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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Lawyer’s Disbarment Upheld, PHP 155,000 Fine Imposed for Disrespect to Courts
Supreme Court fines a disbarred lawyer PHP 155,000 for disrespecting courts and disobeying IBP orders, clarifying penalties after disbarment.
When Judges Err in Sentencing: Gross Ignorance of the Law Explained
Learn when a judge's sentencing error becomes gross ignorance of the law, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on indeterminate penalties.
Dynamite Fishing in the Philippines: Laws, Penalties, and the People vs. Vergara Case
Learn the Philippine law against dynamite fishing, penalties under P.D. 704, and key lessons from People vs. Vergara.
Retroactive Application of Penalties: When Can Criminal Sentences Be Reduced
Philippine Supreme Court explains when reduced criminal penalties apply retroactively, using a drug case as an example.
Navigating Illegal Recruitment: Understanding Your Rights and Risks in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts define illegal recruitment, the penalties for large-scale offenses, and practical tips to avoid scams.
Mortgage Foreclosure CAN Penalties From Promissory Notes BE Included
Forum Shopping and Judicial Ethics: Lessons from Fil-Estate Golf v. Court of Appeals
When may filing two similar cases be considered forum shopping? The Supreme Court explains the rule and its penalties.
Child Abuse and Parricide: Understanding the Legal Consequences in the Philippines
A father's brutal killing of his two-year-old son led to a parricide conviction. Learn the legal rules and penalties.
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.
Navigating Drug Possession Penalties When A Gram Makes ALL THE Difference
Retroactive Application of Reduced Penalties: A Guide to R.A. 7659
When can a final sentence be reduced by a new law? The Supreme Court explains the retroactive effect of R.A. 7659 on drug penalties.
Retrenchment in the Philippines: Requirements for Lawful Termination Due to Business Losses
The Supreme Court explains the strict requirements for valid retrenchment due to business losses and the penalties for failing to meet them.
Addressing Judicial Delay: Penalties and Solutions for Efficient Case Resolution in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court imposes fines and directives to address judicial delay, emphasizing the 90-day decision rule and court efficiency.
Rape and Incest: When Family Betrayal Meets Justice in the Philippines
A Philippine Supreme Court case on a son raping his mother, explaining the rules on credibility, denial, and penalties for incestuous rape.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Understanding Consent and Penalties
Learn how Philippine courts handle statutory rape cases, from consent rules to penalties, based on a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Highway Robbery vs Simple Robbery: Distinguishing the Elements and Penalties
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a robbery on a highway is highway robbery under P.D. 532, and when it is only simple robbery.
Falsification of Time Records: Penalties and Considerations for Government Employees in the Philippines
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on falsified daily time records by a government employee, the penalties involved, and mitigating factors considered.