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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Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
The Supreme Court explains treachery, evident premeditation, and conspiracy in a brutal multiple murder case from Negros Oriental.
Default Judgments Understanding Due Process and Timely Responses in Philippine Courts
Learn how Philippine courts treat default judgments and why timely responses matter, based on a Supreme Court ruling on judicial delay.
Wrongful Termination: Employee Rights and Employer Obligations in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the two requirements for valid dismissal: just cause and due process. Learn the rules.
Habitual Tardiness and Loafing at Work: Legal Consequences for Philippine Employees
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on habitual tardiness and loafing: employee responsibilities, penalties, and lessons from Orfila v. Quiroz.
Seafarers' Rights: Protecting Overseas Workers From Illegal Dismissal
Supreme Court ruling protects Filipino seafarers from illegal dismissal when they seek ITF or CSR help for labor grievances.
Dying Declarations and Homicide: When a Victim's Last Words Can Convict
The Supreme Court explains when a dying declaration suffices to convict and why the accused was held for homicide, not murder.
Due Process in Philippine Administrative Investigations: The Casuela Case and the Five-Day Bar Rule
The Supreme Court affirms that administrative investigations must respect the five-day bar rule before hearing, ensuring due process for respondents.
Incestuous Rape: The Supreme Court's Stance on Parental Abuse and a Daughter's Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction, holding that a daughter's testimony deserves great weight and that rape can occur even in a crowded room.
Illegal Dismissal: Proving Just Cause and Due Process in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Airlines v. NLRC explains the employer's burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases and the twin requirements of notice and hearing.
When Quitclaims Are Invalid: Labor Settlements and Dire Necessity in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when compromise agreements and quitclaims in labor cases are unconscionable and invalid.
Judicial Delay Consequences for Judges Failing to Meet Deadlines in the Philippines
Philippine judges face administrative sanctions for failing to decide cases within the reglementary period. This article explains the rules and consequences.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: A Philippine Labor Law Perspective
Understand the two-part due process rule in Philippine labor law—substantive and procedural—and the consequences of non-compliance, explained through Bondoc v. NLRC.
When Is Moonlighting Disloyalty? Understanding Employee Dismissal in the Philippines
Philippine law on employee dismissal explained through a Supreme Court case on overseas domestic helpers, just causes, and due process.
Unintended Consequences: Criminal Liability for Foreseeable Outcomes in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on criminal liability, dying declarations, and witness credibility in murder cases under Philippine law.
Compulsory Licensing of Patents: Balancing Innovation and Public Access in the Philippines
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on compulsory licensing of pharmaceutical patents, balancing patent rights with public health needs.
Employee Dismissal: Proving Just Cause and Observing Due Process in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on employee dismissal: employers must prove just cause with substantial evidence and observe due process.
Criminal Conspiracy and Exempting Circumstances: Duress and Mental Capacity in Philippine Law
A look at how the Supreme Court defined conspiracy, duress, and imbecility defenses in a kidnapping and homicide case.
Vote Buying and Disqualification: Nolasco vs. COMELEC Explained
What happens when a winning candidate is disqualified for vote buying? The Nolasco case clarifies succession and election law.
Adoption Process in the Philippines: Ensuring Child Welfare and Legal Compliance
Philippine adoption requires DSWD case study before court approval. A Supreme Court ruling explains why judges and social workers must strictly follow the process.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
Learn how Philippine courts define treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, explained through a Supreme Court case.
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Employee Rights and Employer Responsibilities in the Philippines
Learn the legal rules on workplace sexual harassment in the Philippines, including employer duties, due process, and employee remedies.
Protecting Workers Rights Illegal Dismissal AND Unfair Labor Practices IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal, due process, and unfair labor practices in Pono v. NLRC.
Due Process and the Day in Court: When a Party Is Denied Their Right to Be Heard
Explains when failure to attend trial or substitute counsel amounts to denial of due process, using Bernardo v. Court of Appeals.
Workplace Courtesy When Good Intentions Lead to Misconduct
A court aide's sympathetic intercession turned into discourtesy and misconduct. Learn the limits of good intentions in government service.