LaborCode.ph aims to make every material legal statement traceable to an authoritative source. This policy explains which sources we prefer, how we cite them and how we distinguish law from editorial explanation.
Source hierarchy
Primary sources are preferred whenever available. These include the Constitution, statutes, presidential decrees, executive orders, the Labor Code, implementing rules, official administrative issuances and published decisions of Philippine courts.
Official agency materials from institutions such as the Department of Labor and Employment, National Labor Relations Commission, Supreme Court, Official Gazette and other competent government bodies may be used to explain procedures, regulations and current administrative guidance.
Secondary sources
Commentaries, textbooks, legal articles and reputable professional materials may help explain context, but they do not replace controlling law. Where a secondary source conflicts with an official source, the official source takes priority.
Citation practice
Articles should identify the relevant legal provision, issuance or decision as precisely as practical. Citations may include the law or case title, article or section number, docket number, date and a link to an official or reliable copy.
Jurisprudence
Case discussions should accurately state the facts relevant to the ruling, the legal issue, the court’s holding and the doctrine applied. A decision should not be presented as creating a universal rule when its application depends on specific facts or later cases.
Editorial explanation
Plain-language explanations, examples, summaries and practical observations are editorial content. They are intended to help readers understand the source material and should not be confused with the exact text of a law, regulation or judgment.
Unavailable or changing sources
Where an official source is unavailable, incomplete or temporarily inaccessible, the article may use a reliable alternative and identify any limitation. Time-sensitive procedures, rates and agency requirements should be reviewed periodically.