IN THE Philippines
Situs of Service Determines Income Tax Liability for Nonresident Aliens in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court rules that for nonresident aliens, income tax depends on where services are actually rendered, not where the payor resides.
Speedy Trial Rights Dismissal OF Criminal Charges DUE TO Prosecutorial Delay
Explore how prosecutorial delay impacts speedy trial rights and when criminal charges may be dismissed in the Philippines.
Suspended Sentences for Juvenile Offenders: Limits and Implications in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when a juvenile offender cannot get a suspended sentence, even under RA 9344.
Public vs Private Land in the Philippines: Lessons from a Laguna de Bay Registration Case
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when land near Laguna de Bay is public domain and what applicants must prove to register title.
Real Estate Foreclosure in the Philippines: Notice Requirements and Due Process
A look at Guanco v. Antolo and why strict notice and posting rules govern extrajudicial foreclosure sales in the Philippines.
Unfair Labor Practice Dismissals: Employee Rights to Moral and Exemplary Damages
Supreme Court ruling on unfair labor practice dismissals, moral damages, and the rule against splitting causes of action in the Philippines.
Unmarried Couples Property Rights Understanding Co-Ownership in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine law treats property acquired by unmarried couples, including co-ownership rules, rights, and practical implications.
Credit Card Debt Understanding Interest Terms AND Consumer Rights IN THE Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts protect creditors from fraudulent schemes by banks and directors, and what this means for consumer rights.
Prescription of Offenses Under Special Laws: Absence From the Philippines Does Not Suspend the Period
The Supreme Court rules that under Act No. 3326, an accused's absence from the Philippines does not interrupt the prescriptive period for offenses under special laws.
Credit Card Liability: Gross Negligence and Moral Damages in the Philippines
When can a credit card issuer be liable for moral damages? The Supreme Court explains gross negligence in Bankard v. Feliciano.
Foreshore Rights in the Philippines: When Private Land Meets Public Domain
Philippine foreshore areas are public domain, but private rights can exist. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Understanding Abandonment and the Employer's Burden of Proof
Learn how Philippine courts decide illegal dismissal cases involving abandonment, and why employers must prove just cause and observe due process.