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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Bank Set-Off Rights: Limits and Liabilities in Loan Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when banks may validly offset deposits against loans, and the limits of contractual set-off rights.
Protecting Subdivision Buyers: Contracts to Sell Must Be Registered
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that subdivision developers must register contracts to sell with the Register of Deeds under P.D. 957.
Agricultural Land Reclassification: Continued Use Does Not Override Prior Conversion
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how prior land reclassification to commercial use affects agrarian reform coverage and tenant rights.
Land Reclassification and Agrarian Reform: When Agricultural Land Stops Being Covered by CARL
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how land reclassified as commercial before CARL's effectivity falls outside agrarian reform coverage.
Upholding Employee Rights: Just Cause and Union Security in Dismissal Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on closed-shop dismissals: substantive due process still applies even when a CBA mandates termination.
When Is Employee Termination Illegal? Key Rules from a Supreme Court Ruling
Learn when termination becomes illegal under Philippine labor law, based on a Supreme Court ruling on unjustified dismissal and procedural lapses.
Mootness and Quashed Search Warrants: When a Case Dismissal Ends the Controversy
A dismissed criminal case can render a quashed search warrant issue moot. Learn the practical legal effect rule from this Supreme Court ruling.
PAL Tax Refund Case: Interpreting "In Lieu of All Other Taxes" in Franchises
Supreme Court ruling on PAL's franchise tax exemption and refund of final withholding tax on passive income.
Negligence and Quasi-Delict: When Overtaking on the Shoulder Makes You Liable
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies negligence and vicarious liability of vehicle owners in traffic accidents under Philippine law.
When the Government Must Prove Its Case: Reversion, Free Patents, and the Regalian Doctrine
A Supreme Court ruling on when the government can cancel a free patent and revert land to the public domain.
Separate Crimes for Separate Drugs: Possessing Shabu and Marijuana Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: possessing shabu and marijuana at the same time and place constitutes two separate crimes, requiring two separate Informations.
Breaking Down Land Ownership Disputes When Hearsay Clouds Real Estate Claims
A Supreme Court ruling explains why hearsay evidence fails in property disputes, and how Torrens titles protect registered owners.
Injunctive Relief and Status Quo in Foreclosure Disputes: The Dela Cruz Case
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how pending agrarian tenancy cases affect forcible entry jurisdiction and the principle of status quo.
Upholding Equity When Fraud Nullifies Land Titles Obtained Through Deceit
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when fraudulent acquisition of land titles can be nullified and how equity protects rightful owners.
Balancing Right to Work and Employer Prerogative: Absences and Termination
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when excessive absences justify dismissal, emphasizing proportional penalties and employer burden of proof.
CARP Coverage and Tenancy: Resolving Land Disputes Amidst Conflicting Claims and Vested Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how pending DARAB tenancy cases affect forcible entry jurisdiction and CARP coverage.
Eminent Domain and Just Compensation: How Courts Value Right of Way Acquisitions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how courts determine just compensation for right of way acquisitions, using market value at time of taking.
The Ombudsman's Control Over Special Prosecutors: Limits on Prosecutorial Authority
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on the Ombudsman's authority over special prosecutors and the limits of prosecutorial discretion in criminal cases.
Fatal Appeal Errors: Why Choosing the Wrong Mode of Appeal Can End a Case
A Supreme Court ruling shows how filing the wrong mode of appeal can be fatal, even when filed on time.
Certiorari vs Appeal: Choosing the Right Remedy Against Shari'a Court Resolutions
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies why certiorari cannot substitute for a lost appeal, using a Shari'a court dispute as the case study.
Balancing Property Rights: Reimbursement for Improvements on Leased Land
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on tenant's right to reimbursement for house built on leased land, offset against unpaid rent.
Real Property Tax Refund: Illegality of Assessment and the Proper Claim Procedure
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that an invalid real property tax ordinance entitles taxpayers to refunds, but claims must follow the Local Government Code's procedure.
Just Compensation and Due Process: Protecting Landowners from Unjustified Government Taking
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on just compensation and due process in expropriation cases, protecting landowners' property rights.
Civil Liability After Acquittal: When Does a Defendant Still Owe?
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when an acquittal in BP 22 cases still leaves the defendant civilly liable.