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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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.
Alibi vs Eyewitness Testimony: How Philippine Courts Decide Criminal Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when alibi fails against positive eyewitness identification, and how minority affects sentencing in murder cases.
Right of First Refusal and Ownership Proof in Philippine Real Estate Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts resolve property ownership disputes and partition actions, emphasizing evidence rules and prescription periods.
Quieting Title vs Boundary Disputes: What Property Owners Should Know
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when quieting of title applies and why boundary disputes need different legal remedies.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Credibility, Delay in Reporting, and Minor Inconsistencies
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction despite minor testimony inconsistencies and delayed reporting; explains credibility rules for victims.
Robbery With Homicide: How Intent to Gain and Taking Are Established
Philippine Supreme Court explains how intent to gain and the element of taking are proven in robbery with homicide cases.
Overseas Employment Contracts: Illegal Dismissal and Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal of a seafarer, covering due process, overtime pay, and overseas employment contract rights.
Overcoming the Onus of Proving Increased Risk for Compensation Claims in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on proving increased risk of non-occupational diseases for employees' compensation claims under PD 626.
Robbery With Homicide: Conspiracy and Constitutional Rights in Philippine Law
A Philippine Supreme Court case explains conspiracy in robbery with homicide and the exclusionary rule for evidence from illegal arrests.
Annulment of Contracts: Fraud and Consent in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains when fraud vitiates consent in contracts, using a land sale case as example.
Can a CBA Override Minimum Wage Laws? Lessons from Manila Fashions v. NLRC
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a CBA can condone or waive mandatory wage order increases, and why minimum wage laws prevail.
Negligence Trumps Fortuitous Events: Service Shops Must Insure Customer Vehicles
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a service shop's failure to insure customer property makes it liable for loss by fire, even if the fire is a fortuitous event.
Custodial Rights and Deliberate Failure: Defining Kidnapping in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that kidnapping under Article 270 RPC requires deliberate, persistent refusal to return a minor to parents.
Usury Law Interest Rates: When Courts Can Intervene in Stipulated Loan Interest
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when courts can reduce stipulated interest rates on loans under the Usury Law and CB Circular 905.
Lease Renewal vs Extension Understanding Your Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the crucial difference between lease renewal and extension, and why verbal assurances of renewal may not hold up in court.
Habeas Corpus After Criminal Charges: When Illegal Arrest No Longer Justifies Release
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when habeas corpus becomes moot after criminal charges are filed and bail is posted.
Trademark Protection vs Ownership: Rights Over Branded Bottles and Containers
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how trademark rights over branded bottles interact with ownership rights when containers are sold to consumers.
Seafarer's Rights: Illegal Dismissal and Due Process in Maritime Employment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarer illegal dismissal, due process requirements, and evidentiary standards in maritime employment cases.
Temporary Business Suspension: When Is It Bad Faith in the Philippines?
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a temporary business suspension is bad faith, and the employer's burden to prove bona fide closure.
When Reinstatement Becomes Impossible: Separation Pay in Lieu of Reinstatement
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a final judgment ordering reinstatement may be set aside and separation pay granted instead.
Conditional Contracts of Sale: When Does Ownership Transfer in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the key difference between a contract to sell and a conditional contract of sale, and when ownership transfers.
Alibi vs Eyewitness Testimony: Credibility Rules in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court explains why positive eyewitness identification prevails over alibi and why recanted testimony is viewed with suspicion.
Drug Possession Penalties: How Quantity Matters Under the Dangerous Drugs Act
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains how drug quantity determines penalties, reducing life imprisonment for small amounts of shabu.
Retraction of Witness Testimony: When Does It Affect a Criminal Conviction in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when witness retraction affects convictions, the weight of positive identification, and the limits of alibi as a defense.