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 and Consequences: False Affidavit Leads to Court Clerk's Suspension
A lawyer who forged a colleague's signature and misrepresented himself in court faces a two-year suspension from practice.
Supreme Court Upholds Mandatory SOCE Filing Deadline, Balances Rule of Law with Equity
The Supreme Court ruled COMELEC gravely abused discretion in extending the SOCE filing deadline, but applied the operative fact doctrine.
Dual Citizenship and Lawyer Discipline: Insights from a Landmark Philippine Case
A Philippine Supreme Court case clarifies when lawyers may hold dual citizenship and the ethical duties that remain.
Corporate Governance and Compensation: Lessons from the LBP Subsidiaries COA Ruling
The Supreme Court affirms COA's disallowance of P5.13M in benefits paid to LBP subsidiary board members, clarifying corporate governance rules.
Lawyer Suspended for Using Colleague's Name Without Consent in Court Filings
Supreme Court suspends lawyer for two years for forging colleague's signature and using his name in a civil case without authorization.
Falsifying Court Orders: When Court Personnel Betray the Public Trust
A court stenographer who faked an order and certificate of finality to extort money was dismissed. Learn the legal consequences.
Airline Liability for Lost Luggage in the Philippines: The KLM v. Tiongco Case
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on airline liability for lost luggage, damages, and bad faith in KLM v. Tiongco.
Examining Judgment Debtors: How Courts Can Enforce Judgments Against Elusive Corporations
Winning a lawsuit is only half the battle. Learn how Philippine courts can examine corporate officers to enforce judgments against elusive debtors.
Employee Dismissal in the Philippines: Due Process and Substantial Evidence Requirements
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that employers must prove just cause with substantial evidence and follow procedural due process when dismissing employees.
Property Claims in Probate: When Philippine Courts Can Decide Ownership
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when probate courts can rule on property claims against a decedent's estate, distinguishing money claims from ownership disputes.
Novation Requires Unequivocal Terms: Asian Construction vs Mero Structures
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when letters between parties create novation, and when an obligation remains unchanged.
Attorneys Fees in Agrarian Reform Cases: Insights from the Supreme Court
When can CLOAs be cancelled in agrarian reform cases? The Supreme Court clarifies jurisdiction and the limits of indefeasibility of titles.
The Indispensable Heir: Resolving Intra-Corporate Disputes Over Stock Ownership
The Supreme Court clarifies that failure to implead indispensable parties in intra-corporate disputes warrants remand, not dismissal.
Attorney's Fees in Property Disputes: Lessons from the Supreme Court's Aquino v. Domingo Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies how lawyers may recover contingent fees in agrarian property cases when no written contract exists.
Seafarers Disability THE Imperative OF Timely Medical Assessments IN Maritime Employment
When Can CLOAs Be Cancelled? A Philippine Supreme Court Guide
The Supreme Court explains when agrarian reform titles (CLOAs) can be cancelled despite indefeasibility, and which tribunal has jurisdiction.
Employment Contracts and Project Employee Status: Key Lessons from Steelweld v. Echano
A look at how unsigned contracts and continuous work affect regular employee status in Philippine labor law.
Robbery With Homicide Conviction Upheld Despite Conflicting Witness Testimony
Philippine Supreme Court affirms robbery with homicide conviction, ruling that minor inconsistencies in witness testimony do not weaken credible identification of the accused.
Redundancy in Philippine Employment: When a Valid Termination Becomes Illegal Dismissal
Learn when redundancy is valid in Philippine labor law, and how the Supreme Court protects employees from illegal dismissal disguised as redundancy.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Delayed Reporting: Protecting Minors and Upholding Justice
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on a credible child victim's testimony, despite a five-year delay in reporting and minor inconsistencies.
Loss of Confidence in Employment Termination: What Jalit v. Cargo Safeway Teaches Us
When can an employer validly dismiss a managerial employee for loss of confidence? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules in Jalit v. Cargo Safeway.
Social Media Ethics for Judges: Lessons from the Atillo Case
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge's Facebook photos clarifies the ethical boundaries judges face when using social media in the Philippines.
Understanding Civil Liability in Criminal Cases When Estafa Acquittals Impact Loan Obligations
When an estafa accused is acquitted, can the victim still collect the loan? The Supreme Court explains civil liability ex delicto versus ex contractu.
When Filing Two Property Lawsuits Is Not Forum Shopping: The Hocorma Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when filing both an ejectment case and a collection suit over the same property does not constitute forum shopping.