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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Philippine Franchise TAX Local Governments Power TO TAX Businesses Despite Prior Exemptions
Supreme Court ruling on local government power to impose real property taxes, procedural requirements, and taxpayer remedies under the Local Government Code.
Credibility of Child Testimony in Rape Cases: Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
How Philippine courts assess a minor rape victim's testimony, minor inconsistencies, and absence of injuries in incest cases.
When Self-Defense Fails: The Limits of Justifiable Force in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when self-defense fails and the limits of justifiable force in Philippine criminal law.
Acceleration Clauses in Philippine Chattel Mortgages: Rights and Limitations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on acceleration clauses in chattel mortgages, good faith, and damages for wrongful foreclosure.
Limits of Protest Striking Teachers and the Public Interest in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on teacher strikes, free assembly limits, and public interest in education.
Court Record Mishaps Upholding Diligence AND Accountability IN Philippine Courts
Supreme Court ruling on 1990 teachers' mass actions: strikes are not protected assembly, and back wages require exoneration.
Resolving Conflicts Between Reconstituted and Transfer Certificates of Title in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a reconstituted title is void if an existing transfer certificate of title covers the same land.
The 90-Day Rule for Judges: What It Means for Speedy Justice in the Philippines
The 90-day rule requires Philippine judges to decide cases promptly. Learn how it works, what happens on delay, and the lessons from a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
When Witnesses Can't See: Proving Robbery With Homicide Through Circumstantial Evidence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how circumstantial evidence can prove robbery with homicide even without eyewitnesses to the killing.
Time Is of the Essence: Prescription and Laches in Philippine Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how prescription and laches bar property claims filed decades after a sale with pacto de retro.
Final Judgment IS Final: Navigating Lawyer Negligence and Execution in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling on final judgments, lawyer negligence, and execution of writs in Philippine courts—what litigants need to know.
Certiorari vs Appeal: Choosing the Right Legal Remedy in Philippine Courts
Learn when to file certiorari versus appeal in Philippine courts, using a Supreme Court ruling on labor cases as a guide.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Proving Your Case Even Without a Termination Letter
Illegal dismissal can be proven even without a termination letter. Learn the rules from a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Land Ownership in the Philippines: Why Possession Isn't Always Nine Tenths of the Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains when lengthy possession of public land cannot ripen into private ownership, and why free patents prevail.
When Courts May Reopen a Criminal Case After Evidence Is Closed
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a trial court may reopen a criminal case after the parties have rested, and the limits of that discretion.
When Philippine Courts Can Decide Ownership in Ejectment Cases
Learn when Philippine courts can decide ownership in ejectment cases, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Torres Vda. de Cruz v. Court of Appeals.
Lost Your Election Protest? Understanding Pre-Proclamation Controversies in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when election protests must be filed, and why pre-proclamation cases end after proclamation.
Heirship First, Claim Later: Proving You're an Heir Before Filing Property Disputes in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why heirs must first be declared in special proceedings before filing property reconveyance cases.
Tax Assessment Waivers: Why the BIR Commissioner's Signature Is Crucial
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why waivers of the tax prescription period require the BIR Commissioner's signature to be valid.
The Unwavering Credibility of Child Testimony in Statutory Rape Cases: A Philippine Jurisprudence Analysis
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on statutory rape: a child victim's credible testimony alone can sustain a conviction, even without force or intimidation.
Demolition Orders in the Philippines: Enforcing Tenant Eviction Judgments
Learn how Philippine courts enforce eviction judgments through demolition orders, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Buñag v. Court of Appeals.
Maximize Tax Credits: Sales Tax on Packaging Materials vs. Miller's Tax in the Philippines
Learn when sales tax on packaging materials can be credited against miller's tax, based on a key Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Grave Misconduct in the Judiciary: Why Court Personnel Must Never Receive Money From Litigants
A Supreme Court ruling reminds all court employees that receiving money from litigants—even for alleged delivery to a lawyer—is grave misconduct.
Writ of Preliminary Attachment: Abuse of Discretion and Judicial Misconduct
A look at a Supreme Court ruling on a judge and sheriff fined for improper issuance of a writ of attachment and misconduct.