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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Illegal Recruitment in Large Scale: What the Supreme Court Says About Your Rights
Learn how the Supreme Court defines illegal recruitment in large scale, what victims must prove, and the penalties recruiters face.
Navigating Land Title Reconstitution: Due Diligence and Jurisdictional Requirements in the Philippines
A guide to the strict jurisdictional rules for land title reconstitution in the Philippines, drawn from the Supreme Court's ruling in Ortigas & Co. v. Velasco.
Treachery and the Aswang Defense: Understanding Murder Convictions in the Philippines
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling explains how treachery qualifies killings as murder, even when superstition—the (folkloric evil creatures).
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.
Untimely Appeal and NLRC Discretion: Jurisdictional Requirements in Labor Disputes
Philippine National Construction Corporation vs. NLRC: motion for reconsideration is mandatory before certiorari, and separation benefits are construed in favor of workers.
Understanding Court Jurisdiction: When Can One Court Stop Another
A clear guide to Philippine court jurisdiction, hierarchy, and when one court can interfere with another's proceedings.
Pre-Proclamation Controversies: Limits of COMELEC Jurisdiction After Proclamation
The Supreme Court explains when a pre-proclamation controversy before COMELEC remains viable after a candidate has been proclaimed and assumed office.
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.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: When Consent and Penetration Are Not Required
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling clarifies that in statutory rape, penetration need only be slight and the victim's consent is immaterial.
When Courts Lack Jurisdiction Over Bouncing Checks Cases: The Rosa Uy Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies territorial jurisdiction rules for B.P. 22 cases and when lack of jurisdiction can still be raised.
Territorial Jurisdiction and Bouncing Checks Law: Where Can You Be Sued
The Supreme Court explains where a B.P. 22 bouncing checks case may be filed, based on territorial jurisdiction rules.
Rape Conviction Credibility of Testimony and Minor Inconsistencies
Minor inconsistencies in a rape victim's testimony do not destroy credibility. The Supreme Court explains why in People v. Travero.
The Weight of Words: Child Witness Testimony in Philippine Parricide Cases
How the Supreme Court upheld a parricide conviction based on an 8-year-old eyewitness's testimony, and what this means for child witnesses in Philippine courts.
Dying Declarations: When a Victim's Last Words Become Evidence
Learn how Philippine courts treat dying declarations as exceptions to hearsay, and what makes a victim's last words admissible evidence.
Dying Declarations and Conspiracy: When Can a Deceased's Statement Convict
Explore how Philippine courts treat dying declarations, conspiracy, and eyewitness credibility in murder cases through this Supreme Court ruling.
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.
Rape Conviction and Conspiracy: Why Credible Testimony Matters in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms rape convictions based on credible victim testimony and conspiracy, explaining key evidentiary rules in Philippine criminal law.
Rape Conviction Reversal Understanding THE Burden OF Proof AND Victim Credibility IN Philippine LAW
Bouncing Checks and Continuous Crimes: Understanding Jurisdiction in BP 22 Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court treats multiple bouncing check violations as continuous crimes affecting jurisdiction in Philippine law.
Rape and Consent: Force, Intimidation, and Victim Testimony in Philippine Law
How Philippine courts assess force, intimidation, and victim testimony in rape cases, explained through a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
When Sequestration Does Not Oust Trial Courts: PAGCOR v. Court of Appeals
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that sequestration alone does not strip regular courts of jurisdiction over ownership disputes involving sequestered assets.
Warsaw Convention Jurisdiction in International Air Carriage Disputes in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when the Warsaw Convention applies to international air carriage and which courts have jurisdiction over baggage loss claims.
When Eyewitness Testimony Alone Can Lead to a Conviction in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when eyewitness testimony suffices for conviction, and how buy-bust operations establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Admissibility of Confessions and Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Murder Cases
Learn how Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony, extrajudicial confessions, and circumstantial evidence in murder convictions.