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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When Can the BOI Amend a Company's Registration? A Look at First Lepanto Ceramics
The Supreme Court clarifies the BOI's discretion to amend a registered enterprise's product line, even amid pending violation cases.
Hearsay Exceptions: When Can a Third-Party Confession Clear Your Name?
A third-party confession can be hearsay evidence—but only admissible if the declarant is unavailable and trustworthy. Learn the rules.
Employers Burden of Proof in Justifying Loss of Trust and Confidence in Employee Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that employers must prove just cause for dismissal based on loss of trust and confidence, not merely allege it.
When Can Witness Testimony Lead to Acquittal: A Philippine Case Study
Learn how Philippine courts weigh witness credibility, hearsay exceptions, and declarations against penal interest in criminal cases.
Incestuous Rape: Fear Explains Delay in Reporting Sexual Abuse
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how fear and terror in incestuous rape justify a victim's delay in reporting sexual abuse to authorities.
When Lack of Resistance Negates a Rape Charge: Understanding Consent in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a complainant's failure to resist can cast reasonable doubt on a rape charge, and what this means for proving force and intimidation.
Handling Court Funds: Duties and Liabilities of Court Personnel in the Philippines
Supreme Court ruling on a clerk of court's liability for mishandling consignation deposits, fiduciary funds, and JDF collections.
Rape Conviction and the Weight of Credible Testimony: Protecting Victims' Rights in the Philippines
How the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction, underscoring the power of a credible victim's testimony and the limits of the alibi defense.
Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt: The Imperative of Voluntariness in Rape Cases
In People v. Subido, the Supreme Court acquitted a rape accused, emphasizing that the prosecution must prove force and lack of voluntariness beyond reasonable doubt.
Arrastre Operator Liability: Understanding the Limits of Responsibility for Lost Cargo
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when an arrastre operator is liable for lost cargo and how management contracts limit that liability.
Understanding Res Judicata: How a Previous Case Can Affect Your Legal Rights in the Philippines
Learn how res judicata bars re-litigation of settled cases in the Philippines, its elements, and practical implications.
Intra-Corporate Disputes: When Illegal Dismissal Claims Fall Under SEC Jurisdiction
Learn when a corporate officer's removal is an intra-corporate dispute under SEC jurisdiction, not an illegal dismissal case for the NLRC.
Circumstantial Evidence Proving Guilt Beyond A Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Courts
How Philippine courts use circumstantial evidence to convict beyond reasonable doubt, explained through People v. Danao.
Project Employee vs Regular Employee: What the Supreme Court Says
Learn how Philippine courts distinguish project employees from regular employees, and what the Samson ruling means for workers' security of tenure.
When Can Eyewitness Testimony Alone Convict in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence, not just eyewitness testimony, can convict an accused beyond reasonable doubt.
Navigating Administrative LAW Exhaustion OF Remedies AND Cabinet Approval IN THE Philippines
Implied Trusts and Prescription: What the Esconde Case Means for Property Owners
Learn how implied trusts work in the Philippines and why delay can bar your property claim, based on the Supreme Court's Esconde ruling.
Builder in Good Faith in the Philippines: Rights Under Property Law
When can a mistaken builder claim good faith under Philippine law? The Supreme Court's ruling in Pleasantville clarifies the rights of builders and landowners.
Jurisdiction in Public Sector Compensation Disputes: DBM vs CSC-MSPB
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on which agency has jurisdiction over position classification and compensation disputes in government service.
Judge Fined for Erroneous Issuance of Arrest Warrant Against Non-Accused
A judge was fined P10,000 for issuing an arrest warrant against a person not named as accused. The Court ruled the mistake was inexcusable negligence.
Can a Judge Act as Notary Public? Limits on Judicial Notarization in the Philippines
Philippine judges may notarize documents only within official functions. Learn the limits, the Asis ruling, and practical compliance tips.
Estate Allowances: Who Can Receive Support During Probate in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who may receive support allowances from a decedent's estate during probate proceedings.
Labor-Only Contracting: When the Principal Is the Real Employer in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains labor-only contracting, employer liability, and separation pay rules in Magnolia Dairy v. NLRC.
Simulated Contracts and Deeds of Sale: What Philippine Law Requires for Valid Transfer of Title
Philippine law on deeds of sale explained: why registration matters, what makes a sale valid, and the risks of simulated contracts.