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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Perfecting an Appeal: Understanding Timeliness and Receipt of Court Decisions in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts treat appeal timeliness, notice of judgment, and receipt of decisions—key rules every litigant must know.
Treachery in Philippine Law: How Intent and Criminal Liability Are Determined
Learn how Philippine courts define treachery and why the Supreme Court affirmed murder convictions in People v. Tañedo.
Contract Validity and Enforceability: Lessons from Roblett v. Court of Appeals
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling on contract validity, authority to sign, and estoppel in Philippine obligations law.
Incestuous Acts of Lasciviousness: When Parental Authority Cannot Shield Abuse
Supreme Court clarifies that a father's lewd acts on his sleeping 13-year-old daughter constitute acts of lasciviousness, not RA 7610 violation.
Mortgage Foreclosure CAN Penalties From Promissory Notes BE Included
Rape Conviction and the Weight of Victim Testimony and Corroborating Evidence
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining why a victim's clear testimony, corroborated by medical findings, outweighs a bare denial.
When Can the Ombudsman Investigate Judges? The Dolalas Rule on Judicial Independence
The Supreme Court clarifies the boundary between Ombudsman authority and judicial independence in investigating judges for delay.
Judicial Ethics and Employee Conduct: Lessons from Belaunzaran v. NLRC on Dismissal and Abandonment
A look at Belaunzaran v. NLRC clarifies when resignation offers are not constructive dismissal and when unauthorized absences justify loss of trust.
Evidence in Court: Why Presenting Evidence Properly Matters in Illegal Dismissal Cases
A Supreme Court ruling shows how evidence presentation and procedural rules shape outcomes in illegal dismissal disputes.
Understanding Forum Shopping in the Philippines: Avoiding Dismissal of Your Case
Learn how the Supreme Court defines forum shopping in the Philippines and why failure to file a motion for reconsideration can doom your case.
Contract Bar Rule Explained: Certification Elections and CBAs in the Philippines
Learn how the contract bar rule limits certification elections during a CBA's term, based on the Formey Plastic case.
Spanish Land Titles in the Philippines: P.D. 892 and Why They No Longer Prove Ownership
Spanish-era land titles lost their force under P.D. 892. Learn the registration deadline, the San Pedro ruling, and what evidence now counts.
Possession of Illegal Timber: Navigating Philippine Forestry Laws
The Supreme Court clarifies that mere possession of timber without legal documents is a crime under the Revised Forestry Code, even if the timber came from a legal source.
Sheriff Negligence and Liability for Unreturned Seized Property
Philippine Supreme Court rules on sheriff's duty to return seized property and consequences of negligence in execution of writs.
Homicide vs. Murder: How Philippine Courts Read Criminal Intent in an Information
A Supreme Court ruling explains when amending an information from homicide to murder is only a formal change, not a violation of the accused's rights.
When Banks Cannot Unilaterally Raise Interest Rates: The Florendo Rule
The Supreme Court ruled that banks cannot unilaterally raise loan interest rates without a valid Central Bank issuance, upholding mutuality of contracts.
Loan Interest Rates CAN Banks Unilaterally Increase Them
Amending Criminal Informations: When a Homicide Charge Can Be Upgraded to Murder
The Supreme Court explains when prosecutors may amend an information to upgrade homicide to murder after the accused has already pleaded not guilty.
Rape Conviction: The Importance of Victim Testimony and Circumstantial Evidence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how credible victim testimony and circumstantial evidence can sustain a rape conviction.
Forum Shopping in Philippine Courts: A Guide for Property Developers
Learn how the Supreme Court penalizes forum shopping in property disputes, with practical guidance for developers facing multiple suits.
Robbery With Homicide: Understanding the Composite Crime in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that robbery with homicide is a single composite crime, regardless of how many people are killed.
Forum Shopping and Judicial Ethics: Lessons from Fil-Estate Golf v. Court of Appeals
When may filing two similar cases be considered forum shopping? The Supreme Court explains the rule and its penalties.
Self-Defense or Murder: Criminal Liability in Group Attacks Explained
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when self-defense fails in group attacks and how conspiracy and abuse of superior strength qualify killing as murder.
Illegal Fishing Presumptions and Fishermen's Rights: The Hizon Case
When do statutory presumptions of illegal fishing hold, and when do they fail? The Supreme Court's ruling in Hizon provides clear guidance.