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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Child Abuse and Parricide: Understanding the Legal Consequences in the Philippines
A father's brutal killing of his two-year-old son led to a parricide conviction. Learn the legal rules and penalties.
Judicial Accountability: Supreme Court Reprimands Judge for Undue Delay in Case Resolution
Supreme Court holds judges accountable for delays, reprimanding a judge who failed to decide cases within the reglementary period.
Upholding Integrity: The Duty and Potential Pitfalls for Court Stenographers
Court stenographers hold a sacred duty to produce accurate records. Learn the ethical standards and pitfalls they face in Philippine courts.
Evidence Rules in Illegal Firearm Cases: Why Conviction Requires Proof of No License
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on illegal possession of firearms explains why prosecutors must prove lack of license beyond reasonable doubt.
Government Procurement: Upholding Transparency and Reasonableness in Public Spending
The Supreme Court reminds COA that audit findings must respect due process, transparency, and the reasonableness of agency decisions in public procurement.
Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Criminal Law: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Understand how Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony in criminal cases and the constitutional standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt.
PCGG Sequestration and Voting Rights: Director Qualifications in Quo Warranto Cases
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on PCGG's voting of sequestered shares and director qualifications in quo warranto cases.
When Courts Must Decide Election Protests: The 15-Day Mandatory Period
A judge's one-year delay in resolving a barangay election protest led to a fine for gross inefficiency. Learn the mandatory 15-day rule.
Why Delayed Election Protests Violate Judicial Duty: Lessons from A.M. No. MTJ-95-1033
A judge's 19-month delay in resolving a barangay election protest was ruled gross inefficiency. Learn the mandatory deadlines and standards.
Continuing Security in Mortgages: When Future Loans Are Covered
Philippine Supreme Court explains when real estate mortgages secure future loans beyond stated amounts, and the limits of injunctions against foreclosure.
Understanding the Scope of Appeals in Philippine Labor Law: A Case on 13th Month Pay
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that the NLRC can only review issues raised on appeal, using a 13th month pay case as an example.
Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law: How Joint Criminal Liability Is Established
Explaining how Philippine courts infer conspiracy from concerted acts, using the 1996 case of People v. Villanueva and Durana.
Municipal Boundaries in the Philippines: Validating Creation and Resolving Disputes
The Supreme Court explains when a municipality's creation is valid, how boundary disputes are settled, and why a 1950 agreement could not override an executive order.
The Weight of Circumstantial Evidence in Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on parricide explains how direct testimony, not just circumstantial evidence, can prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Rape Conviction Based on Credible Testimony: Force, Intimidation, and Victim Behavior
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape: credible victim testimony, force and intimidation standards, and post-incident conduct as proof.
Parricide in the Philippines: Proving Marriage and the Effect of an Affidavit of Desistance
The Supreme Court explains how to prove marriage in parricide cases and why an affidavit of desistance does not erase criminal liability.
Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Courts: When Doubt Leads to Acquittal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on eyewitness identification, hearsay confessions, and reasonable doubt in robbery-homicide cases.
When Judges Overstep in Preliminary Investigations: A Lesson from Depamaylo v. Brotarlo
A judge reduced murder to homicide to grant bail, ignored prosecution rights, and was fined P20,000 for misconduct.
Retrenchment vs Redundancy: Navigating Employee Layoffs in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the difference between retrenchment and redundancy as valid grounds for employee layoffs under Philippine labor law.
When Can an Agent Sell Your Property? The Limits of a Special Power of Attorney
A special power of attorney to eject squatters does not authorize selling land. Learn the limits of an agent's authority to dispose of real property.
Why a Victim’s Testimony Can Be Enough to Convict in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court explains when a rape victim’s sole testimony suffices for conviction and why resistance is not always required.
Credibility of Mentally Retarded Rape Victims: Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on credible testimony of a mentally retarded victim, clarifying competency rules.
Commission-Based Workers Are Regular Employees Entitled to Separation Pay
Supreme Court rules commission-based drivers are regular employees entitled to separation pay; sliding incomes not serious business losses.
Extrajudicial Foreclosure: When Notice and Publication Are Valid
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies what counts as proper notice and publication in extrajudicial foreclosures, protecting buyers and lenders.