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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Rape and Intimidation: The Victim's Testimony and the Element of Fear in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains how force and intimidation in rape are judged from the victim's perspective, not by an objective standard.
Chain of Custody: Why Immediate Marking of Drug Evidence Matters in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect due to broken chain of custody, highlighting the crucial requirement of immediate evidence marking.
Chain of Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits an accused because police failed to properly mark seized shabu, breaking the chain of custody.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Why Victim Testimony Prevails Over Resistance Myths in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, clarifying that lack of physical resistance does not negate rape and victim testimony suffices.
When a Crime Becomes More Than the Sum of Its Parts: Complex Crimes in Philippine Law
A drug case acquittal shows how the Supreme Court treats procedural lapses in buy-bust operations, and what that means for criminal liability in the Philippines.
Safeguarding Rights: Chain of Custody and Drug Evidence Integrity in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect over broken chain of custody, underscoring strict compliance with Section 21, RA 9165.
Chain of Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to justify deviations from Section 21, RA 9165, highlighting the importance of the chain of custody rule.
Sales Commissions Are Wages: Supreme Court Ruling on Unpaid Commissions and Unauthorized Deductions
Sales commissions are wages under Philippine law. Learn what the Supreme Court ruled on unpaid commissions and unauthorized car plan deductions.
Treachery and the Sanctity of the Home: Defining Murder in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies treachery and dwelling in murder cases, ruling on a fatal stabbing inside the victim's home.
Safeguarding Children: Distinguishing Sexual Abuse and Rape in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that rape under the Revised Penal Code and sexual abuse under RA 7610 are separate crimes, and a single act can give rise to both offenses without violating double jeopardy
Land Title Registration Proving Alienable AND Disposable Status Under Philippine LAW
Probable Cause in Toll Bypass Cases: Theft of Telephone Services Under Philippine Law
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling on probable cause for theft in toll bypass operations, clarifying what constitutes unlawful taking of telephone services.
Proving Filiation After Death: The Strict Rules on Inheritance Claims
Philippine law sets strict evidence rules for proving filiation after a parent's death. Learn what the Supreme Court requires in inheritance disputes.
Homicide vs Murder: When Abuse of Superior Strength Fails in Philippine Law
Supreme Court clarifies that abuse of superior strength requires simultaneous attack and deliberate advantage, reducing murder to homicide.
Counterclaims in Libel Cases: Compulsory vs Permissive Claims Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when counterclaims in libel suits are compulsory or permissive, and the procedural requirements that follow.
PAGCOR Tax Liabilities Clarifying Income and VAT Exemptions Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies PAGCOR's tax liability: 5% franchise tax on gaming income, income tax on related services, and VAT exemption.
PAGCOR Tax Landscape: Franchise Tax vs Income Tax Obligations Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies PAGCOR's tax liabilities: 5% franchise tax on gaming income, income tax on related services, and FBT obligations.
Syndicated Estafa Liability and Investor Protection Under Philippine Law
Supreme Court affirms syndicated estafa conviction under PD 1689, clarifying liability of corporate officers and investor protection.
Expropriation and Just Compensation: Protecting Property Rights in Road Widening Projects
Learn how Philippine law protects property owners in expropriation cases, ensuring just compensation for land taken for road widening projects.
Accidental Shooting or Intentional Harm: Distinguishing Homicide From Murder in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when a fatal shooting is homicide, not murder, and why the information must allege treachery as a fact.
Insanity Plea and Arson: When Killing Is Homicide, Not Murder, in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains the limits of the insanity defense, the proof needed for murder, and when arson is a separate crime.
Self-Defense in Philippine Law: The Imperative of Unlawful Aggression
Philippine Supreme Court explains why unlawful aggression is the primordial element of self-defense, and what happens when it is absent.
Treachery Prevails Establishing Murder Without Evident Premeditation in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when treachery—not evident premeditation—qualifies a killing as murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code.
Chain of Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect after police failed to mark seized shabu, stressing the chain of custody rule under RA 9165.